Religion seen an 'oddity' by ministers, Archbishop says

By BBC
Added: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 UTC

Thanks to Norry for the link.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8409310.stm

But Rowan Williams told the Daily Telegraph ministers were wrong to think it was no longer relevant to society.

Political leaders should be more open about their beliefs, he added.

A government spokesperson said it did recognise "the important role faith plays in shaping the values of millions of people in this country".

The spokesperson added that engagement with faith communities happens through the Faith Communities Consultative Council, which sees representatives of all the major religions being consulted on "policy questions of mutual interest".

Communities Secretary John Denham has also held "intensive discussions with faith leaders, and is recruiting a panel of advisers to act as a sounding board on issues of faith and public policy".

But Dr Williams told the Telegraph: "The trouble with a lot of government initiatives about faith is that they assume it is a problem, it's an eccentricity, it's practised by oddities, foreigners and minorities.
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