I READ with anger recent comments from Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor condemning the Muslim community for not doing enough to denounce terrorism.

Coming immediately after the Muslim Council of Britain had written to every single mosque in the country, urging British Muslims to assist in the "War on Terrorism", these comments do absolutely nothing to help matters, and have the potential to damage the significant progress that has been made in recent times.

I live in a largely Muslim community here in Bury, and have noticed a distinct improvement in relations since the MCB's letter filtered down to mosques local to me. The letter was a bold and courageous move by people who, it would appear, have more faith in peace in Britain than Cardinal O'Connor, whose comments can only serve to drive a wedge where there is a good chance of reconciliation.

How people like Cardinal O'Connor can claim to speak for the Christian community is beyond me. Jesus demonstrated quite explicitly the way of non-violence that he wished his dedicates to follow.

With attitudes like O'Connor's prevalent in the British Establishment, is it any wonder that many Muslims feel themselves alienated, and treated by a different set of standards than their native compatriots? Many of my friends are Muslims, and I wonder sometimes at their continued patience and tolerance with the savagery which continues to be committed by our governments in the name of "freedom".

What use is freedom if you find your home bulldozed, or your children shot in the head? Security at home is even more important than political freedom, as we are hearing daily from Iraqis who have purportedly gained the latter, but notably lost the former since our illegal invasion of their country, an invasion justified with information that has since proved to be, at best, erroneous and, at worst, fabricated.

I urge all British Muslims to have faith in the ordinary British people, and to take no notice of such incendiary comments as those of Cardinal O'Connor. He will have to justify himself before God in the end, just like the rest of us. I would not like to be in his shoes when that day comes.

A CONCERNED CHRISTIAN