Would the Rev John Webster get off his soapbox and face reality in the 21st Century (Letters, November 15). Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world, and it's here to stay.

He says prostitutes encourage men to be unfaithful to their wives. What twaddle.

If a man truly loves his wife or partner, there is no way he will be unfaithful.

Rev Webster goes on to say young men should be taught not to treat girls as sex objects.

It's a pity no one got around to teaching members of the clergy the same thing - there is hardly a week goes by without reading about one or more of them getting caught being a naughty boy by the Sunday papers.

Waving the banner of morality, he speaks of the degradation of women. Perhaps he would be happier seeing women wear long dresses with just a hint of stocking showing, instead of mini-skirts, stiletto heels, painted faces, boob jobs, facelifts and botoxed lips.

And who, pray tell, forces women to be strippers, lap dancers and pole dancers? No one.

They do it because women have cast off the shackles of constraint that kept Victorian women fettered.

Rev Webster is underestimating women's ability and integrity.

Some women love being hookers and still follow the religion of their choice.

And for him to say that prostitutes don't know what real love means is an insult. Does Rev Webster have a monopoly on the meaning of love?

I'm all in favour of legalising prostitution. Why shouldn't they pay income tax and national insurance the same as the rest of us?

And if it will help control crime, drug use and disease as well, what's wrong with that?

-Bill Grant, Brighton