From Mr Mick Lumsden
Sir, - I have been a blood donor for more than 30 years, and
coincidentally returned from a session this afternoon to read the
excellent article by the Revd Dr Joanne Cox (Comment, 5 April).
I am baffled by the low participation of committed Christians in
this ministry, and am struck by the deafening silence from church
leaders on this issue.
My own experience has been very positive: I go because I want
to, and, indeed, I look forward to it. And I would go further than
Dr Cox in expressing the positives. For me, it is a deeply
significant and spiritual experience. Jesus calls me to follow him;
on Maundy Thursday, he washed the disciples' feet, and commands us
to do likewise; on Good Friday, he bled for us - and calls us to do
the same.
Donating a unit of blood is not a great sacrifice (the pain is
minuscule), but in this action I feel more "Christ-like" than when
I am undertaking almost any other activity. I heartily recommend
it.
MICK LUMSDEN
241 High Street, Cottenham
Cambridgeshire CB24 8QP
From Dr Susannah Cornwall
Sir, - The Revd Dr Joanne Cox argues that blood donation is
"nothing less than a Christian duty", and a "responsibility for
Christians". Many faithful Christians in the UK who would like to
donate blood are prevented from doing so, however, because they are
men in sexual relationships with other men.
The effect of new National Blood Service regulations is that gay
men in long-term, monogamous sexually active relationships still
face a blanket exclusion from blood donation, whereas no such
blanket exclusion applies to, for example, heterosexual men who
have had unprotected sex with multiple partners.
Dr Cox advocates the demystification of blood and bodies by
Christians, and calls bodies "not the enemy, but the very gift of
God", which are worthy of celebration. Given the continued
shortfall of donated blood in Britain, it is ironic that faithful
sexually active relationships between men remain a barrier to the
kind of bodily generosity which she endorses.
SUSANNAH CORNWALL
16 Lowestoft Street
Manchester M14 7PU