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Should Richard III Receive a Catholic Burial?
First Things ^ | February 4, 2013 | Mark Movsesian

Posted on 02/06/2013 4:11:39 AM PST by NYer

richardIII

You thought there couldn’t be a law and religion angle to today’s news—fascinating for us history nerds—that archaeologists have discovered the mortal remains of Richard III beneath a parking lot in Leicester? Think again. Plans are underway to re-inter the bones in the city’s Anglican Cathedral. Not so fast, say some: the hunchback king wasn’t a Protestant, but a Catholic, and he requires a Catholic burial. In fact, as Shakespeare fans know, Richard died at Bosworth Field (“A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!”), defending his throne from Henry Tudor. Henry went on to reign as Henry VII; his son, Henry VIII, broke with Rome. As The Tablet’s blog argued this morning, “Had Richard prevailed at the Battle of Bosworth Field, there would have been no Henry VII, therefore no Henry VIII and no Reformation. England today might still be a Catholic country.” Think of it: no Reformation, no Established Church, no Archbishop Laud, no Puritans, no Great Migration — no Massachusetts! — and no Establishment Clause. Surely there’s a law review article in there somewhere.

Leicester Cathedral seems to know it’s facing a sensitive situation. A Catholic priest is keeping watch over Richard’s remains (as is an Anglican, I believe), and the cathedral is planning a “multifaith” burial ceremony. Personally, I’m not sure why English Catholics are so keen to claim Richard, anyway. They must be forgetting the nephews in the Tower.


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; History; Mainline Protestant
KEYWORDS: anglican; coupdetat; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; henrytheusurper; henryvii; kingrichardiii; murderedbytraitors; plantanget; richardiii; shakespeare; uk; unitedkingdom
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To: Tax-chick

It’s all Greek to me.


61 posted on 02/06/2013 9:31:28 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Tax-chick

I know it sounds counter-intuitive but I think the limited gene pool during the War of the Roses produced some extremely bright people. Richard, himself, was a Latin scholar, bookish, highly knowledgable about music, an able administrator and a military powerhouse. His brother, King Edward IV was no dope either. Henry VI might have been a little slow, though...


62 posted on 02/06/2013 9:32:27 AM PST by miss marmelstein ( Richard Lives Yet!)
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To: cuban leaf
Have you never heard of incorruptible bodies? Probably St. Bernadette is the most famous one.

Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Relics and the Incorruptibles

63 posted on 02/06/2013 9:33:17 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: miss marmelstein

I think that makes sense, actually. Look at the Lees ... some of the most brilliant people of their time, even the ones who were moonbat crazy.


64 posted on 02/06/2013 9:36:01 AM PST by Tax-chick (Watch out for spiders.)
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To: cuban leaf

You don’t believe that souls go to heaven, Purgatory or Hell at the moment of death? The souls are very much alive even though the body has died.


65 posted on 02/06/2013 9:36:15 AM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: dfwgator

Have some ouzo.


66 posted on 02/06/2013 9:37:22 AM PST by Tax-chick (Watch out for spiders.)
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To: NYer
“Had Richard prevailed at the Battle of Bosworth Field, there would have been no Henry VII, therefore no Henry VIII and no Reformation. England today might still be a Catholic country.” Think of it: no Reformation, no Established Church, no Archbishop Laud, no Puritans, no Great Migration — no Massachusetts! — and no Establishment Clause.

An interesting "What If" Alternate History scenario. However, I think there would have been Reformation in England sometime in the 17th Century. Somehow I don't see folks like Oliver Cromwell remaining good Catholics. Therefore there would have been Puritans but when they overthrew the King, there would have been NO Restoration as happened when Charles II was returned to the throne. Most likely England would have remained a Republic which makes for some other interesting scenarios such as would there have been an American Revolution against not the British Crown but a British Republic.

67 posted on 02/06/2013 9:41:12 AM PST by PJ-Comix (Beware the Rip in the Space/Time Continuum)
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To: cuban leaf
I agree with much of what that particular organization teaches, but I also agree with much of what Jehovas Witnesses, Mormons and pentacostals teach.

Um...So why are you even posting on the Free Republic, a CURRENT EVENTS website, if you agree with the Jehovas Witnesses?

