Sense from a Cardinal at last

[Guest guest]

People here 'must obey the laws of the land'

Last Updated: 8:34pm GMT 09/02/2008Page 1 of 3

 

 

 

Tucked behind Westminster Cathedral on a quiet back street, Cardinal

Cormac Murphy-O'Connor's home is only a short walk from Lambeth

Palace, the Archbishop of Canterbury's official residence which sits

on the south-bank of the Thames.

 

On the issues of sharia law and multiculturalism, however, Britain's

two most senior Christian leaders appear to be worlds apart.

 

Dr Rowan Williams, head of the Anglican Church, caused uproar last

week with his suggestion that the incorporation of aspects of sharia

into UK law might be " unavoidable " , and could aid social cohesion.

Cardinal Murphy-O'Connor, leader of the 4.5? million Catholics in

England and Wales, begs to differ. He is adamant that such a move

would only make segregation even more entrenched.

 

advertisement " I don't believe in a multicultural society, " he says

firmly. " When people come into this country they have to obey the

laws of the land. "

 

He has a mellifluous voice and an affable manner, but the cardinal

becomes steely when discussing the problems facing British society,

and the issue of sharia law.

 

" There are going to be certain things which might clash in the

overall culture of the country. That's where one has to make a

judgement, " he says, then pauses before continuing, aware of the

sensitivity of the issue. " There are aspects of sharia that are

practised that we certainly wouldn't want in this country. The laws

of this country don't allow forced marriages or polygamy.

 

" It seems to me a government and a country has a right to make sure

that those laws are kept. "

 

Although moderate Muslims are strongly opposed to forced marriage, it

is a reality in Islamic countries and a recent report by the Centre

for Social Cohesion claimed that it is even practised by some

families living in Britain.

 

The issue of polygamy was raised last weekend when The Sunday

Telegraph revealed that the Government had decided to allow husbands

with " multiple " wives to claim extra housing and income benefits,

arguing that recognising " valid polygamous marriages " is " the best

possible " option.

 

The cardinal warns that an approach that treats people in different

ways sets a dangerous precedent, and can only make Britain more

divided. " The extent to which multiculturalism has been encouraged

recently has meant a lessening of the kind of unity that a country

needs. It is not enough for people to live within their own cultures

and then say 'we'll live within the freedoms that are given in this

country within a totally separate culture'.

 

" Of course you can keep the variety of traditions, but when you enter

this country there are common values which are part of its heritage,

which should be embraced by everybody. "

 

One of six children of Irish Catholic immigrants, Cardinal Murphy

O'Connor grew up as part of a community that was on the margins of

mainstream society and that experienced the struggle of trying to

integrate without losing its identity.

 

" When I was young we were the new immigrants, " he says. " For the most

part, the Irish kept to themselves. They were workers who just came

over, who built the railways, but didn't feel accepted to enter the

social life of the country. "

 

He sympathises, therefore, with the Muslim community in Britain,

which finds itself constantly at the centre of attention, and

criticised for contributing to racial tension.

 

" Variety within unity " is the cardinal's mantra. He says that Muslims

should be free to express their religious consciences, but not at the

expense of contributing to wider society.

 

 

 

 

Continued