Rowan Williams under pressure to quit

[morningpaper]

I'm so furious I can hardly discuss it

All the conservatives jumping around with the stupid people and their pitchforks

How very depressing

But they're always on the lookout for a chance to deliver a good kicking MP
I just loved the idea of George "Hello Carey, I'm a Fairy" sharing his opinions in the News of the World , under the heading Brilliant Scholar
Rowan knows sectors of the Church hate him and always have done

Williams has been thoroughly misquoted by the tabloids and this seems to have blown out of all proportion, but I can't say I'd be sorry to see him go. I think he's an obscurantist with a lack of leadership skills, he's totally wrong for the job and he's been breathtakingly naive. My old man depaired when he was appointed and I reckon his concerns then are being borne out now. He's walked into a trap entirely of his own making, quite frankly.

He's entitled to his opinion like anyone else, and is a particularly intelligent person who has happened to earn the position to be heard (and was indeed misquoted). I'd be sad to see him go- it's a positive bonus to have a wide variety of debate within the Church, and not to stifle ideas. he's known as being a bit of a free thinker- that's a GOOD thing!

Crikey, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is making her feelings pretty plain.
I agree he's entitled to his opinion. But's it all very well to stroke your beard and be considered a free thinker; in his position you should consider consequences. The Church of England needs this fiasco like a hole in the head, though some people think it's sparked a timely debate.

So who did your dh want in the job aelita? Not Hope, or Chartres, surely?

oh FFS anglican communion get a frigging grip!

argh.

Lord no, I didn't mean DH Marina - he's Jewish by birth and atheist by choice, so I don't think he had an opinion I meant my Dad, but I don't actually know who he'd have preferred to see. I think he despairs of most of the Anglican Church and religion in general these days.

oh he might very well have an opinion and it might be much more pertinent than that of the General Synod (well, some of them)
I know Rowan has beard-stroking tendencies but to me he was a blissful change from the previous incumbent

Fabulous article by Yasmin Alibhai-Brown. I posted this article on the other thread. So glad it is the women who are exposing the fallacy with RW's misguided arguments.

he was demented to suggets that though
really.

He didn't suggest what he's been accused by all that frenetic fanatics of having suggested though

but he was rpetty close.
demented

all THE frenetic fanatics

Not knowing a lot about his background I presumed he was being deliberately provocative to spark debate about the role of the CofE and the importance of Britain remaining a 'Christian' country. But it seems he was just being very naive.

He's really not doing the Church any favours, well intentioned as he may be.

I think he's realised what a huge mistake he has made. Will be interested to hear what he says in his speech this morning. I still hope this damage is not lasting. The only good thing I can see about this is that it has thrown into sharp relief how little support there is for Sharia Law in the UK.

Now I don't think his agenda was to promote the C of E to be honest DaDaDa.

I think it was an utterly idiotic thing to say

yes we all hate the papers but honestly

This whole debate has been an interesting reminder that the Church really does have a pulsing vein of misogyny at its core

I agree marina. I don't see him as a person to toe the party line. Thankfully. I think he was misquoted. Some of the less fiery commentators have made some well thought out responses, and even those who say that perhaps he shouldn't have said it don't totally disagree with him. I think it's a pretty crap situation when someone can't say anything at all in case the tabloids get hold of it and twist the message.

I agree with you in general Enid, but would not place Rowan Williams on the list of clergy who hate women, truly

We were discussing this on Sunday and a lot of our congregation are feisty liberal women pensioners (and we have a woman priest). Not much approval for Sharia Law all round.
Balance of opinion amongst those who have read the full 7,000 worder is that he was misquoted and an idiot not to see that coming. His advisors have a lot to answer for too.

I tried to read it on his website, marina, but his sentences are terribly long and his paragraphs even longer and my brain isn't up to the job

For anyone whose is

lol @ "feisty liberal women pensioners" [fond]

[feels hatred for dorset ]

If he'd just done the lecture the tabloids probably wouldn't have even noticed. It was the BBC Radio interview that did for him. I think he's making another speech today?

He needs a better PR adviser, that's for sure. Someone who'll explain how what he says sound when it's cut up and put into a media context.