Remember, remember the 5th of November. How could I, a Catholic, forget?

The Telegraph ^ | November 5, 2013 | Cristina Odone

[Alex Murphy]

Frankly, how could I, or any Catholic, forget. Today is the day when Britons still burn an effigy of the Pope - and do so, joyously, in public.

[SNIP]

What distinguished me from the great majority of Britons I met was my faith. Being a Catholic marked me out as the "odd one" (my rather obvious nickname at college). I couldn't believe the prejudice I encountered. My first boyfriend's mother warned him that if he married me I would send all his money to Rome, to line the Vatican coffers. The science teacher at school said he knew why I wasn't doing it for A Level: Catholics didn't believe in evolution. And a classmate who visited my room expressed surprise when she couldn't see a plastic Madonna or a candle in the mould of the bleeding heart of Jesus.

This wasn't Northern Ireland, but north Oxford. I was shocked, saddened – and then repulsed, as I watched a chanting jeering crowd on the telly hold up an effigy of the Pope, only to the set it alight. My beloved, civilised, romantic Britain had a dark streak running through it: anti-Popery.

When I later read history, I understood just how ingrained this bigotry was. Linda Colley's Britons was particularly shattering: we Catholics were the "outlandish" people ready to betray England to the Pope. Our allegiances were suspect, our mission clear: we prayed for the conversion of every Protestant we met.

I had hoped that my adopted homeland would overcome its ancient prejudice. It hasn't: even in 2013, Britons see the 5th of November as a chance to show my "outlandish" community that they hold it in contempt.

[Alex Murphy]

Frankly, how could I, or any Catholic, forget. Today is the day when Britons still burn an effigy of the Pope - and do so, joyously, in public....When I later read history, I understood just how ingrained this bigotry was...we Catholics were the "outlandish" people ready to betray England to the Pope. Our allegiances were suspect, our mission clear....

On the night of November 5, 1605, the conspiracy by English Catholics to kill King James I and replace him with his Catholic daughter, Princess Elizabeth, was cut short by the arrest of Guy Fawkes, who had been charged with placing gunpowder under the Houses of Parliament. The plot involved digging a tunnel under the Palace of Westminster, filling it with gunpowder and then triggering a deadly explosion during the ceremonial opening of Parliament, which would have resulted in the death of not only James I, but also the leading Protestant nobility. From then on, November 5 was celebrated in Britain and its colonies with a bonfire burning either Guy Fawkes or the pope in effigy.
-- from the History Channel article Washington condemns Guy Fawkes festivities

[yldstrk]

so the Catholics had it coming is your take on it?

[Alex Murphy]

so the Catholics had it coming is your take on it?

Why would that be "my" take on it?

[yldstrk]

just curious

[Alex Murphy]

Conversely, do you believe the Protestants (at that time) “had it coming”?

[littleharbour]

The English certainly had a habit of generating visceral hatred from an eclectic group of peoples. The Scots, Welsh, Irish, French, Spanish, Indians (both East and West) Indies and indigenous peoples of Australia and North America), West African slaves, and ultimately the early Americans, all had an axe to grind with the English tyrants. The country that brought us representative democracy and the common law, was also responsible for spreading misery around the world. I view November 5th as a missed opportunity.

[Alex Murphy]

The English certainly had a habit of generating visceral hatred from an eclectic group of peoples....I view November 5th as a missed opportunity.

An assassination for political/religious reasons was a "missed opportunity"?

[yldstrk]

Had what coming? Does Martin Luther get burned in effigy every year? did I miss something?

[Alex Murphy]

Had what coming? Does Martin Luther get burned in effigy every year? did I miss something?

I must have missed that day in history class, where we learned that Martin Luther plotted to blow up the Vatican in retaliation for the Edict of Worms.

[ravenwolf]

The science teacher at school said he knew why I wasn’t doing it for A Level: Catholics didn’t believe in evolution
—————————————————————————————What is that supposed to mean?

[littleharbour]

Read a bit of English history. The English monarchy and aristocracy had no hesitation in murdering their opponents without due process. Thomas Beckett and Thomas More are the first that come to mind. Killing the English aristocracy would have been a justified retaliatory response to outrages that the English has perpetrated against their many enemies.

[markomalley]

Can you post some pics of your church burning the pope in effigy? Guy Fawkes articles on November 5th are a personal tradition for you...just wonder if you participate in the whole 9 yards...

[Alex Murphy]

Can you post some pics of your church burning the pope in effigy? Guy Fawkes articles on November 5th are a personal tradition for you...just wonder if you participate in the whole 9 yards...

[Gamecock]

There are some on FR that think just that.

[Alex Murphy]

There are some on FR that think just that.

Keep watching the thread, and you'll see some coming up out of the cellar.

[BlueDragon]

It must be nice, having so many rent-free time-share vacation homes available to you.

But how does one visit so many of them all at once? Is it sort-of like the "bi-location" thingy, but more like multiple addresses?

[kiltie65]

“Remember, remember the 5th of November, the day of the gunpowder plot”. In my childhood in Scotland it was Guy Fawkes day, a holiday, and that was the day for fireworks, and lighting the bonfire, with the “Guy” (a stuffed effigy of Guy Fawkes atop). Also going door to door (similar to trick or treating here in the U.S.) We children knocked on doors, collected things that would burn for the bonfire, and asked for “a penny for the Guy”, were invited in to most doors knocked on, had to perform our “party piece”, either sing, recite poetry, or do something entertaining which was required procedure at any party we went to in those days. We were rewarded with a penny each. This endeavor took some time depending on how many were in the group, so we couldn’t hit up too many homes, but once we had enough to share a fish and chip supper we took off for the chip shop. On Nov. 5th there was a bit of ceremony, then the lighting of the bonfire, with the “Guy” being burned in effigy on top. The Pope never came into it, and this article is the first I heard of it???

[Gamecock]

Kinda like this?

[bonfire]

The comments from the article are great. Most aren’t buying her poor pitiful Pearl victim mentality.

[Gamecock]

Amazing how some people obsess over what others posted a year ago!