Staff have a right to their own beliefs

I WAS about to check when my next subscription was due to the National Trust and cancel it after that once-lofty organisation did a U-turn and revoked its order that staff wear gay pride badges. I have steadily refused to support the Red Cross since it banned a volunteer for joining a protest in his own time against gay marriage.

This is not even a question of political correctness but simply one of freedom. In a true democracy then no persons, great or small, should be obliged to affirm that which they do not believe.

The Red Cross is supposed to be about bringing help in times of disaster and the National Trust is supposed to be about helping to preserve our national heritage and they should stick to those aims and not start censoring the private views of their staff or demanding that staff adopt their own views.

Pub priests are a fine advert

THE seven priests who caused so much national hilarity after being nearly expelled from a bar in Cardiff, where staff initially thought they were from a stag party, have done more for the image of the Catholic Church than a hundred popes.

Here were seven normal, beer-drinking blokes who were celebrating one of their number starting out on a life of rotten pay, chastity and obedience.

So naturally people will ask why and because they are cheerful, sociable chaps, people will also stay long enough to hear the answer.

Christ's first miracle was turning water into wine and if the City Arms had been around then I reckon He also would have nipped in for a pint of Reverend James.