Dr Elford, author of The Ethics of Uncertainty, in which he explains the Christian reasons for the views he holds, said as a Christian, prostitutes and drug users must not be criminalised but shown compassion and offered supportand love.
He said with around 75% of house break-ins being drug-related and women being forced to prostitute themselves to get money for drugs it was about time the
Government legalised drug use and treated the cause of the problem, rather than taking action when the horse had alreadybolted.
"The Christian moral position requires just one thing - compassion.
"Jesus was totally against any form of self-righteousness and shocked others with his total compassion for outcasts of society including women adulterers and prostitutes.
"He always taught people to look at themselves before they ever cast the first stone.
"Any humane and decent society would do the same. But our government will not takethe action to deal with the root of this problem.
"These women deserve every form of compassion and support that we can give them.
"They deserve safe places to work, housing, child care, free drugs and methadone and the counselling and support that they need to forge a new life.
"They need our practical love and they need protecting. "Seeing television interviewers ask them why they keep going out on the streets when they know the risk is voyeurism of the worst kind.
" They are out on the streets because they have no other choice.
"It is too late for the women in Ipswich who have lost their lives but more lives will be lost if the Government and society do not act now.
"Liverpool as a city was way ahead of others when they considered implementing tolerance zones but the Government put a stop to it.
"The Government has created this problem and we must put pressure on them to act for the sake of society and to stop these women being forced further and further into the shadows."
A spokesperson for Liverpool City Council said the council had wanted to create the UK's first approved managed tolerance zone for prostitutes in the city but plans had been quashed by the Government.
She said: "A Government white paper came out in January which put a stop to our proposals.
"Liverpool would have had the UK's first managed tolerance zone butwe needed approval from the Government.
"Without it, the council was unwilling and unabletotake the idea forward."
* DO YOU agree with Canon Elford'sviews on drugs and prostitution? Email your views to letters@dailypost.co.uk or write to Letters, Liverpool DailyPost, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, L69 3EB.
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