May I thank Mr Allan Hayes, President of Leicester Secular Society, for identifying the redefinition of the word "secular".

I always understood it to mean "of no particular religion"; clearly Mr Hayes redefines it as "anti-religious" (atheist) given his ardent opposition to faith schools following their beliefs.

The Secular Society website proudly proclaims it stands for free speech, that is, it would appear, as long as it is not religious speech.

It cannot be denied that over the centuries religion has been used by those in its ranks to pursue their own perverted agenda, sexual or otherwise. The same can, of course, be said of many other organisations.

The basic tenet of Christianity is that of tolerance, support and caring for others in society. To achieve that objective there needs to be guidance which comes in the form of a book, for Christians it is the Bible.

As a practising Christian, I have no opposition to those who choose not to believe as we do. I would willingly assist them in time of need and many thousands of fellow Christians and other religious followers would do likewise.

Mr Hayes demands that faith schools are told to think, well, secularly in relation to sex education. How would My Hayes respond if religions followed his example by demanding that all societies should demonstrate a clear and express belief in a God or face penalties.

No doubt he would quite rightly feel that oppression of thought was looming over him. So guess how we Christians feel when leaders of community groups demand our rights are set aside in preference for theirs.

That leads me on to another claim the Secular Society's website proclaims: "equality for all". I support Mr Hayes' right to express his reasonable beliefs; however, in light of their president's anti-faith school agenda, I wonder precisely how that claim is practised by the Leicester Secular Society?

Stephen A Warden, Wigston.