We can't forgive yet, says Soham minister

Soham will need to address the issue of forgiveness – but not yet, a church minister said today.

Alan Ashton, Soham’s Methodist minister, said he had considered how best to address the question of forgiveness for Huntley and Carr.

“The issue of forgiveness is something we have to think about and something the churches will have to address – but not yet,” he said.

“Now is not the time to consider the issue of forgiveness.

“It’s something I have given some thought about privately and at some point we’ll have to talk about it.

“It’s quite a complicated issue. The idea of forgiveness is linked with the concept of repentance. And it may be that people will need to see some sign of repentance before they can start thinking about forgiving.”

His comments echoed the thoughts of Soham vicar Tim Alban Jones, who also said yesterday that the time to address the issue of forgiveness had not yet arrived.