Sir - Tommy Tiernan says: "A magnifying glass has been put on that piece of material about Christ on the Cross. It's quite small and incidental really . . . I have no idea why people were so upset" (The Irish Times, December 4th).
We find his dismissal unacceptable. There are valid reasons why we and thousands of other Irish people were shocked and offended by his mockery of Christ on the Cross during his recent spot on the Late Late Show. His references to Christ's crucifixion were deeply offensive to Christians of all denominations. This material is not suitable for any audience.
Religious foibles are often the butt of comedians and most Irish people, including ourselves, are not prudish about this. Tommy Tiernan went too far. his words and actions were distasteful, repugnant and highly disrespectful. - Yours etc.,
Brannockstown Baptist Church, Co Kildare
On behalf of: Gary Davidson, St Mark's Church, Pearse Street, Dublin; Aubrey Young, Kill o'the Grange Parish Church; Fergus Ryan, Fellowship Bible Church, Abbey Street; Robert Millar, Jamestown Road Baptist Church, Finglas; Paul Dempsey, Church of the Nazerene, Greystones; Tom and Gillian Kingston, Dundrum Methodist Church; Frank Sellar, Adelaide Road Presbyterian Church; John Samuel, Grosvenor Road Baptist Church, Rathmines; Leslie Crampton, Rector of Athy.