Dr Kambiz Boomla (Letters, 2 June) says: “I am not a Christian, but my understanding of Christian theology is that confession comes before forgiveness.” I am a Christian priest, and my understanding of Christian theology is the exact opposite – that forgiveness comes before confession. According to Luke 23:34, Jesus said, even as he was being crucified: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” God’s forgiveness, at least, is not “earned” by confession, but is always freely available. However, we do not benefit from that forgiveness unless and until we recognise our need for forgiveness.
Rev Canon Dr Rob Kelsey
Vicar of Norham, Northumberland
• One measure to reduce traffic noise that could be introduced quickly and cheaply would be to reduce the national speed limit to 50mph (Traffic noise slows children’s memory development, study finds, 2 June). This would also significantly cut fuel consumption, saving people money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Richard Mountford
Hildenborough, Kent
• What a wonderfully comforting and reassuring feeling is produced by the photograph of crowds watching the jubilee flypast on the front page of your Journal section in the print edition (4 June). I didn’t realise we had as many as 15 modern jet fighters!
Jim Nelson
Chorley, Lancashire
• Re “three giraffes” being used to describe a height (Letters, 3 June), during 2020 the owner of our local park’s coffee stall put up a sign suggesting that the correct social distance was “one cow’s length”.
Angela Barton
Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire
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