N his letter, Graham Butler (Oxford Mail, October 4) stated that “popes made deplorable errors and violated Christ’s teaching in an appalling manner”.

The teaching, given by popes, is protected through Christ’s guarantee of papal infallibility (Luke 22:32).

Mr Butler used the Inquisition as an example of Church excesses. In fact the Vatican (Popes Sixtus IV and Innocent VII) condemned the disobedience of the Spanish clergy for their involvement in the Inquisition and also the civil authority for abusing their powers – a result of which, about 4,000 people were killed.

He claims that the Church “denounced” the theories of Copernicus. In fact, Church friends of his encouraged him to put his theories on the Sun going round the Earth into print.

The Vatican censured his book 70 years after his death because of the use Galileo made of it.

The Church has admitted, on many occasions, that its treatment of Galileo was completely wrong.

The most recent occasion was an apology given by the Vatican astronomer (Guy Consolmagno) on television.

There is no conflict between science and religion as both come from the same source. The problem with evolutionary theory is that it depends on whose theory people prefer to believe.

The laws of thermodynamics contradict Darwin’s ideas of spontaneous generation, and DNA invalidates completely the notion that man was formed from primitive species. DNA could not have evolved by chance.

Lastly, blind faith is an unfortunate phrase. Yes, faith is a free gift from God. Any ordinary person, using his reason, can come to know of God’s existence.

For faith to grow, that person needs God’s help. Combined with prayer and study, the gift of faith will become an active reality in a person’s life. My faith has been an endless source of pure joy.

Dermot R Carroll, Wilkins Road, Cowley, Oxford