The theological left.

John Garvey ("Who's In & Who's Out," October 7) quotes from a recent article in First Things that purports to describe a prevailing attitude in today's Episcopal Church: God accepts and affirms us, and his love should be characterized as inclusive; the flip side of that is that there is no recognition of the existence of sin, or of our need for the salvific work of Jesus Christ to save us from it.

It is unclear if Garvey himself accepts this as an accurate representation of what we on the theological left believe. It strikes me at least as a quite inaccurate and unfriendly parody. I consider myself liberal and progressive, and believe that God indeed accepts and affirms us and includes all of us in his love. But divine acceptance does not mean carte blanche approval. I most certainly acknowledge my sinfulness, and that God in his love for me desires me to undergo constant conversion, and that I must look to the cross of Jesus Christ to be saved.

In your pages several issues ago, William Wood quoted the prominent ethicist Alasdair MacIntyre as saying, "Moral relativism does not exist" ("Back to Christendom," June 17). I heartily endorse that statement. And I deplore the tactic of Christian conservatives, from Pope Benedict XVI on down, who try to discredit those of us who dissent from their moralizing agenda by publicly misrepresenting what we believe and value.

MARK STEPHEN CAPONIGRO

New York, N.Y.