"I am a lover of truth, a worshipper of freedom, a celebrant at the altar of language and purity and tolerance. That is my religion, and every day I am sorely, grossly, heinously and deeply offended, wounded, mortified and injured by a thousand different blasphemies against it. When the fundamental canons of truth, honesty, compassion and decency are hourly assaulted by fatuous bishops, pompous, illiberal and ignorant priests, politicians and prelates, sanctimonious censors, self-appointed moralists and busy-bodies, what recourse of ancient laws have I? None whatever. Nor would I ask for any. For unlike these blistering imbeciles my belief in my religion is strong and I know that lies will always fail and indecency and intolerance will always perish."

Just thought he had a point.

In case anyone thinks it is directed against the Bishop of Carlisle's recent alleged remarks about the floods being God's judgement on what he considers to be immoral behaviour such as gay marriages, the Bishop told me on Saturday in reply to my direct question that he had been misquoted. I accept he has been as really no one with any sense would have said this - and believe me Graham Dow is not a fool.

He does believe in divine retribution though for man abusing our planet. Anyone with a little common sense knows that we shall reap what we sow, and by plundering this earth we are surely putting future generations at grave risk. We do not have three planets to cater for our extravagance.