Archbishop says Church has no political agenda

THE Archbishop of Canterbury has said he thinks there has been a rise in suspicion of religion over the past decade.

Speaking yesterday, he said, despite many people’s beliefs, the Church did not come with a “political agenda”.

He made the comments days after announcing that he is to step down from the post after ten years.

He said 9/11 had brought “to a head” suspicion of religion.

“Either you are a committed fanatic who wants everyone to follow your regime, or you are a woolly liberal who can be persuaded to go along with what is happening in society.

“The Church is neither of those things. We do not come with a political agenda.”

When asked during a question-and-answer session at a church in Surrey what he would miss most about being the archbishop, Dr Williams said the trips to developing countries, adding that he had found a visit to Kenya last year “amazingly moving”.

He said: “To see what the Church does and can do with women who have been in war, with children that have been abducted and coerced into militias, it is amazing to see how they help them.”