SIR,—The Church of En g land is traditionally self- effacin g . You can't
teach it much about offering the other cheek to critics, whether from within or with- out. Of course much of the criticism is justified and it may be that all is fair in love and Waugh. But even the Anglican worm will turn, and I am sure that many of your readers, with me, will regret, indeed resent, that you should choose to publish such an ungenerous farrago of de hart en bas polemic as appeared under the curious heading of 'A Christmas Sermon.'
I was reminded as I read it of the story, told to me (significantly) by a wise Roman Catholic priest, of the new arrivals in heaven who were being shown round by St Peter. In the middle of the city was an enclosure surrounded by a high wall. With finger to his lips, St Peter motioned the party to peer over. Inside were a number of people employed in their heavenly avocations. 'Don't let them see you,' whis- pered St Peter. 'They are the Roman Catholics. They think they're the only ones here.'
We can't expect Mr Waugh to have much idea what the C of E is all about. Nor could you afford me the space to tell him. But we could have expected him to have imbibed some of the spirit of charity and understanding of Pope John. Honestly, sir, is it really worth while to give an airing, in this day and age, to a point of view which is not only outdated but 1 am convinced is as offensive to most Catholics as it is to Anglicans? Or do you propose to restore the balance in your next issue by inviting a Kensitite to raise the fiery cross of an equally outdated Black Protestantism?
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