Children bullying (there have always been bullies because the strong have always taken advantage of their position over the weak), however, we now have 21st century forms of this insidious practice, using the mobile 'phones and, of course, "happy slapping".

Some of the consequences reported recently are distressing and alarming not least because what starts off as a sick joke can so easily devolve into something much more ominous. My alarm bells have also been ringing because hospitals are reported to be removing Gideon Bibles - I really do think the lunatics are running the asylum!

Have these people never heard that MRSA is not transmitted through books but by the dirt in and around the hospitals. I would like to suggest that these bureaucrats might look first at the staff who come to work already dressed in their uniforms, and those who go out into the hospital grounds in their uniforms for a "smoking break". Now we have these same bureaucrats removing the wooden cross from the chapel and renaming the sanctuary. Who do they think they are?

I know they are not original in their thinking, this has already been happening in some prison chapels. One I know of was to have all its Christian symbols removed because 'they are offensive to the Muslims'. No one asked if this removal would be offensive to the Christians!

One prison chaplain I know responded to the suggested removal of symbols from his chapel by saying, "Over my dead body". He was removed and the symbols followed! And just in case we think it is only against Christianity, look again, this week a family in Peterborough have been ordered to remove flags of St. George from their front garden, a homosexual shop in Soho has been told they can no longer fly their flag from a shop because it is "street clutter". Now that has got to be a joke, 'street clutter ' in Soho! What will they think of next?

However what is taking place is no joke, faceless bureaucrats are turning the country into an absurd place when we can no longer fly the flag of our country or show the symbols of our faith. I have a recollection that in another context Jesus said, ""Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Matt 22:21 (RSV) We are in danger of losing our freedom to do either.