Alex Laughlin Quotes

An office boy in London was the lowest of the low. The office boy was the tea boy. He would be the dog`s body: It means someone who would do anything at all. I was quite prepared for that and enjoyed it.

But, as you have intimated, I am among those who would be very wary of any military action in the light of Saddam Hussein`s willingness to allow the weapons inspectors to go in.

If there are Muslims who believe that they`ve got to kill Christians to make a way for the Islamic faith in the West, not only would they be disappointed, but it will lead to conflict, there`s no doubt about that.

We must get back to a very strong Christianity... Christianity shaped America and England, and we need to get back to those moral foundations that made us great.

And I hope America will realise, as the only superpower now, it really must use its power in a way that`s going to build up the world, and to support the United Nations.

In my time as Archbishop of Canterbury I`ve seen a growing sense of unity and mission.

I think in my own country, at the way we`ve seen through the ordination of women to the priesthood, which I`m delighted about, and that will move on to another level before very long.

I see no room in holy Scripture for any sexual activity outside of matrimony.

People have described me as a management bishop but I say to my critics, Jesus was a management expert too.

Well, the issue of establishment, of course, is a moving target. It`s changed a lot over the last hundred years, and no doubt will change further.

If someone talks about union, fidelity, a monogamous relationship, love, blessing; I would say it sounds like marriage to me. And blessing, you see, I think is undermining our sacrament of marriage.

God loves us all, wants us all to share his kingdom, has a role for us all.

I think what Calvinism may offer us is that God`s in charge of his world.

I believe with all my heart that the Church of Jesus Christ should be a Church of blurred edges.

I think what has happened, actually, is that September 11 has given a spur, a renewed urgency, to dialogue between the great faiths.

And here at our Anglican Consultative Council, we have many reports of growth and great encouragement.

What I`d say about that is that we must respect homosexuals in the church. I`ve got many homosexual friends, the issue is not in any way a homophobic reaction on my part.

What I think is that we in the church - and especially I as an Archbishop - I`m responsible for maintaining our rules, and making sure we hold to unity in the Body of Christ.

From a Christian point of view of course we do want a peaceful world, and I think September 11 did actually make people aware not only of vulnerability and how transitory life is, but there are forces of good and honor and justice which speak to us of God and his love for us.

This is very good, this is governments realising that religion must be part of the answer, as well as part of the problem, as it often is.

And what we have to do in the church today is to look out at a very needy world, seek to serve it, and to show that unity we have in Jesus Christ.

And so in my warnings, I was pointing to a number of incidents around the communion that could undermine our growing sense of communion - of becoming a global communion. So that`s why I pointed to New Westminster in Canada, to incidents in the United States, and Sydney itself.

I mean, I can look back with great pleasure on what has happened in Sudan, and our commitment to people who are persecuted in that kind of way.

We`ve got to trust the politicians with these decisions.

One I`ve been passionately committed to, of course, is women`s ministry; I believe solidly in it as a Gospel issue and we`ve found our way through that.

We`ve got to find ways of confronting the issues that divide - and at the heart of cultural issues, you often find religions.

When the fire of prayer goes out, the barrenness of busyness takes over.

The Israelis have suffered a great deal, we must condemn suicide bombers, and we must never say that the plight of the Palestinians justifies this terrible thing.

It is obvious that at moments of raw emotion, people turn to the church, and that in itself is saying something quite remarkable.

I`m on record as being understood to be a supporter of a reformed establishment, in which other Christian denominations, and other faiths, play a major part.

I had a conversion experience which was very real... There were no blinding lights, simply a quiet conviction I had found something.