Archbishop Of Canterbury: Do The Lambeth Walk, Inbred Muslims And Synodding Heads
THE Archbishop of Canterbury is in the mire. Doesn’t he realise that religion is best left to chilly halls on a Sunday morning, Tom Cruise and the 10 o’clock news bulletin from Iraq?
The Archbishop of Canterbury is talking about religious matters. Tsk! This shock is only overshadowed by the fact that anyone was listening to what he had to say. A selection of views from today’s press:
THE SUN: “74% OF BISHOP’S OWN FLOCK – Do the Lambeth walk, Williams”
A “straw poll” at Canterbury Cathedral reveals that 74 percent of the worshippers (number not given) want Rowan Williams out of Lambeth Palace.
But that’s nothing on Sun readers – 97 per cent of them want Williams to resign. Who they want to replace him is not enlarged upon, but front runners are Amiii, Nikkki and the Bishop of Rochester
DAILY MIRROR: “OUTRAGE AT INBRED MUSLIMS WARNING”
Environment Minister Phil Woolas says: “If you talk to the primary care workers, they will tell you that levels of disability among the Pakistani population are higher than the general population. And everybody knows it’s caused by first cousin marriage”
Everybody. That’s 100 per cent – even better than the Sun
Says the paper: “His comments follow the storm sparked by the Archbishop of Canterbury…who suggested some aspects of Islamic Sharia law should be allowed in Britain”
If Sharia law is included, we will, as Woolas’s line of thinking goes, all be marrying our cousins. Everyone. Peoples of Norfolk and the Forest of Dean get ready…
(The Mail notes that Labour MP Khalid Mahmood married his first cousin, and had a child with her)
“I FEAR SHARIA HERE” – Tony Parsons looks at “media Muslims (nutters) and decent Muslims (not nutters). “There is no place for Sharia law in the United Kingdom. There never will be”
Never? 100 per cent certain!
DAILY MAIL: “The Church should have the guts to sack the Archbishop… and pick a man who truly treasures British values”
So says Melanie Philips: “Astonishingly, he does not seem to understand that this country is being targeted by a pincer movement of terrorism and cultural takeover”
DAILY STAR: “AXE THE MAD BISHOP SAYS MUSLIM MP”
Khalid Mahmood, MP for Perry Barr, Birmingham, says: “If he doesn’t go, then at the very least his advisors should”
DAILY TELEGRAPH: “Synod turns on Rowan Williams in Sharia row”
Archbishop Gregory Venables, the primate of the Southern Cone, which covers much of South America, says: “Taken within the context of other things that have been said and done in recent months, it would just add to a general sense that confidence in the leadership of the Anglican church has plummeted”
LETTERS PAGE:
“Sir – The Archbishop of Canterbury is said by his friends to be “completely overwhelmed” by the hostility of the response to his remarks concerning sharia (report, February 9). He could never have anticipated such a universal barrage of criticism to his comments. The explanation could be that the Archbishop brought British anxieties over Islamism to the surface, in particular the repressed anger of many Christians who believe that their values are being threatened. When this happens, minorities such as Muslims, Jews and Hindus have reason to fear a loss of tolerance from the majority community, which has begun to feel that they, and not the minority groups, have become victims in their own country. This may have been the reason why many Muslims – as well as those from other minorities – have criticised Dr Williams’s remarks: they fear any proposal that may lead to a religious group being treated differently, even if it could, in principle, lead to greater privileges” – Rabbi Dr Sidney Brichto, Senior Vice President Liberal Judaism, London W1
THE SCOTSMAN: “Was Archbishop of Canterbury right to raise Sharia debate?”
No – Alistair McBay, spokesman for the National Secular Society
There are few British citizens who will not be both baffled and dismayed by the reports that the Archbishop of Canterbury believes the adoption of certain aspects of Sharia law in the UK “seems unavoidable” and might actually help social integration. It is difficult to imagine a less helpful contribution to the debate on cohesion and social integration than this. The cornerstone of our pluralistic liberal democracy is the equality of all citizens under the law, yet Dr Williams says the idea of one law for everybody is ‘a bit of a danger’
Yes – Rt Rev Sheilagh Kesting, Moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly
“I have been deeply concerned at the widespread reaction to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s recent lecture. The personal attacks on him are unacceptable in a civilised society and I have been appalled at the attacks on his integrity and the calls for his resignation. As a fellow faith leader, he is entitled to bring issues like this into public debate and explore the way in which different people and religions can live together. What he has been calling for is discussion and I believe that is only right”
DAILY EXPRESS: “Sharia Law: Now Archbishop faces wrath of church”
Williams is to address The General Synod, the Church of England’s governing body.
Says his predecessor Lord Carey: “His acceptance of some Muslim laws with in British law would be disastrous”
LEO McKINSTRY: “Archbishop should fight for his faith. Instead he surrenders to fanatics”. Then: Sharia is a “religious code synonymous with barbarity, the oppression of women and contempt for basic human rights”
THE GUARDIAN: “The Archbishop of Canterbury is expected today to improvise a speech to the Church of England’s 550-strong national assembly so he can directly address the furore sparked by his comments on sharia law”
Ayesha Khan: “Sharia sensibilities – Protecting the rights of women who need help must include respect for their religious practices”
The laws and rights of sharia seem archaic to most people in British society. The volume of media coverage following the archbishop’s speech suggests that there is not just misapprehension and bemusement, but outright hostility. For many, there is an instinct to fight for the rights of the women that are perceived to be undermined or abused by Islamic law. That is an admirable instinct. But those women who need our help most will not seek our assistance if we refuse to take seriously their religious and cultural preferences and practices.
Bashing The Bishop
Iain Dale Is ‘Not Being Islamophobic’
Williams Of Canterbury Was Only Teasing: Bash The Bishop
Posted: 11th, February 2008 | In: Reviews Comments (8) | TrackBack | Permalink
