Play on words

[hdw]

The present Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has taken everyone aback with his broadside at the Catholic Church in Ireland, since he is usually seen as an archetypally wet Church of England vicar who has brought hand-wringing and dithering to a fine art.

Or as a Guardian leader-writer comments today, he is the kind of person for whom "to um is human, but to er, divine".

Harry

[lionel]

The present Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has taken everyone aback with his broadside at the Catholic Church in Ireland, since he is usually seen as an archetypally wet Church of England vicar who has brought hand-wringing and dithering to a fine art.

Or as a Guardian leader-writer comments today, he is the kind of person for whom "to um is human, but to er, divine".

Harry, I've no idea what your religious views are, but I'm a very, very firm lifelong atheist with no dithering whatsoever. But that doesn't prevent me from having the deepest respect for the views of others, as long as those views do not in any way interfere with any other person. Rowan Williams might be forced by tradition to wear stupid fancy dress, but to me he represents a wonderful side of the Church of England: he's highly intelligent, vulnerably human, and not afraid to give voice to his contempt for the horrors of the New Labour warmongers. He has expressed his distaste for homophobia and other obscenities perpetuated by the Catholic Church. The Church of England is very broad and encompasses many beliefs. In the end, no one will be happy with what he's trying to do, but will you please give him a break? I have more respect for Rowan Williams than for any British politician, whatever their religious beliefs.

Sincerely

Tony
blog (http://tonyshaw3.blogspot.com)