This unbelievable headline caught my eye immediately. Archbishop: Adoption of Sharia Law in U.K. is ‘Unavoidable’
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, has suggested that it “seems unavoidable” that elements of Islamic law be accepted into the British legal system.
I suggest a better headline would have been: “Archbishop of Canterbury Loses His Mind.” Why in the world would the leader of the Church of England advocate for the imposition of Islamic law in Britain?
So profound a misunderstanding of the proud English and British heritage from the leader of the Church of England it is incomprehensible. Ironically, his comments demonstrate either ignorance of or hostility toward the historic commitment of the British people to freedom and self-determination. The first nation to emerge from the political chaos of the Middle Ages, the defiant victor over the militarily superior Spanish Armada in the 16th century, the last bastion in Europe against the forces of fascism in the century past, the people of the United Kingdom surrender their autonomy to no foreign power, secular or religious. Surrender is precisely what the Archbishop now says is “unavoidable.”
Most astonishing, these comments by the Archbishop disavow the most significant underlying values which have defined British history….
Gary Fletcher shouldn’t be so shocked and surprised by the accommodating attidued of the archbishop to Islamic Law. After all, 815 is suing the you know what out of devout Anglicans in the USA yet is so very accommodating to TEC’s behavior. When your leadership model seems to be one of appeasement rather than upholding inherited standards, it leads to chaos in the long run. An that is where the Anglican Communion now finds itself.
This is absurd. Mr. Fletcher gives no indication of having read a single word from Abp. Williams on this subject other than a headline and a quote.
Lambeth’s back-pedaling notwithstanding, it’s clear that ++Rowan was running up the white flag to shari’a, Andy. He’s not some bloke on a barstool, he’s one of those put in the position of defending the faith, culture and institutions of Britain, and he’s just sent a loud and clear signal that Albion has run out of petrol.
zzz…
People are making an idol out of the British legal system. Let’s not forget that medieval Britain did in fact have a two-tiered legal system: one for clergy and one for everyone else. This whole news story is nothing more than an exercise in flag-waving, and I’m getting tired of it.
#2 is spot on. It would good if people stopped putting pen to paper until they’d actually read what the archbishop said, and preferably also understood it.
#4 —
The point is that, since the middle ages, and over many centuries, Britian moved away from the two tiered legal system (actually, more tiers than that).
There ought to be some reluctance to return to a medieval concept of the law.
#6, Well, after all, we have a group of persons wanting to put us under a law system traceable to Mecca (about 650 AD.). Some things don’t seem to change.
#6, you misunderstand me. I’m not saying that the rule of law shouldn’t be universally applicable. What I’m saying is that this is all a bit of a non-story, and people are taking the opportunity to do their own daily mail outrage pieces. I find it very interesting that the Archbishop of Canterbury is being seriously criticised for only suggesting, in an academic forum, that British law might be able to incorporate foreign elements in order to better accommodate foreign cultures. Meanwhile, British sovereignty is potentially being eroded as the Treaty of Lisbon is being debated in the House of Commons. One is entirely theoretical and within an academic environment, the other is very real and within a legislative environment. The story is as big as it is because the media believe the Archbishop to be an easy target.
I agree with #2. But this is one of the few analyses that it appears the author did not study the text. What is interesting is that it appeared on Episco-pravda. Am not sure why they chose to print this. The guy is not even Episcopalian. I would have expected: Poor Rowan, he is so misunderstood. The TEC has spent good money buying the influence of Rowan Williams – all that money to prop up the ACO. One would expect it to stand by their marionette. (Yes, just my opinion.)
Jeffersonian, could you offer some evidence? You’re just perpetuating the media issue. I mean, you’re siding with the secular British Press?
It’s mob mentality. If you say it long enough, it becomes the truth.