Sir: Hearty congratulations to Mr Mount (4 July). I too
have little sympathy for the Moonies, but there have been all too few willing to speak up for principles of freedom and conscience and belief which seem to have been submerged by various banner headlines.
Your readers might be interested that this autumn a 'Draft Declaration for the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance Based on Religion' will come before the United Nations General Assembly for approval. It has been many years in the drafting but it is an excellent statement of tolerance and our British delegate, Lord Colville, has played a leading role in getting it this far.
This along with the principles of dialogue and tolerance espoused in the World Coun cil of Churches' and British Council of Churches' Guidelines on Dialogue' surely gives us a rational approach to all religious beliefs whether mitred or Mooned. Even the rabid anti-Moonists might well reflect that inquisitions have a very poor record of success and, in fact, seem rather to foster that which they are created to eradicate. Guy McQuade The Society for Religious Peace, cio The UK Islamic Mission,
202 North Gower Street, London NW1
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