It is not for the government or for anyone else to say who should or should not come.

There seems incidentally to be no “row” within the church as you imply; there is agony for the relations, British Muslims and British non-Muslims involved. Anyone can see how difficult it will be for the latter to kneel down beside the former, now or later. But what a wonderful gesture of reconciliation this immediate inclusivity would be making, as the bishops concerned are saying.

I should add that I do not know either of the clerics who are advocating this; nor I trust am I likely to be dubbed just another trendy bishop.

John Bickersteth
Former Bishop of Bath & Wells

ATONEMENT: The proposed memorial service must be kept separate from any enforced acts of “atonement” whereby members of the bombers’ families are also invited.

Not only is this a misguided form of Christian political correctness, it’s hugely insensitive to those still mired in their grief. I for one feel embarrassed when certain church leaders feel that they can fast-track notions of reconciliation — even forgiveness — in such a cackhanded way.

Rev’d Andrew de Berry
Thurgarton, Nottinghamshire

IF NOT NOW, WHEN? If this year is considered too close to the event to invite the families of the London suicide bombers to a service of commemoration, by which year would it be considered appropriate, I wonder? If this matter is quietly dropped now, is it likely that it will be permitted to resurface? Will the grief and anger of the families subside to the extent that they will eventually invite the families of the perpetrators to a service? Once a course of action is settled on it is so difficult to undo the momentum of the action and its direction. The British people have an opportunity to do something worthwhile and memorable, not just for Londoners and for the victims and their families, but for the world, whatever people’s religion.

This is the best time to look to the future and to promote, if not forgiveness, then at least some sense of understanding of what the perpetrators and also the other families have been going through.

Sue McPherson
Colchester, Essex

TRUE TO GOSPEL: Your editorial Well-meaning but wrong, disagreeing with the bishops’ desire to invite the families of the bombers to the service, misses the crucial point. If they are to be faithful, the bishops can do no other, for the gospel is not just about reconciliation, it is its heart and soul.

Were the “service” to be organised by the government and to take place in a secular building, one could understand that political imperatives and the desire not to upset people would prevail, even though those to be excluded (the families of the bombers) were in just as great emotional and spiritual need, if not more so.

The kind and degree of reconciliation taught by Jesus is indeed offensive to human hurt and hate and pride, but that is his gospel.

I often despair at the lack of wisdom of the world in some of our senior clergy; but on this occasion I believe they got it absolutely right.

Rev’d Campbell Paget
Brenchley, Kent