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Archbishop under pressure to quit Carey weighs into Sharia law row
(about 4 hours later)
The Archbishop of Canterbury continues to face calls for his resignation despite attempts to defuse the row over his Islamic Sharia law comments. Pressure has mounted on the Archbishop of Canterbury after his comments about Islamic Sharia law were criticised by his predecessor, Lord George Carey.
Dr Rowan Williams has been condemned from inside and outside his church for saying the adoption of parts of the law was "unavoidable" in Britain. Lord Carey said that Dr Rowan Williams' acceptance of some Muslim laws within the British system would be "disastrous for the nation".
At least two General Synod members have called for him to quit and he has been heckled as he left a church service. Dr Williams has insisted he was not advocating a parallel set of laws, but has faced calls to resign.
But supporters say his comments have been misinterpreted. Supporters have described the reaction to his comments as "hysterical".
The archbishop is said to be shocked and hurt by the hostility his comments have provoked, and on his website he said he "certainly did not call for its introduction as some kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law". Dr Williams sparked a major row after saying the adoption of parts of the law was "unavoidable" in Britain.
However the criticism mounted as his predecessor Lord George Carey accused Dr Williams of overstating the case for accommodating Islamic legal codes. Two General Synod members have urged him to quit and he was heckled while leaving a church service.
'Brilliant scholar' 'Great leader'
Writing in the News of the World, Lord Carey warned: "His acceptance of some Muslim laws within British law would be disastrous for the nation." The archbishop is said to be shocked by the reaction to his comments and said on his website he "certainly did not call for its introduction as some kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law".
But the criticism mounted as Lord Carey warned in an article for the News of the World: "He has in my opinion overstated the case for accommodating Islamic legal codes.
Lord Carey says there should be "no exceptions" to British law.
"His conclusion that Britain will eventually have to concede some place in law for aspects of Sharia is a view I cannot share.
"There can be no exceptions to the laws of our land which have been so painfully honed by the struggle for democracy and human rights.
"His acceptance of some Muslim laws within British law would be disastrous for the nation."
But he said Dr Williams should not be forced to quit over his remarks, adding: "He is a great leader in the Anglican tradition and he has a very important role to play in the Church."But he said Dr Williams should not be forced to quit over his remarks, adding: "He is a great leader in the Anglican tradition and he has a very important role to play in the Church."
I sense he would be far happier in a university where he can kick around these sorts of ideas Synod member Col Edward Armitstead 'Thoughtful intervention'
Members of the Synod - the Church of England's national assembly - will have the opportunity of tabling a motion to discuss the issue at the body's biannual meeting, starting on Monday. Dr Williams did not refer to the issue while preaching at a memorial service on Saturday. He is thought likely to do so during his address to the General Synod in London on Monday.
In what was his first public appearance since the row erupted, he was greeted with a mixture of applause, boos and camera flash bulbs as he left the service in Great St Mary's Church, Cambridge.
Dr Williams was offered support by the Right Reverend George Cassidy, Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, who branded the reaction "hysterical" and said the archbishop was simply trying to take forward a serious public debate.Dr Williams was offered support by the Right Reverend George Cassidy, Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, who branded the reaction "hysterical" and said the archbishop was simply trying to take forward a serious public debate.
Meanwhile, the Very Reverend Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark Cathedral, said the archbishop's advisors were not up to the job.Meanwhile, the Very Reverend Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark Cathedral, said the archbishop's advisors were not up to the job.
Biblical leadership He was also defended by the most senior woman priest in the Church of England, the Dean of Salisbury the Very Reverend June Osborne, who said: "Our society needs to be provoked into talking about these things."
"I have said to him on many occasions that his staff actually aren't up to the job and he needs a bigger staff and more expert advice," he said. And the Muslim Council of Britain welcomed his "thoughtful intervention" on the discussion of the place of Islam and Muslims in modern Britain.
