EXCELLENT! I refer to the letter from Robert Roach drawing our attentions to the appalling conditions turkeys are reared in for our Christmas feasts (God Wouldn't Bless This Barbaric Tradition, News Shopper, December 20).

There is, of course, little doubt a loving God would not approve of our celebration of a holy event at the expense of such animal cruelty.

As a Christian, my own experience has been of churches restricting their love and compassion to the human race, with little regard for God's other creations.

In fact, many churches organise their own turkey feasts, showing no thought at all for the sufferings of the animals involved.

The churches' failure to condemn factory farming and other cruel systems within the commercial animal agriculture industry has long concerned me, particularly when, as Mr Roach indicates, there are plenty of delicious vegetarian alternatives.

I have written to a number of churches expressing these concerns, with no response, not even the courtesy of acknowledgement.

I hope churches realise they have a moral obligation towards the protection of all of God's creation.

After all, it is only some 200 years since many so-called Christians considered slavery to be acceptable!

C POPE, Erith