ROWAN WILLIAMS' APOLOGISTS

I am fed up listening to the apologists for Rowan Williams, the Archbishop Canterbury, the Primate of the Anglican Union. He said what he said. If he wanted to start a global academic discussion about the various interpretations that can be made about his comments, he did it. He has galvanised the concerns of greater public, which contains all ethnic groups.

It must be remembered that the reaction to Williams' suggestions of incorporating aspects of Sharia Law into our civil law,(and presumably criminal law too) has come in the first instance, from a huge groundswell of people opinion, not the media. Sure the media picked it up, but people, many of whom will be Church of England members and Christians of all types, have been stirred into expressing their antagonism, along with other faith groups.

Now, a variety of different faith people have come to Williams' beleagured side, because they either know him and feel they can interpret what he meant, on his behalf, or he supported them in their campaigns in the past.

This week the Synod of the Church of England meets - it begins today - Rowan Williams will speak. I trust he can personally offer a good exercise in damage limitation.

In future, if he has a longer term one as the religious Primate, Rowan Williams and his advisers need to take a good hard look at what is going to be placed in the public domain.