This week, with the Rev Kevin Logan, of Christ Church, Accrington

WE heard on the Christian grapevine that five million people faced starvation in Afghanistan.

That, plus the news of Afghans arresting half a dozen Christian Aid workers for allegedly trying to convert Muslims, occupied our prayers and thoughts.

We eventually decided on our response. The innocent, starving kids won and we had a retiring offering -- that's church 'posh' for a whip-round. Two weeks later off went our cheque for £600.

Before it was cashed, terrorist planes came crashing down and the only thing left flying around were allegations that those to blame were the very ones who would benefit from our gift.

What to do? Carry on as planned? Tell them to go and blow themselves up? Turn the other cheek?

I asked the church folk. It was their money, after all. Do we stop the cheque? The answer was a delightful and definite 'NO!'

Certainly, we must pursue a just war against the evil of terrorism, hopefully via diplomacy and the courts, though proportionate and necessary military action cannot be ruled out, and might even be needed to stop more innocent bloodshed.

But surely the civilised West could still afford a little charity, especially now that the starvation forecast has doubled.

Think of the women denied education and choice. Think of the toddlers picking in the dirt after the third annual crop failure in succession. Our £600 was staying precisely where we'd sent it to allow Tear Fund to feed the kids.

Finally, wouldn't it be truly marvellous if we in the West really did carry out that brilliant idea of writer Martin Amis -- carpet-bomb Afghanistan with food parcels and medical supplies.