Posted on 02/09/2008 6:35:53 AM PST by COUNTrecount
Under fire: Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams The Archbishop of Canterbury was facing demands to quit last night as the row over sharia law intensified.
Leading bishops publicly contradicted Dr Rowan Williams's call for Islamic law to be brought into the British legal system.
With the Church of England plunged into crisis, senior figures were said to be discussing the archbishop's future.
One member of the church's "Cabinet", the Archbishop's Council, was reported as saying: "There have been a lot of calls for him to resign. I don't suppose he will take any notice, but, yes, he should resign."
Officials at Lambeth Palace told the BBC Dr Williams was in a "state of shock" and "completely overwhelmed" by the scale of the row.
It was said that he could not believe the fury of the reaction. The most damaging attack came from the Pakistan-born Bishop of Rochester, the Right Reverend Michael Nazir-Ali.
He said it would be "simply impossible" to bring sharia law into British law "without fundamentally affecting its integrity".
Sharia "would be in tension with the English legal tradition on questions like monogamy, provisions for divorce, the rights of women, custody of children, laws of inheritance and of evidence.
"This is not to mention the relation of freedom of belief and of expression to provisions for blasphemy and apostasy."
The church's second most senior leader, Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu, refused to discuss the matter. But he has said sharia law "would never happen" in Britain.
Politicians joined the chorus of condemnation, with Downing Street saying British law should be based on British values. Tory and LibDem leaders also voiced strong criticism.
Even prominent Muslims were rounding on Dr Williams. Shahid Malik, Labour MP for Dewsbury, said: "I haven't experienced any clamour or fervent desire for sharia law in this country.
"If there are people who prefer sharia law there are always countries where they could go and live."
Khalid Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Bar, rejected the idea that British law forces Muslims to choose between their religion and their society.
He said: "This will alienate people from other communities because they will think it is what Muslims want - and it is not."
The Muslim Council of Britain came to Dr Williams's aid, however, describing his comments in a lecture to lawyers and a BBC interview as "thoughtful".
But Oxford University Islamic scholar Professor Tariq Ramadan admitted: "These kinds of statements just feed the fears of fellow citizens. I really think we, as Muslims, need to come up with something that we abide by the common law and within these latitudes there are possibilities for us to be faithful to Islamic principles."
The archbishop is likely to come under heavy fire next week at a meeting of the Church's General Synod.
Liberal and feminist critics have been appalled by the thought of sharia law while evangelical opponents believe Dr Williams has failed to defend Christianity.
The archbishop was already battling intractable difficulties within the church over gay rights, a row which began nearly five years ago and has brought him criticism from all sides. Later this year he has to face a conference of hundreds of bishops from around the world which threatens further bitter division.
Dr Williams's opponents on the conservative evangelical wing - who resent his liberal beliefs on issues such as gay rights - were suggesting last night that the archbishop is finished.
The Reverend Paul Dawson of the Reform group of around 500 clergy said: "We are very sad that he does not seem to be able to articulate a clear Christian vision for Britain. It is true to say that there is a lot of dissatisfaction."
Dr Williams defended himself in a Lambeth Palace statement saying he had been trying to "tease out" the issue.
The archbishop had said it could help build a better and more cohesive society if Muslims were able to choose to have marital disputes or financial matters, for example, dealt with in a sharia court. The adoption of some elements of sharia law "seems unavoidable".
But the statement insisted: "The archbishop made no proposals for sharia, and certainly did not call for its introduction as some kind of parallel jurisdiction to the civil law."
Even fellow bishops, however, think this is precisely what Dr Williams did say.
Bishop of Southwark Tom Butler, a liberal who would normally be expected to defend Dr Williams, said the archbishop had been entering a minefield and added: "It will take a great deal of thought and work before I think it is a good idea."
He was more blunt in a circular to clergy in his diocese, saying he had yet to be convinced of the feasibility of incorporating any non-Christian religious law into the English legal system.
Check this out.
Piety him, he is seriously mentally ill.
Maybe this?
