READERS of The Northern Echo need no advice regarding Rob Meggs’ one dimensional view of all religions. That dimension is incorrect, especially in his portrait of the Pope.

Does Pope Benedict habitually surround himself with “yes” men?

Not unless they exclude people like the universally respected Cardinal Dolan (American) or the fearlessly outspoken Scottish Cardinal O’Brien who demonstrates the very independence of mind denied by Mr Meggs, or Cardinal Arinze (Nigerian) who in 1999 received an award from the International Council of Christians and Jews for outstanding achievements in inter-faith relations. These are men of the highest integrity and intellect, highly respected globally and typical of new generation paper appointees.

But, of course, being human, they can make mistakes, big ones.

And what of Mr Meggs’ demand for critical thinkers? Is he really unaware that the Pope has at his disposal groups of advisors, clerical and lay, drawn from the most prestigious political, economic social, cultural, medical, technological and scientific expertise?

Indeed, some are Nobel prize winning members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences which is international in scope, multi-racial in composition and non-sectarian in membership.

These people, Rob Meggs calls “compliant in nonsense”.

Why, Mr Meggs, would such people lend themselves to that?

Michael Baldasera, Darlington.