Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is the nominal head of the world-wide Anglican communion, of which I am a small part. Tonight, he is under great political and public pressure for comments he recently made, about multicultural tolerance in Britain. I'd ask that those who feel able to do so, might want to pray for him at this challenging moment in his career.He's a brilliant, informed, and compassionate Christian, and I think he's working through, and thinking about, some highly-complex ideas - his gravest sin might have been in overestimating the media and general public: intelligent discussion is rare these days in the marketplace - too often the polis becomes instantly enraged. It isn't just other cultures, other nations, that are excitable or intolerant - it is also us, the West.
Williams was seeking to reply to that, to try to welcome, within limits, a different vision of things, of law, into the fold. Much more thought needs to done on all sides before snap judgements are made. In the meantime, Prime Minister Brown should have restrained his attack dogs - but sadly, he's been seen as weak and indecisive, so this was an opportunity to be a big fist. Shame he is striking down someone liable to turn the other cheek.
Comments
However, I think you're wrong to assume that responses to his recent comments are the result of misinformed public rage, media excitement/incitement or a culture of intolerance. I'm afraid I find that deeply patronising. No, many people just disagree - vehemently - with the idea of a devolved legal system.
Williams' comments are potentially damaging, destabilising and do nothing for community relations.
Tom
So examples like those of the Archbishop of Canterbury are to be relished.
Davide Trame