The Tudor Lion Still Roars

On reading the many opinions voiced regarding  the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams , comments condemning the Catholic Church’s mishandling of abuse within the RC church in Ireland, it seemed to me that almost everyone had totally missed the point. For the most part they  fell into two groups; those who felt his blunt but truthful comments were only adding to the pain within the Catholic Irish community, and those that felt relieved by his embrace of the truth , seeing it as necessary, and long overdue, feeling that the church should be thinking of the trauma and pain suffered by those abused, not about the damage done to the church. However it seems to me that no-one had seen the true significance of these feisty comments; no-one had read between the lines  and seen the clever diplomatic strategy that lie within.

Dr Williams was blatantly saying to Rome that although Papal authority might have held supreme and dictated policy within Ireland, that if they thought it would do so here in Britain then they should think again. His comments were  not merely those of  a Christian leader on behalf of his Anglican flock  but as Tudor lion he roared on behalf of  all British citizens, for here in Britain regardless of religion we expect equal and uncompromised justice  for all.

Those who accused his comments of being untimely are so wrong,  for had he waited until the Pope arrives in person upon our beloved soil his comments could have been wrongly interpreted as offensive or irreverent; at best he  would have been seen to be uncooperative. However  by roaring loudly to the world press he has  clearly and resoundingly made his point , without offence  being directed at anyone in particular; a clever ploy to send a  message strong and clearly straight to Rome.

What do I think?  Well actually the archaeologist within me informs that nothing much changes, over the last  3,000 years of history. Since the rise to power of men, the coming of civilization and partriarchy, world religions and politics have been woven inseparably together in their never ending struggle for control. And while this attitude of power struggle and supremacy prevails the suffering of the innocent will continue to be ever with us,  taking second place to religious discipline through doctrine.