68 posted on 02/06/2013 9:46:00 AM PST by PJ-Comix (Beware the Rip in the Space/Time Continuum)
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To: Tax-chick

You would have to ask NYer, who would know about Eastern Rite Catholic Christian stuff.


69 posted on 02/06/2013 10:11:47 AM PST by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!)
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To: Salvation

The incorruptibles are a Catholic thing. I’m not a Catholic. Wiki discusses it. Notice that they are corrupted. Just not as much as many.

And regarding claims of NO corruption: extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.


70 posted on 02/06/2013 10:19:07 AM PST by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: Salvation

You don’t believe that souls go to heaven, Purgatory or Hell at the moment of death? The souls are very much alive even though the body has died.


I don’t believe in purgatory. But the bottom line is that I don’t really know, regarding the fate of the dead before the resurrection. I remember going under for surgery. It was not like sleep. It was like time travel. In the middle of a sleepy breath it was suddenly two hours later.

It happened both times I was put out. I’m thinking something like that is what happens when one dies. It “feels” instantanious. But I’ll find out for sure after I die. :-)


71 posted on 02/06/2013 10:21:36 AM PST by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: Tax-chick

The Lees of Ole Virginia? Yes, some moonbats in that family although I love Marsh Rob (or is it Bob?)


72 posted on 02/06/2013 10:24:53 AM PST by miss marmelstein ( Richard Lives Yet!)
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To: PJ-Comix

Um...So why are you even posting on the Free Republic, a CURRENT EVENTS website, if you agree with the Jehovas Witnesses?


I don’t agree with them on everything. This may shock you but I am even in agreement with Satan on something. We both know that Jesus is the Son of God.

Jehovas witnesses, like Mormons, teach a lot of Christian principles but then leave some out or add some. e.g. they deny the Deity of Christ. Since it is the foundation upon which Christianity rests, I could never attend one of their churches.

Meanwhile, the Baptist church I attend is anti-alcohol. I’m not. But I still go there because their beliefs about the core teachings of Christianity line up with mine. Many churches do. But my main reason for going is to worship God through fellowship with other Christians. This includes both learning from them and teaching them as well as helping and being helped.

I don’t need to go to a church building to worship Him in other ways. In fact, we partake of communion at home. There is no requirement that it be done in the church building.


73 posted on 02/06/2013 10:27:30 AM PST by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: NYer

Hoo boy! The Sarum use is pre-reformation and so unusual that if the Catholic church really made a show of it, it would be televised around the world to a huge audience.

It would also be a huge one-in-the-eye to the Anglican lefties.


74 posted on 02/06/2013 10:28:06 AM PST by yefragetuwrabrumuy (Best WoT news at rantburg.com)
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To: dfwgator

You said it.


75 posted on 02/06/2013 10:30:35 AM PST by Biggirl ("Jesus talked to us as individuals"-Jim Vicevich/Thanks JimV!)
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To: miss marmelstein
Eventually, that tombstone ended up in the poet Robert Herrick’s garden.

DIfferent Robert Herrick. This one was mayor of Leicester.The poet spent most of his life as a vicar in Devonshire.

76 posted on 02/06/2013 10:45:47 AM PST by Bubba Ho-Tep ("More weight!"--Giles Corey)
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To: Bubba Ho-Tep

Oops! Thanks for the correction.


77 posted on 02/06/2013 11:25:55 AM PST by miss marmelstein ( Richard Lives Yet!)
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To: Tax-chick
Well since Byzantium fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453 recordings would be a problem. However, in their writings and chronolgies they wrote in Greek and spoke in greek. Now to be sure their Greek is not the Greek spoken today but a more ancient form.

As to English, well was it Oscar Wilde who said England and America were separated by a common language?

78 posted on 02/06/2013 11:52:49 AM PST by Jimmy Valentine (DemocRATS - when they speak, they lie; when they are silent, they are stealing the American Dream)
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To: miss marmelstein

I get the impression that Robert E. believed he had to make up for the rest of them. The Revolutionary generation of Lees, even Richard Henry, coin-toss for greatest orator of his time, were way out on the Far Side.


79 posted on 02/06/2013 12:02:10 PM PST by Tax-chick (Watch out for spiders.)
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To: Campion

Many Christians are unconsciously neo-platonists. The doctrine of the General resurrection is little emphasized.


80 posted on 02/06/2013 1:09:53 PM PST by RobbyS (Christus rex.)
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