Stephen Bates, the religion reporter for The Guardian offers a rather tart appraisal of some of the more recent goings-on in the Church of England. His column makes clear what was perhaps fairly clear already, that liberals in the Anglican Communion churches of the United Kingdom feel that Rowan Williams is putty in conservative hands.
I don’t know enough about the case in question to say whether I agree. I see Dr. Williams as someone striving mightily to play the role of honest broker–trying to keep everyone engaged in conversation (if only with himself) until final decisions about the future of the Communion can be made. In the meantime, though, minor league provocateurs like the Rev. Richard Coekin, the priest involved in the case Bates is writing about, can get away with some bad behavior because Dr. Williams doesn’t want to elevate a bit player in a sidshow to the starring role as new martyr for the Anglican right.
That, at least, is my hopeful take on the Archbishop.