I WOULD like to respond to Father Hailes' letter (April 14) about vandalism in the Spring Street area of Bury.

How can this man call himself a Christian and yet make such comments and accusations?

Who does he think he is to sit in judgement over people that he knows nothing about? And how dare he say that teenagers' yobbish behaviour is due to their "tiny minds"?

As a long-term resident of the Spring Street area, I am well aware of the racial tensions and problems. The problems have been around for years, not just the past 18 months, and the local authority and the police will do nothing to help.

So has the Church done anything. In Father Hailes' words . . . er, no. At least when the previous minister was there we used to see him working in the community and the church school, and he also used to attend meetings, etc.

Did Father Hailes attend any of the meetings that were set up to discuss the problems in the community? Er, no. Indeed, did Father Hailes attend the meeting that was reported in the Bury Times of April 4? Er, no. Father Hailes cannot say that he was not notified of the meetings, because I know that he was.

Maybe if Father Hailes made more effort to work in the community and to communicate with young people, no matter what their race, things may begin to improve and respect may be earned on both sides.

Youths around here are bored. Yes there are activities in Bury, but these cost money, and many don't have the money. It is not simply a question of "walking a few yards" to find them. Perhaps some young people feel threatened and, anyway, how many youth clubs are there within a mile of the church? None.

Not all teenagers are "yobs." In fact I saw one youth defending Holy Trinity Church when another, older, youth was playing football near the graveyard.

The man who was blinded (Bury Times, April 7) by the stones being thrown should be commended for his brave action. I hope he receives some financial compensation for his injury and I hope that the youths responsible will be caught or, if they have a conscience, will give themselves up. I also wish that Father Hailes would stop making unfounded accusations and try to become the Christian minister that his job demands. We are all members of God's family and it is about time that the Church actually started practising what it preaches.

So come on Father Hailes, get off your high horse and become one of the community.

A WORKING ( IF NOT

PERFECT) CHRISTIAN