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A recent Scottish church census revealed that just 7 per cent of Scots now attend Christian worship.

Reasons given included changes in work patterns, leisure, family life and increasing secularisation.

My nine-year-old niece added to these the paedophilia scandal involving Catholic priests, and the Church’s stance on homosexuality and on women.

I suggested that one could also add the core teaching of Christianity itself.

Christians believe that God cursed his first two morally naive creations with ‘original sin’ because they disobeyed his command forbidding them to seek knowledge.

Simultaneously, by invoking his scapegoating dogma (Exodus 20:5 - legitimising the transfer of guilt from guilty to innocent), God imputed this ‘sin’ to all their innocent descendants - right down to you and me!

Aeons later, God implemented another of his preordained plans (1 Peter 1:18- 20) – to free mankind of his curse.

His morally void plan was that an innocent man would take on board all of mankind’s ‘sin’ and be tortured and crucified.

My niece asked: ‘Could any rational, moral person consent to be saved from the penalty of his or her own misdeeds by the suffering and death of a completely innocent person?’

The SCC research also revealed that two fifths of church attendees are over 65.

I asked my niece if she was tempted by Christianity.

She replied: ‘If it’s a choice between the Pope and central heating, I’d choose central heating.

Doug Clark, Ballamodha Straight, Ballamodha

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Are the people on the Isle of Man aware that they are looking at changes/removals to the current list of exemptions and increasing the charges per item and this includes charges to those of pensionable age, who, I may add have paid in more than most people in their lives with taxes and N.I. contributions?

This is a tax on the sick – who do not deserve this, people will not get their medicines and it will be more expensive to the health service in the long run when they take up beds in the hospital.

Eddie Teare [the former Treasurey Minister] said, and I quote, ‘They are looking after the vulnerable’ and Mr Cannan has also said, ‘It’s the taxpayers’ money they are using and hope they are taxing and penalising the sick’.

This is yet another burden to the people who are already stretched on a budget with inflation going up all the time, said to be 3 per cent by the end of the year, some people are too frightened to stand up for themselves and say something.

Name and address supplied

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On a fairly recent voyage on the island’s ferry service, I had the misfortune to witness an appalling incident.

It has made me question at what point does our healthcare system become unfair, unsafe, immoral or, from a government point of view, uneconomical?

A person who had clearly had complex surgery was travelling, in a public area, accompanied by only a family member, who also had chronic health issues.

They were in great pain and it was clearly very difficult for them to move, without help from their escort.

They were in need of very powerful pain relief just to sit still in any bearable comfort.

Their escort was also struggling to maintain their own safety, and comfort.

They were under stress that was exacerbating their, usually well managed, health issues.

To see loved ones having to struggle like this, in a public environment, was totally distressing.

At what point has it become acceptable to only fund a relative/friend to escort someone in that condition?

Why was medical transport, an escort, or a private area not funded? Luckily the area was not busy at the time.

Had anything happened to the person or friend/escort this may have, from a government point of view, required further surgery/care or funding of long term benefits, and possible re-homing, if the person had lost their home as a result.

From a personal point of view it would have caused them more suffering and stress, and their accompanying adult more distress also.

People around me were appalled, that they would have to travel in this way. What impression has that created of how we care for our residents? It certainly doesn’t encourage people to return.

The Steam Packet staff were exemplary.

Is it fair that the Isle of Man Government is using staff, who cheerfully, kindly and happily, provided this assistance, although employed by a private organisation?

These people, are, one or more to the point hopes, they would have still been in hospital, receiving care from trained medical professionals, and transported home in an ambulance, not pushed across the back seat of a friend’s car!

The patient was quite fit before this health episode.

Had they not been this would have been impossible for all concerned.

The Bridgewater chaps who were so helpful have been withdrawn and now it appears any sense of care has gone, even for those in agony.

So distressing to think this is the best we can offer.

All credit to the person and escort for bearing it so bravely. I hope they have a speedy recovery.

‘Disgusted’ (Name and address supplied), Port Erin