LETTER: No need to revive odious caricatures

From Mr Neville Nagler

Sir: We were disconcerted to see a stereotypical "Shylock" figure in the photo montage illustrating Paul Vallely's article on the Catholic Church ("Standing firm in his time warp", 31 March). We had really hoped that racial and religious caricatures of this nature had been consigned to their own time warp. The photo was even more regrettable as there was not even a mention of Jews in the article.

The article might have pointed out that the medieval church's distaste for lending money on interest led to many Jews being forced into this unpopular and often dangerous occupation. However, neither this connection nor any other was made in Paul Vallely's article.

Yours faithfully,

NEVILLE NAGLER

Chief Executive

Board of Deputies of British Jews

London, WC1