STEVEN Hewitt's letter (December 11) says "the Catholic church is aware of people such as Colin S Jeffrey and ranks them on a level with wars, disease and other things the world would be better off without". Mr Hewitt's comments are disgraceful. Colin was only making light of the silly 'sex in empty church' front page story in the Evening Press. There was no malice in his letter; he was gently poking fun at out-dated, stuffy, prudish attitudes.

For Mr Hewitt to call for a ban on printing such letters in the Press shows he is no believer in free speech.

Derek Atkins,

Mount Vale, York.

Updated: 10:33 Thursday, January 03, 2002