JOE Flynn (letters, May 1) draws attention to the fact that war is just as much a moral issue as the current attempt to legalise the creation of hybrid embryos, about which the Church has been outspoken.

In fact, the Church does speak out about a wide range of issues of concern, including war.

But media attention just happens to have been focused on the former issue, perhaps because while many groups have opposed the war in Iraq, very few have challenged the Government's plans to railroad the hybrid embryo legislation through Parliament without allowing the traditional conscience vote to Labour MPs.

However Mr Flynn, in his reference to "hypothetical embryos" is making the same tragic mistake as he accuses the Church of doing - prioritising some human lives above others.

Sadly, war is nothing new, but man is constantly inventing new ways to abuse and kill innocent human beings.

Worldwide, millions of embryos remain in a state of frozen limbo; they are far from hypothetical, and if the Government has its way, many more embryos will be created in the laboratory simply to be destroyed.

While many will continue to protest the war in Iraq, if the embryo legislation is passed, the consequent killing of embryos will be ignored because they cannot be seen.

Ann Farmer (Mrs), address supplied.