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The Archbishop of Canterbury has firmly discouraged
the Prince of Wales from becoming Defender of Faith rather than "the
Faith" when he is crowned king.
Speaking to The Telegraph in his first daily
newspaper interview, Dr Rowan Williams welcomed Prince Charles's
interest in minority faiths, but said the monarch had a historic
relationship with the Christian Church.
"Unless something really radical happens with the
constitution he is, like it or not, Defender of the Faith and he has
a relationship with the Christian Church of a kind which he does not
have with other faith communities," Dr Williams said.
Any reform would be "a large issue", he added. "It
wouldn't just be a matter of words. The fact is that the monarch is
the supreme governor and is such in virtue of being the prime lay
person of a Christian Church."
Dr William's comments will disappoint critics of the
Establishment who believe that the Church of England enjoys a
privileged position which fails to reflect "multi-faith"
Britain.
The Prince first expressed his wish to alter the
title in a 1994 television interview. He said Defender of the Faith
meant "just one interpretation of the faith".
His remarks prompted speculation that he might also
opt
for a multi-faith inauguration ceremony.
Dr Williams said the title was part of "a
historical, constitutional framework" which "you don't just change
by fiat".
In the interview, Dr Williams also signalled his
opposition to the
blessing of homosexual "marriages". |