The pastoral letter also defended the dismissal of the professor from the college.

Described as a manifesto, the letter defends freedom of choice in subject and technique, concluding:

Sophia's letter defends her parents' child-rearing methods and states that she and her sister were not oppressed by an "evil mother."

The letter defends the strategy of nonviolent resistance to racism, arguing that people have a moral responsibility to break unjust laws.

In a letter defending his religious policy of withdrawing state military support from the orthodox brand of Christianity, he points out passionately that this had ended bloodshed.

In angry tones, the letters defended the former chairman, and the workers vowed never to accept a chairman appointed by Danone.

In general, the letters defended these deductions, and for a variety of reasons.

The letter also defended The Times's governance practices, citing the independence of the board, especially its nominating committee and the presence of a lead independent director.

The letter defended Mikhail S. Gorbachev's policy of perestroika, or restructuring the Soviet economy.