20 APRIL 1996, Page 27

Soft on poverty

Sir: Can a Christian be a socialist (Politics, 13 April)? Christ had favourites, e.g. the beloved disciple. How does this square with egalitari- anism? He liked conspicuous consumption, e.g. the oil of spikenard poured over his feet. He said, 'The poor ye have always with ye.' Soft on poverty and on the causes of poverty.

Audrey Parry 71 Berrylands, Surbiton, Surrey