Mumtaz Ali, president of the Canadian Society of Muslims, said wives in polygamous marriages are recognized as spouses under the Ontario Family Law Act, providing they were legally married under Muslim laws abroad. "Polygamy is a regular part of life for many Muslims," Ali said yesterday. "Ontario recognizes religious marriages for Muslims and others." He estimates "several hundred" GTA husbands in polygamous marriages are receiving benefits. Under Islamic law, a Muslim man is permitted to have up to four spouses.
from the article
In 1994, he declared his intention to reign as "defender of faith" rather than "defender of the faith".
Prince calls for greater tolerance
From reading Robert Spencer The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades I gather one does not peacefully coexist with Islam, but a) pays the tax and accepts servitude; b) converts; c) suffers jihad leading to death, loss of head, that sort of thing.
Our president assures us muslims pray to the same god as we in the West, but with every exploding child, I am more convinced otherwise.
So glad we have secdef Gates in place having established his credentials coauthoring in 2004 with Zbigniew Brzezinski the CFR paper "Iran: Time for a New Approach" (negotiation, a la Neville Chamberlain with Herr Hitler Munich 1938 which worked so well).
Party Like It's 1938: Peace In Our Time.
“It was said that he could not believe the fury of the reaction”
This is an ageless scenario, of an elitist totally/totally isolated from the community, that they serve...we can see it played out in the today’s election runup.....
Er...how do you know?
Cantuar is a very apt theologian. The world of academia would welcome him to their ranks with open arms. He is very ill suited for such a public post. If by now he has not realized what you say to the press can not be nuanced as is a lecture given to graduate students of theology. He needs to hang up the mitre and go.
“What is the position of the Royals???”
I believe QEII must consult with her public relations advisors before giving any statement about the second highest ranking official in the realm’s proposal to import fundamentalist islamic law.
Good thing for Rowan the Fuzzy that the Crown of St. Edward is being worn by a Windsor and not a Tudor. Would we care to speculate what would happen if Henry II or Oliver Cromwell were still around?
Calling Mark Steyn!! Calling Mark Steyn! World Imploding Under Liberal Stupidity!!
Someone get a rope.
The Archbishop being given an award by the one of biggest blood-thirsty terrorist in history. Can you Imagine even accepting an award from this murdering , Jew Hating, Anti-Semite Bastard? The Archbishop should have told ole Yasser to stick his award up his Terrorist ASS....
That is step #2, which requires step#1: rid yourself of the enemy within.
Hardly. She never makes any public statements about her own views on matters of policy, in any circumstances.
Is this guy going to have to grow 10 horns with seven crowns before the Brits start questioning just which side he’s playing for?
In shock?
Assclown should be in stocks.
Mumtaz Ali doesn’t know shit from pudding:
Extra wives, extra benefits breaks the rules: minister
Natalie Alcoba, The National Post
Published: Saturday, February 09, 2008
Mumtaz Ali referred to a passage in the Ontario Family Law Act that recognizes spouses in polygamous marriages, provided it was celebrated in a country that recognizes the union as valid.
The Family Law Act was designed to create equality among spouses and to help settle their affairs if the marriage ends.
Polygamy is still illegal in Canada, officials said.
“Not knowing the law is not an excuse,” said Madeleine Meilleur, minister of community and social services, which funds the social assistance program called Ontario Works. “They should know that in Canada there is no polygamy and that only one wife is covered.”
It is unclear from Mr. Ali’s comments if the Muslim men are illegally claiming benefits for more than one wife, either as a spouse or a dependent, or if the additional wives are claiming as individuals, which is permissible.
City and provincial officials insist that in Ontario, social benefits can be claimed for only one spouse.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=c1d46f6e-7c5e-4713-bc0e-e766b64dea61
Did you follow the link for the UK?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=512043&in_page_id=1770
Ministers have decided that, even though bigamy is a crime in Britain, polygamous marriages can be recognised formally by the state - provided they took place overseas, in countries where they are legal.
The outcome will chiefly benefit Muslim men with more than one wife.
Ministers estimate that up to a thousand polygamous partnerships exist in Britain, although they admit there is no exact record.
Potentially, the benefits bill for income support could reach £10m.
New guidelines on income support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) state: “Where there is a valid polygamous marriage the claimant and one spouse will be paid the couple rate (£92.80).
I’m with you...but really, there’s ALOT of people escaping persecution, I personally know an Iranian family right now that’s left sharia law behind forever and in a perfect ending will become Christians.
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