Love the sinner
From Mr Tom Benyon Sir: Philip Hensher (Books, 8 April) gives a savage thumbs-down to both Jonathan Aitken and to his book, Pride and Perjury. While one can perhaps forgive his scepti- cism, whether the contumely was overdone is a matter for his conscience and our taste.
However, I would remind him of another `nutty God-bother& in Chuck Colson, the one-time Nixon hatchet-man, who ended his political career in prison after Watergate. In 1975 after Colson had written Born Again the pundits universally sneered and pro- claimed him a fraud. But the book was the first of many, and changed lives. Colson then confounded his critics and founded Prison Fellowship, which serves prisoners in 80 countries. Watergate was 25 years ago. Col- son's post-Watergate career is a manifesta- tion of the extraordinary power of Christian conversion to change lives for good.
Mr Hensher's reputation for fairness stands high. Perhaps if, after a reasonable period of time has elapsed, Aitken's con- version appears genuine, he will feel obliged to correct his negative stance.
Tom Benyon
Adstock, Buckingham
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