Islamic Sharia law is a legal and social code designed to help Muslims live their daily lives, but it has proved controversial in the West for the extreme nature of some of its punishments. But Col Edward Armitstead, a Synod member from the diocese of Bath and Wells, was among those calling for Dr Williams to step down. He told the Daily Telegraph: "I don't think he is the man for the job."
Col Edward Armitstead, a Synod member from the diocese of Bath and Wells, was among those calling for Dr Williams to step down, telling the Daily Telegraph: "I don't think he is the man for the job." 'Tragic mistake'
He is undoubtedly one of the finest minds of this nation Rt Rev Stephen Lowe Alison Ruoff, a Synod member from London, said: "He's very able; a brilliant scholar as a man, but in terms of being a leader of the Christian community I think he's actually at the moment a disaster."
He said: "One wants to be charitable, but I sense that he would be far happier in a university where he can kick around these sorts of ideas."
Alison Ruoff, a Synod member from London, said: "Many people, huge numbers of people, would be greatly relieved [if he resigned] because he sits on the fence over all sorts of things and we need strong, Christian, biblical leadership right now, as opposed to somebody who huffs and puffs around and vacillates from one thing to another.
"He's a very able, a brilliant scholar as a man but in terms of being a leader of the Christian community I think he's actually at the moment a disaster."
'A disaster'
Brig William Dobbie, a former Synod member, described the archbishop as "a disaster, a tragic mistake".Brig William Dobbie, a former Synod member, described the archbishop as "a disaster, a tragic mistake".
SHARIA LAW Sharia law is Islam's legal systemIt is derived from the Koran and the life of the prophet MohammedSharia rulings help Muslims understand how they should lead their livesA formal legal ruling is called a fatwaIn the West, Sharia courts deal mainly with family and business issuesEnglish law recognises religious courts as a means of arbitration Q and A: Sharia law explainedSharia law around the worldSHARIA LAW Sharia law is Islam's legal systemIt is derived from the Koran and the life of the prophet MohammedSharia rulings help Muslims understand how they should lead their livesA formal legal ruling is called a fatwaIn the West, Sharia courts deal mainly with family and business issuesEnglish law recognises religious courts as a means of arbitration Q and A: Sharia law explainedSharia law around the world
The statement on the archbishop's website said Dr Williams had pointed out that "as a matter of fact, certain provisions of Sharia are already recognised in our society and under our law". Sharia law is a legal and social code designed to help Muslims live their daily lives, but it has proved controversial in the West for the extreme nature of some of its punishments.
The statement on the archbishop's website said Dr Williams pointed out that "as a matter of fact, certain provisions of Sharia are already recognised in our society and under our law".
The statement said he was "exploring ways in which reasonable accommodation might be made within existing arrangements for religious conscience".The statement said he was "exploring ways in which reasonable accommodation might be made within existing arrangements for religious conscience".
It also said his principal aim was "to tease out some of the broader issues around the rights of religious groups within a secular state".It also said his principal aim was "to tease out some of the broader issues around the rights of religious groups within a secular state".
And he said he did not initiate the idea but simply agreed when that proposition was put to him.
Dr Williams made his first public appearance since the controversy erupted at a thanksgiving service on Saturday but made no comment on the row.
'Politically naive'
The service, at Great St Mary's in Cambridge, was held to give thanks for the life of the Rev Professor Charles Moule, a New Testament scholar who died last year.
As Dr Williams left the church, one person shouted "resign" and a couple of people booed, but there were no signs of any protests.
The archbishop has been defended by the most senior woman priest in the Church of England, the Dean of Salisbury the Very Reverend June Osborne, who said he was right to discuss Sharia law.
"We can say he may have been politically naive [but] I don't think he was.
"Our society needs to be provoked into talking about these things. I would say that all of the law of Britain has got to work within the very high standards of human rights and Christian principles."
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said it was grateful for the archbishop's "thoughtful intervention" on the discussion of the place of Islam and Muslims in modern Britain.