28 MAY 1988, Page 23

Ethnology

Sir: Mr Reeves's patronising letter (7 May) does him little credit. Had he done his homework he would have known that 'the nations' (ta ethne) could not conceivably mean 'those who are responsible for form- ing public policy on these matters'. The idea would have been unheard of in Our Lord's time.

The Gospel is about love: politics is about power. I cannot delegate to the Chancellor of the Exchequer my duty to love my neighbour.

Clergy are told to keep out of politics not because they are ignorant of politics because they have not grasped the Gospel. John Stott

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