10 AUGUST 2002, Page 25

From Mr Emerson Roberts Sir: Damian Thompson doubts whether Rowan

Williams will be a rebel, using the homosexuality litmus test as his sole basis for suggesting not. The whole point is that Rowan Williams does not care about this issue half as much as Mr Thompson and Dr Carey seem to. That, to me, is not just rebellious; after recent years in the Church, it borders on the revolutionary. I even hope that this hugely gifted leader, communicator and theologian will fulfil his destiny as the rebel Archbishop by attending to real issues and breaking the Primacy's tradition of being as inoffensive as possible at all times.

Emerson Roberts

London SW11