My Dearest Robbo,

Thank you for your post. Yes, I agree with as you have written, "It is a simple fact of history that a society which no longer believes in itself dies."

What seems to be lost here (from the news reports) is that the Archbishop of Canterbury, along with the most senior bishops of the Church of England make up that faction on Parlaiment that as been known since about the time of the English Reformation, as The Lords Spiritual. (the other Lords are the hereditary ones and the non-hereditary that are made Lords intheir lifetime for poltical donations) The ABC's position is two-fold - head vicar of the English Church and full voting member in Parlaiment. His two-fold role was precisely why our framers created separation of Church and State. If these comments he has made are examined in the ight of his true posish, the story of England's fall to certain 'acceptable' aspects of Sharia law (the law that advocates the beating of women) is a big one and most breathtaking.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, with his speech, has failed not only his flock, but England, and, most importantly, the God he undertook to serve.

Also compared to the Arfican Primates in his Church who have fought off sharia law in their own provinces, he must appear to be a joke.

Right now Sir Winston Churchill is spinning in his grave.

And how in bloody Hell do you have social cohesion with differing legal systems for various citizens?

Steve 0- While I appreciate your continued contribution to this blog, I fail to see why the Pope in a "Cowboy hat" has anything to do with this.
The C of E has absolutely gone off the rails and turned on its parishoners in totality. What else to make of sponsoring Sharia law in any form? Is this the law of the C of E? What must the parishoners make of this statement?
The elites of British politics have capitulated to Islamic culture and law. It is now only the "flock" that needs to be guided... The whole thing makes me sick quite frankly and we are way past joking about it.
Again, I have no idea what you think the Catholic Pope has to do with this. You might want to explain.

That hat? It's dead sexy.

He's got some great Mitres, too.

http://coo-eesfromthecloister.blogspot.com/search/label/Mitres

Me, I wish he's go back to the Papal Tiara, though. Just to see the press reaction.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_Tiara

You don't have to Photoshop the Archbishop to show him next to a terrorist.

But as the Rev. is not given to dressing like a cowgirl, at least he won't adopt the shmata-head look along with the jihadist talking points.

When Prince Charles is crowned king the Church of England will have a head to match.

Over at the Telegraph's Holy Smoke blog, Damian Thompson weighs in with both barrels on the archbishop's latest:

This is the most monumentally stupid thing I have ever heard an Archbishop of Canterbury say, and I’ve heard a few. In fact, it’s more than stupid: it’s disgusting.

And then:

What will the Archbishop of Canterbury's fatuous remarks about Sharia do to his authority as head of the Anglican Communion? Pretty well finish it off, I should think.

Right you are, Abbot! Moreover, His Holiness has the shoes to match the hat. A very "fashion-forward" Pope is our German shepherd.
As to the Archbish, didn't he accept the status of being a "White Druid" a few years ago? Any Christian clergyman who would do so outside of a game of "Dungeons and Dragons" doesn't strike me as someone you can count on to stoutly defend Christianity against threats from any direction.
Of course, he is not the only leader of the CofE to lack apparent confidence in the Christianity. If I recall correctly, some CoE bishops have openly derided many elements of the Creed--e.g., the Virgin Birth.

Kinda sorta a druid.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/religion/Story/0,2763,769703,00.html

With a hat, er, headdress of his own . . .

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/08/06/ndruid06.xml

Although I think the coverage was probably overblown. Seems pretty harmless to me. Kind of like the whole native-American smudging thing in the American church. More silly than anything else.

Abbot, ODT, here's a direct link to the Telegraph piece on the archbishop's induction into the Gorsedd of the Bards at the National Eisteddfod, which appears to be the druidic version of the Wizengamot. The BBC coverage also pictured him in his habit.

I would say that in mufti the archbishop has a fine taste in Panama hats, though that might lead to confusion over the term mufti. Then again, maybe that usage would be appropriate.

I would be interested in how the The Queen, and Prince of Wales regard the title "Defender of the Faith" ("D.F." on Her Majesty's coinage).....

Gold Stars to anyone who knows the irony of the title's origin...

The title, ironies of ironies, was bestowed on Henry VIII in 1521 by Leo X, as a result of the young king's efforts, both in books and on the battlefield, to turn back the Protestant heresy.

Am I right, professor?

I'm with Mrs P on the Defender of the Faith note.

And I should add, that I've always found that whole Python piece really really funny.

You guys realize that His Holiness got that hat second-hand from Irina the singing Russkie in Goldeneye, don't you?

"Stahnd by yoour maaahnnn...."

This picture with the cowboy hat is still my favorite . . .

http://asapblogs.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/13/pope.jpg

Is that a young Steve-O in the picture?

I also like the Grinch hat.

http://www.dangerouslogic.com/images/pope_grinch.jpg

I see what you mean, Abbot, about the nature of this "white Druidism." Looking at the picture, however, I cannot help but think, "Behold, the White Rider!"