Muslim lawyers say they are puzzled that Archbishop Rowan Williams raised the Sharia issue before they have had a chance to tackle some key concerns. But Evangelicals and a progressive interfaith group are calling for wider debate.

A priminent Labour MP, speaking on behalf of the Christian Socialist Movement, has condemned the "hysterical and largely uninformed media response" to Archbishop Rowan Williams' lecture on civil and religious law in Britain.

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams is panicking over the demise of organised Christianity’s power and influence in society and seeking a multi-faith settlement to address these concerns, a TV discussion programme heard today.

Following the row over the Archbishop of Canterbury's speech on Sharia law, the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales has said it is content that its own marriage tribunal decisions are not enforceable in civil courts.