While it's true not all Church authorities are child rapists, many of us have problems with the underhand way in which you're pulled into paying in the first place: namely on initial registration in your community one is asked one's religion. No mention is made that by declaring a circumstance of birth one will be charged a tax to an organisation which itself pays no tax. If they'd told us on registration we'd be involved, rather than sleight of hand, there'd be no issue: we could make a decision there and then rather than the rigamarole of writing to opt out. Who do they think they are?

There are other organisations I would prefer to contribute to on a voluntary basis which serve my community, and they are far less patronising than any collection of old dudes in frocks who claim superstitious mumbo jumbo as their 'creed'. On an individual level, I think the work community groups do is invaluable.