Sir, Is it not rather late in the day for the bishops of the Church of England to propose that they and other Christian leaders should publicly apologise for the war on Iraq (report, September 19)? Where were they when so many of us were marching in London before the war?

Perhaps if they, in full regalia and led by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, had joined us at the head of the march, the Government might have been persuaded not to proceed with that ill-judged venture.

ROGER GUY
Alfrick, Worcestershire
margandrog@talktalk.net

From Mr David Hopkins

Sir, How refreshing to read of the bishops’ proposal. This is a bold, thoughtful and clear statement to the world that we are deeply pained by our leaders’ arrogance in assuming they have the moral high ground.

I despaired over the attempts by Bush and Blair to justify their aggression; the inevitably huge cost in civilian casualties; the cost to us and our troops; and the appallingly messy aftermath of an ill-thought-through war.

The proposal that collectively we mourn our Government’s actions is principled and timely.

DAVID HOPKINS
Aldcliffe, Lancaster

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