YOU headed Bill Earl's letter (June 13) 'Sunday trading — one can still go to church', and of course one can unless you are required to work!

Some people, such as the emergency services, have to work on Sundays for the benefit of all the community, but others do not.

By creating work on Sunday there are often tensions in families with children and others neglected or ignored to the detriment to society in general.

We live in a

commercially competitive world today and allowing more Sunday trading consequently escalates into more shops forced to open to remain viable. This in turn can, and has in parts of our country, changed Sunday to just another day of the week. Do we want this? I know I don't!

Mr Earl's other comments about other religions are entirely a red herring as our country is still predominantly Christian; likewise is his criticism of the Rev Kyle not saying something about suffering.

However, regarding suffering I would as a Lay Minister at the Tavistock Parish Church like to respond to Mr Earl's challenge on this subject by just making two points: one, that we do not understand why a benevolent God 'permits' suffering, only that we know that He allowed His Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die for mankind, and two: God gave man the gift of free will, which mankind often misuses to cause suffering.

Ian Silcox

13 Chaucer Road

Tavistock