[Pyro7480]

The honourable saint sounds like a predecessor of those "evil Republicans who have divided America."

John Hudson

[Pyro7480]

St. Thomas Becket, pray for us!

[Pyro7480]

Catholic ping!

[Lilllabettt]

St. Thomas, evil? Bleech.
Becket is one of my favourite movies of all time.

[1066AD]

I would rank any of Burgess, MacLean, Philby, Blunt etc far worse than ol' Oswald but of course they were Soviet stooges so they (still) get a free pass.

[Pharmboy]

I nominate George Galloway for the 21st Century...

[NZerFromHK]

What would you expect? This is Britain where most Britons have the idea of a Christianity shaped by national culture, rather than a concept of universal Christianity or that this university shaping national culture i.e. Briton first, Christian second is their motto.

[sassbox]

I'd nominate Cromwell.

[dangus]

Founder of the principle of separation of Church and State (although others such as Augustine deserve mention also); martyr, recognized as a saint by the Britons; rescuer of the faith from political corruption... how evil!

[dangus]

You have to love a University Professor / author who mispells the name of his university on his web page.

[XEHRpa]

The BBC? Will no one rid me of this meddlesome network?

[Falconspeed]

St. Thomas Becket (feast Dec. 29): soldier, diplomat, lawyer, financier, priest, counselor of kings, leader of countries, and martyr, according to Crocker's 'Triumph' (p. 161):

"As archbishop Becket insisted on the Church's independence in its right to make its own clerical appointments."

If Professor Hudson thinks that Becket is evil and that religious groups should not have freedom and independence, then Professor Hudson is supporting a socialism that does not work - as historians should know by now.

St. Thomas Becket, ora pro nobis peccatoribus. (cc: Hudson)

[Salvation]

St Thomas of Canterbury(1118-1170) [St Thomas a Becket]

The Murder of Thomas Becket, 1170

BBC: St. Thomas Becket "Worst Briton of 12th Century"

 

 

[PAR35]

Here's the full list:

1900 to 2000: Oswald Mosley
(1896-1980)
1800 to 1900: Jack the Ripper
1700 to 1800: Duke of Cumberland (1721-1765)
1600 to 1700: Titus Oates
(1649-1705)
1500 to 1600: Sir Richard Rich (Lord Rich of Leighs)
(1496/7-1567)
1400 to 1500: Thomas Arundel (1353-1414)
1300 to 1400: Hugh Despenser (The Younger)
(died 1326)
1200 to 1300: King John
(1167-1216)
1100 to 1200: Thomas Becket
Archbishop of Canterbury
(c.1120-1170)
1000 to 1100: Eadric Streona
(died 1017)

Short bios here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4561624.stm

[Dumb_Ox]

I'd never thought I'd see a modern British academic defending the authority of the monarchy, even indirectly.

[bornacatholic]

Professor John Hudson, of St Andrews University

*No doubt a Poofter Professor; well, he represents Perfidious Albion and he hates Becket, therefore, he can kiss my arse

BTW, Jesus is divisive

[siunevada]

Just an amateur opinion, but I don't think the professor can see the sun shine from the current location of his head. Becket and Henry II were reportedly reconciled before his assasination.

I'll nominate this broad:

1114 - Matilda (Maud), daughter of Henry I of England marries Emperor Henry V

1129 - Empress Matilda, widow of Henry V, marries Geoffrey the Handsome, Count of Anjou, nicknamed " Plantagenet "

1139 - Matilda lands in England

1141 - Matilda captures Stephen at the battle of Lincoln, and reigns disastrously as queen; she is driven out by a popular rising and Stephen restored

1148 - Matilda leaves England for the last time

[Falconspeed]

I emailed Prof. Hudson and he kindly emailed back saying,

"The early sources give no sign of saintliness, although in his secular career certainly many signs of effectiveness ... and his canonisation was duly swift."

I kindly responded (1) that early sources do show signs of Becket's saintliness, such as the monk Gervase, and (2) that his canonization only took three years because there were so many miracles at his grave.

This is higher academia at its best, imho.

[Unam Sanctam]

He is a martyr for freedom of the Church from government control. Obviously, somebody doesn't like that concept at the BBC!

[Salvation]

American Catholic’s Saint of the Day

December 29, 2006

St. Thomas Becket

(1118-1170)

A strong man who wavered for a moment, but then learned one cannot come to terms with evil and so became a strong churchman, a martyr and a saint—that was Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, murdered in his cathedral on December 29, 1170.

His career had been a stormy one. While archdeacon of Canterbury, he was made chancellor of England at the age of 36 by his friend King Henry II. When Henry felt it advantageous to make his chancellor the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas gave him fair warning: he might not accept all of Henry’s intrusions into Church affairs. Nevertheless, he was made archbishop (1162), resigned his chancellorship and reformed his whole way of life!

Troubles began. Henry insisted upon usurping Church rights. At one time, supposing some conciliatory action possible, Thomas came close to compromise. He momentarily approved the Constitutions of Clarendon, which would have denied the clergy the right of trial by a Church court and prevented them from making direct appeal to Rome. But Thomas rejected the Constitutions, fled to France for safety and remained in exile for seven years. When he returned to England, he suspected it would mean certain death. Because Thomas refused to remit censures he had placed upon bishops favored by the king, Henry cried out in a rage, “Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest!” Four knights, taking his words as his wish, slew Thomas in the Canterbury cathedral.

Thomas Becket remains a hero-saint down to our own times.

Comment:

No one becomes a saint without struggle, especially with himself. Thomas knew he must stand firm in defense of truth and right, even at the cost of his life. We also must take a stand in the face of pressures—against dishonesty, deceit, destruction of life—at the cost of popularity, convenience, promotion and even greater goods.

Quote:

In T.S. Eliot's drama, Murder in the Cathedral, Becket faces a final temptation to seek martyrdom for earthly glory and revenge. With real insight into his life situation, Thomas responds:

"The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason."