3rd December 2012
Royal firsts in Rome
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were in Rome on 30 November and 1 December. They were here to celebrate the work, teaching and history of the British Pontifical Colleges.
They visited the Pontifical Scots College on St Andrew’s Day, where they unveiled a plaque commemorating Henry Stuart, Cardinal York; commemorated the English Martyrs and 650 years of the foundation of the Venerable English College on the Feast Day of St Ralph Sherwin, the College’s Protomartyr; and were the first ever Royal visitors to the Pontifical Beda College that same day.
The Duke, first cousin of The Queen, delivered a special message from Her Majesty to the English College, and received a blessing at Mass in the College Church of St Thomas of Canterbury from Archbishop Nichols of Westminster.
Why was this such an important visit?
Well, there are clues in an article published by L’Osservatore Romano on 1 December, written by Mons. Mark Langham of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity and Justin Bedford of this embassy, about the English Catholic tradition. The history of the relationship between Crown and Papacy, the United Kingdom and Holy See, is long and complex. The presence of Their Royal Highnesses in Rome, and what they did, shows just how far that relationship has developed.
No Member of the Royal Family had been to the Scots College since 1979. This was, we believe, the first official visit by a Royal to the Venerabile. And they are certainly the first Members of The Royal Family ever to visit all three Pontifical Colleges.
No country can, or should try to ignore its history. But we can move forward from it. The Queen’s message made clear that the presence of The Duke of Gloucester at the Martyrs’ Day Feast of the English College – let us not forget, martyrs who died on the scaffold in England for their faith under a charge of treason – “is a sign of the strength of the relationship between the United Kingdom and the Holy See”.
The Duke, speaking after the Rector had proposed the Loyal Toast, reminded the seminarians present that they were welcome in Britain after their studies to serve the community, and how we should celebrate the fact that the era of persecution of religion by religion, in the United Kingdom if not everywhere across the world, is at an end.
Like our history, we must never take for granted the protection of fundamental rights and liberties. This week, I shall attend in London a conference on the theme: “Combating intolerance by promoting freedom of religion or belief for all”.
In Rome, the Duke was surprised to find, on a visit to the Papal Basilica of St Paul’s outside the Walls, the motto of the Order of the Garter on the coat of arms of the adjoining Benedictine Abbey. The honour had been the gift of King Henry VIII, the Catholic monarch responsible for the break with the Roman Catholic Church. Sometimes, knowing the complexities of our history fortifies our modern effort to stand up for human rights and authentic values today.
Nobody expects the English Inquisition!
Sorry Mr Weir, but when foster parents face restrictions due to political and faith-based beliefs, and 8ritish MEPs like honeyball openly call for a restrictions on catholics in public life, looks the test acts and rescuancy is ack in play.
“We should celebrate the fact that the era of persecution of religion by religion, in the United Kingdom if not everywhere across the world, is at an end.”
Hmmm. The new secular religion in the UK has being persecuting Catholics and other Christians in the UK for some time now. Among the major events: Catholic adoption agencies had to close because they were being forced to facilitate homosexual adoptions. A Christian couple were not allowed to foster a child based purely on their belief that homosexuality is wrong. And a Cafe owner was persecuted for having random bible quotes appear on a screen in his cafe (reason: someone claimed that one out of the several hundred verses was “homophobic”)
Meanwhile, throughout the middle East the old historic Christian communities have seen their numbers decimated as they continue to be persecuted by radical Islamists which mass murder them even during their religious services (Iraq and Egypt in 2010 and 2011). In Pakistan Christians are jailed for blasphemy and politicians who defend them are murdered. In India Hindu party radicals harass Christians in Orissa even to the point of burning their villages.
I could go on but I’m sure you understand that their is some serious counter evidence to your statement.
Thank you for reading my blog, Emile, and for taking the time to comment. I should like to address both your and Paul’s statements.
I think we have to be very careful in our choice of words, and I used mine advisedly. I believe it is wrong to equate the persecutions and executions in Britain of Catholics, and Protestants, in the post-Reformation era with the debates and legal cases we are seeing now. There are some real issues being fought over in the British and European courts at present. But that is the point – there is genuine public debate, in parliament, through the media, and in the courts, where the different cases are being made.
As for elsewhere in the world, you will see in my blog that I was careful not to make claims for what is happening in other countries. Sadly, there are still many countries in the world where people are actively persecuted or discriminated against because of their faith, with no legal protection. I hope to come back to this theme in a future blog before too long.