Society

Moyes: Archbishop’s Sharia Law Comment ‘Unwise’

Reverend Dr. Gordon Moyes, a Christian Democrat parliamentarian in the New South Wales Parliament, has called recent comments by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, on Sharia law ‘unwise’ for failing to take into consideration the likely hysterical and racist responses.

Reverend Dr. Gordon Moyes, a Christian Democrat parliamentarian in the New South Wales Parliament, has called recent comments by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, on Sharia law ‘unwise’ for failing to take into consideration the likely hysterical and racist responses.

The former Superintendent at Sydney Wesley Missions was responding to Dr. Williams’ suggestion that the accommodation of some aspects of Sharia law into the British legal system was ‘inevitable’, particularly in the areas of family disputes, property, and financial matters.

Dr. Moyes believed the people who gave the most hysterical response failed to do research on the issue. He indicated in Western democracies, such as Australia, the Sharia law is now being followed in the context of family law. He went on to list the positive aspects of the Sharia law, as outlined in the recent publication of a Fairfax newspaper penned by Muslim authors.

“Did you know that Sharia law courts have the same plaintiff and defendant system as Australian courts? Did you know that in Sharia law if a husband files for divorce he is obliged to pay his ex-wife’s rent and basic necessities and it is the husband who is forced to leave the matrimonial home?" He said.

"Did you know that in Sharia law the overriding principle in determining who has custody of the children is the same as that under the Australian Family Law Act – “the best interests of the child” and the presumption is that it is usually the mother?”

In a democracy, he continued, two consenting people regardless of their race, creed, or religion, could frame their contract in whatever manner they liked provided it did not contradict existing law.

He went on to ask where ‘racist hysterical outburst’ was against the Jews for resolving family and financial matters under Jewish law or against some South Pacific Island groups who had exercised their rights, in accordance with their tradition and custom, within the country.

“As Christians,” he said, “(We) must not allow the atrocities and persecutions of other people determine how we should react. We must respond as our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, taught us.”

He concluded his article by urging Christians not to become hysterical and, quoting the words from an old advertisement, “Have a cup of tea, a Bex and a good lie down.”

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