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Archbishop of Caterbury Suggests Role for Sharia In British Legal System

By Howard Friedman

In Britain, the Archbishop of Cantebury Dr. Rowan Williams has provoked a firestorm of controversy by suggesting that British law should give some level of recognition to Sharia. Williams delivered the foundation lecture in the Temple Festival Series at the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday. The title of the series is "Islam in English Law". The Anglican Communion News Service reprints the full text of Rowan's talk titled Civil and Religious Law in England: A Religious Perspective. It notes that Rowan "will look at what space can be allowed alongside the secular law of the land for the legal provisions of faith groups." Rowan also was interviewed by the BBC (full text). He told interviewer Christopher Landau that "there is a place for finding what would be a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law as we already do with some kinds of aspects of other religious law."

The Guardian, the AP and Ekklesia all report on the widespread criticism that followed Rowan's talk. A spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "The prime minister believes British law should apply in this country, based on British values." A more stinging criticism by Ekklesia argues that "the Church of England, recognising the untenability of privileges it still claims as an Established Church, is now seeking to create a broader 'multi-faith establishment' where 'the same problems will be replicated across a wider and more complex arena.'"

Simon Barrow on the blog Our Kingdom, however writes of Rowan's proposal: "It?s not quite such an outlandish suggestion as the headlines and knee-jerk reactions of politicians who haven?t read his nuanced speech might make you think, but I still think it?s heading in precisely the wrong direction ? though thankfully, without a prayer."

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 08, 2008 (boomark / email).