Didn't Christ come to earth for the sole purpose of giving mankind a mediator between them and God (His Father).

Isn't this why after we pray we say "through Christ Our Lord, Amen." Prayer runs like a wavelength very similar to a telephone call.

The only difference is that He is always on the other end of the line ready to listen and answer but not necessarily how we want the answer to be, often it will be a no. This is because He knows what is in our best interests. Therefore having already been given the most reliable (go between us and God) why do we need the confessional box in the first place when it hides sins (not disclosed) when they should be.

I refer to child sexual abuse by priests in the church covered up in the cloisters for decades.

Far better to confess to the police and for priests taking such a confession to encourage the culprit to own up instead of covering up their sin (of this nature) under a church seal of silence.

We owe it to all children to keep them safe from such predators and we need such silence to be considered a criminal offence by those who condone it by being silent when they should speak out.

Yvonne Rance, Griffith.

A sincere thank you to John Ellis of Frank Ellis, Jewellers, for donating a time clock to the swimming pool facility at Griffith Post School Options Fitness.

The pool and gym at Griffith Post School Options Fitness, Yoogali, are open to the public during set hours Monday to Saturday. The facilities are of a high quality and well kept.

Thank you also to the Management and Staff at GPSO Fitness for opening your Centre to the community of Griffith and surrounds.

Ruth Browne, Griffith.

For me the by-election has come at a perfect time. I attended an MDBA meeting. It was so biased towards the environment that I have been inspired to consider BAN THE PLAN Revisited.

Eight years on and it has become a Coalition project. The chairman of the meeting and of the MDBA  was a Liberal member for 11 years and Speaker of the House for about 3 years.

The person who will have the chance to approve the next stage in the environmental plan is Barnaby Joyce. The new CEO Phillip Glyde who will be presenting this to Barnaby was appointed by Barnaby. What chance will those who desperately wanted  the economic viewpoint to be considered have?

My first aim is to make contact with Council, Business Chamber, other organisations and even University of the Third Age to ask for their attitudes.

My top policy is to  open the barrages and disband MDBA. If the community wants to retain the MDBA based on safeguards for the economic outcomes,  I could consider that alternative.

This could be an interesting election. The ‘Area News’ poll on 11th September showed over 81% of those who responded would vote for Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (SFFP) and only 12% would vote for the Nationals .

Brian Mills, Griffith.