Letter: Marxism and Methodism

ALAN WATKINS ('A Christian loftiness that might unsettle Mr Major', 24 July) gives a rather dated picture of Christian Socialism in modern Europe. There may be some continental socialists who cling to the anti-clerical tradition, but others now make common cause with their Christian Socialist colleagues, like those from nine European countries who met at the recent congress of the International League of Religious Socialists.

Indeed the remark that Mr Watkins quotes about Labour owing more to Methodism than to Marx could now be rephrased in a European context: the Social Chapter owes more to Katholic social teaching than to Karl.

John Collins

Christian Socialist Movement, London N1