Below are two sample letters from Christian organisations.
The Association of Christian Teachers letter was published in The Independent’s Education Section.
Release International’s letter was published in the Daily Telegraph.
The Editor
Education
The Independent
LETTER FOR PUBLICATION
**Month, Year
Dear Editor,
I am a Christian. I am a teacher. I would welcome any balanced article seeking to explore the interplay of faith in the educational process, but sadly, Joel Budd’s article (‘The Lord is my Headmaster’, Education, ** Month) fails to contribute to the debate.
Keith Porteous Wood, Executive Director of the National Secular Society, is quoted as saying that a faith-based education is, “verging on intellectual abuse”. If there is any intellectual abuse it is this article. Not only is it an affront to Christians, it is a slur on the integrity and judgement of every Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim or Sikh parent seeking to raise children in their faith.
I would like to feel that all parents could trust our nation’s schools. But right now, many parents fear that their most deeply held beliefs will be made fun of, and their children will be subjected to a curriculum void of spirituality or mention of God.
This article is, perhaps, symptomatic of why such distrust exists.
Rupert Kaye
Chief Executive
Association of Christian Teachers
ACT, 94a London Road,
St Albans,
Hertfordshire,
AL1 1NX
Email: act@christian-teachers.org
Website: www.christian-teachers.org
The Editor
Daily Telegraph
London, E14
LETTER FOR PUBLICATION
** Month, Year
Sir,
Mr Abrahams (letter, ** Month) is quite right when he says Christians who practice their faith in Saudi Arabia run the risk of being beaten. Last year, Release International, a charity that supports persecuted Christians, knew of at least three expatriate workers from Jeddah who each received 80 lashes before being deported – even though they were neither charged nor appeared before a court of any kind.
On May 20, Two Filippino Christians in Abqaiq, 350km north-east of Riyadh, were sentenced to 150 lashes for possessing a Bible and a few Christian CDs. The sentence was commuted to a month in jail, a fine equivalent to £630 (a great deal of money for a poorly-paid worker) and deportation.
But the expats have it easy compared with Saudi nationals who, of their own free will, convert to Christianity. Those who confess faith in Jesus routinely face the death penalty if discovered. And this in a nation that has signed up to the UN Declaration of Human Rights.
Many voices are rightly raised in Britain pleading for religious toleration. Why do we hear nothing from their counterparts in Riyadh? Or is it that their voices are stifled?
Eddie Lyle
Director
Release International
Address
