by Adam McCulloch
Came across this little gem while perusing blog comments on Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' controversial sharia law speech.
The writer, one Paul from south Midlands, believes the outrage at Williams' opinions was 'manufactured' by ‘secularists’ who wish to see freedom of conscience, and perhaps religious belief itself undermined:
He warns: “If we don't watch it thats exactly what will happen, along with things like your children being taken away because social services regard indoctrinating them with religion as child abuse. This is the agenda of the secularists. If we carry on along our present path all these sorts of things will happen within 20 years or so.”
Bit alarmist don’t you agree? Never ceases to amaze how, when it comes to social services, people feel able to express any opinion without any reference to anything approaching a fact. And this in a purportedly intelligent discussion.
As for the Archbishop, well, it’s hard to know exactly what he is proposing, other than making the law infinitely more complicated, even after reading his text. But David Aaronovitch makes a pretty a good fist of constructive criticism.
He cites the Archbishop’s sympathy for – and expresses reservations over – the Catholic aversion to the adoption of children by gay people among other things.
Anyway, the Queen’s now a bit upset about the fuss – it’s beginning to look as though Dr Williams will have to do some more explaining.

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