Letter: Dawkins lets down the case for science

Sir: As an ordained scientist I was struck by the irony implicit in Richard Dawkins's article "Dolly and the cloth-heads".

Though there is a shortage of religious people who could be relied upon to produce intelligent, informed and constructive contributions to any debate, the media deliberately seek out individuals who can be guaranteed to voice an exaggerated, sensationalist viewpoint - polemic disguised as rational argument - which would be disowned by many of the community which they claim to represent.

The media play the same trick with scientists: I wonder whether it has ever occurred to Professor Dawkins that this might be why he is so often called upon by them to speak and write on behalf of the "scientific community".

Canon JOHN INGE

Ely Cathedral

Cambridgeshire