Anglican leaders launch robust defence of faith
By Paul Majendie
Mon 27 Nov 2006

LONDON (Reuters) - Offering a telling twist in the country's highly charged debate about religion and integration, the two Anglican leaders most vociferously defending British traditions are originally from Pakistan and Uganda.

Many Church of England clerics tread warily through a political minefield as the country reflects on the value of multiculturalism, especially after last year's London suicide bombings by British Islamist extremists.

But Archbishop of York John Sentamu and Bishop of Rochester Michael Nazir-Ali seem less inhibited than most.

Robust spokesmen for their Christian faith, the two have both taken very public stands on issues ranging from Muslim veils to what the monarchy stands for. They are not shy about standing up for their adopted culture either. the rest