Blasphemy!
Archbishop of Canterbury pushes law vs. “thoughtless and cruel” speech. Times of London:
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has called for new laws to protect religious sensibilities that would punish “thoughtless and cruel” styles of speaking.
Well, it’s not like Old Europe ever had freedom of speech, anyway, as the article goes on to note. I’m trying to think of the best word to describe this guy. I’m thinking “dork.” Now, it might be cruel, but if I really mean it, then it isn’t thoughtless, so thta’s OK.
Dr Williams, who has seen his own Anglican Communion riven by fierce invective over homosexuality, said the current blasphemy law was “unworkable” and he had no objection to its repeal.
But whatever replaces it should “send a signal” about what was acceptable.
This should be done by “stigmatising and punishing extreme behaviours” that have the effect of silencing argument.
That’s interesting. I thought silencing argument was the point of PC thought laws. My only question is whether Rowan should be prosecuted. Because I found this really thoughtless … and hurtful.
Here’s the latest, from the Times, on the status of speech stifling in the UK:
* The last conviction under Britain’s blasphemy law was in 1979. The Government recently indicated it is willing to amend the Criminal Justice Bill to abolish the offences of blasphemy and blasphemous libel.
The High Court last month refused to allow a prosecution of the director general of the BBC for blasphemy over the screening of the controversial musical, Jerry Springer - The Opera.
In 2006, Parliament passed the Racial and Religious Hatred Act, which creates an offence of inciting or “stirring up” hatred against a person on the grounds of their religion. But the act was so watered down during its passage through Parliament that its critics fear it will be almost useless.
I say, these people are positively medieval. By “watered down” do they mean no drawing and quartering? You have to make an example of a few of them or there’s no telling what the commoners will get up to. I’d suggest burning a few heretics.
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 9:53 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2008
7 Responses to “Blasphemy!”
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January 29th, 2008 at 10:21 pm
Will no one rid us of this troublesome priest?
Oh, wait. The Muslims will, just as soon as they’ve taken over.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
The C of E is working extremely hard to dhimmify itself. What’s up with that?
January 29th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
“In 2006, Parliament passed the Racial and Religious Hatred Act, which creates an offence of inciting or “stirring up” hatred against a person on the grounds of their religion.”
I guess that means mentioning that Muslims are following the teaching of a pedophile is out.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Dork works for me. As a description of the good Archbishop, I mean.
The position has certainly gone downhill since Thomas Becket, though.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:18 am
It can’t happen here. Can it?
January 30th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Is it “acceptable” to tell the ArchDruid to engage reflexively in sexual congress?
January 30th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
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