WHY put such an offensive heading in the Evening Press of December 2 - Priest Compares Hunger Striker With Christ on your front page?

How could anyone make this odious comparison? Barry Horne is a convicted arsonist. He has left a trail of damage and trauma on human beings by popping bombs on people's property.

Thank God no one was physically injured or killed.

But does he realise the psychological damage he has done in the areas of the fires he deliberately started?

I have had your Press delivered for 48 years and I am really offended by this heading. I am sure many others are also.

Mrs Kitty Heslop,

Telford Terrace,

York.

...ALTHOUGH threats of violence will not help the cause of animal rights campaigner Barry Horne to bring about an end to animal experiments, international publicity will awaken many people to this abhorrent cruelty.

To torture innocent animals in the name of progression for our health is an evil way to progress.

J Healey,

Huntington Road,

York.

...YOUR headline Priest Compares Hunger Striker With Christ was rather misleading.

The letter mentioned Christ's compassion for animals, but who in their wildest dreams would compare a convicted arsonist to our Saviour?

After Christ's cruel death at the hands of the Romans, his followers did not threaten the soldiers with death, nor did they incite the Israelites into rebellion. They continued with Christ's work to spread the good news of his death as a way back to God for all men.

Should not the followers of Barry Horne do likewise and highlight the need for animal welfare to be carefully studied in a peaceful way?

Ann Mansfield,

Main Avenue,

Heworth,

York.

...YOUR impressive front-page photograph (Evening Press, November 25) showing a lady protesting on behalf of Barry Horne provoked more general thoughts about truth and compassion in our society.

I hasten to add that I do not condone violent protest.

However, we were told that the Tories were heartless, and it did seem so, and we switched to Labour. The Labour Party has a long tradition of concern for social justice, compassion and concern for world peace. It is interesting to look around as we approach Labour's second Christmas.

We are tied as firmly as ever to the American military machine, unlike our European partners: at Menwith Hill, in the Middle East, and everywhere else.

Promises about switching jobs from the arms industry to matters of peace have not been kept. We still have our terrible nuclear submarines at tremendous cost.

We have seen the promised anti-hunting bill put aside. The homeless still sit about on our streets.

A fanatical education policy puts excessive pressure on children, including the very young and seems unconcerned about a rounded view of education, including emotional maturation.

Proposals for the protection of the environment for the benefit of future generations have been half-hearted or ignored, as with our local pylons, and a really forthright public transport initiative to cut the carnage on our roads (over 3,500 deaths on Britain's roads in 1997) simmers on the back burner.

But one mercy killing is still a crime.

Roy Stevens,

Chaumont Way,

Stockton-on-Forest,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.