Catholic saint named among top 10 'worst Britons' by BBC magazine

[WanderAimlessly]

**Catholic saint named among top 10 ‘worst Britons’ by BBC magazine

**By Simon Caldwell
Catholic News Service

LONDON (CNS) – A Catholic saint and martyr has been nominated as one of the nastiest villains in British history.

St. Thomas Becket, a 12th-century archbishop of Canterbury, was among 10 “worst Britons” of the last millennium, selected by a group of British historians. The saint, whose feast is celebrated Dec. 29, was chosen by John Hudson, a professor at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, because he divided England in a way that was “unnecessary and self-indulgent.”

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PF

 

[cainem]

just typical of the anti catholic bias in this country

 

[willy]

I think they neglected to mention King Henry VI ( or VIII cant remember) who was the one who seperated from the Church for the sole reason he couldnt decide on which wife to keep. Now its St. Thomas’s fault for sticking with it.

 

[bones_IV]

cainem:

just typical of the anti catholic bias in this country

They have been since the protestant reformation. They ought to wash themselves in their own blood.

 

[Della]

Thomas Becket was Henry II’s adviser before he was made a bishop and advised him to do things he though in the best interest of England at the time, I’m sure. I’m not up on the history to which Professor Hudson alludes, but considering he is a Scotsman it’s hardly surprising he would hate anyone he felt an enemy of Scotland, even if it means besmirching the name of a far greater man than he’ll ever be. It’s sounds like national pride turned into bitterness to me, but not unexpected when people value their prejudices more than saintliness.

 

[willy]

Della:

Thomas Becket was Henry II’s adviser before he was made a bishop and advised him to do things he though in the best interest of England at the time, I’m sure. I’m not up on the history to which Professor Hudson alludes, but considering he is a Scotsman it’s hardly surprising he would hate anyone he felt an enemy of Scotland, even if it means besmirching the name of a far greater man than he’ll ever be. It’s sounds like national pride turned into bitterness to me, but not unexpected when people value their prejudices more than saintliness.

Ye , your history is accurate , ( i have a history course this semester we went over it ) Thomas at first seemed to be in favour of the kings power of the Church but when he later became bishop ( with the help of the king) he turned the other way around.

 

[Pythagoras]

willy:

I think they neglected to mention King Henry VI ( or VIII cant remember) who was the one who seperated from the Church for the sole reason he couldnt decide on which wife to keep. Now its St. Thomas’s fault for sticking with it.

Henry VIII was the adulterer who martyred St. Thomas More
while Henry II martyred St. Thomas Becket

 

[steve99]

Pythagoras:

Henry VIII was the adulterer who martyred St. Thomas More
while Henry II martyred St. Thomas Becket

if your name is Thomas, best keep a low profile in England :whacky:

 

[MarkR]

Now as then, they wouldn’t vilify what they don’t fear…could be a good sign!

 

[EtienneGilson]

Let’s not be too hasty to condemn the article. Firstly, the scholars were looking for the worst Briton, that is, the people who didn’t keep the interests of Great Britain first. This undoubtedly defines St. Thomas of Becket who consistently sided with canon law over royal law. But not only did the St. do that but he seemed to do it nauseatingly well. As the historian C.H. Haskin’s noted, “Becket to the minds of contemporaries at once represented the church in conflict with the state” (The Renaissance of the 12th Century, 233)

One of the greatest Catholic historians of the 20th century noted, “the archbishop was the only one of the party who seemed to wish to die for the sake of dying [ie being martyred]” (Dom David Knowles, ‘Evolution of Medieval Thought’, 137.)

So St. Thomas could be a candidate for worst ‘Briton’, especially for his often rash behaviour and uncharitable manner of speech which is recorded in the Catholic Encyclopedia article newadvent.org/cathen/14676a.htm . Furthermore, the Catholic Encyclopedia also notes Beckets amazing fascination with securing finances for the Church in England (hence the greed statement). The article, quoting a Priest/historian even admits as much, “"It’s always misrepresentative to see history simply in terms of goodies and baddies…Like all of us, Thomas Becket had his weaknesses. He could be proud and bad-tempered and, especially in his early years, he lived a life of great luxury.” catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0507403.htm

It should be noted though that the list also includes Titus Oates, the liar who instigated the Guy Fox massacre of Catholics, Richard Rich who gave evidence against St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher and finally the Duke of Cumberland who butchered Catholics during the Jacobite rebellion. This list therefore is hardly “anti-Catholic”.

I personally found the article interesting. Maybe someday I will be amongst the worst Canadians ever for having worked with the pro-life movement and various Catholic charitable organizations.

 

[Ani_Ibi]

WanderAimlessly:

St. Thomas Becket,… was chosen by John Hudson… because he divided England in a way that was "unnecessary and self-indulgent

Divided England?

 

[Ani_Ibi]

EtienneGilson:

Maybe someday I will be amongst the worst Canadians ever for having worked with the pro-life movement and various Catholic charitable organizations.

Etienne, I thee dub the worst Canadian. But I think Rosalinda, Lapsed, and myself are following in your footsteps. Oh and Bishop Henry! And Michael Coren.

 

[AJC]

Catholic saint named among top 10 ‘worst Britons’ by BBC magazine

By Simon Caldwell
Catholic News Service

LONDON (CNS) – A Catholic saint and martyr has been nominated as one of the nastiest villains in British history.

St. Thomas Becket, a 12th-century archbishop of Canterbury, was among 10 “worst Britons” of the last millennium, selected by a group of British historians. The saint, whose feast is celebrated Dec. 29, was chosen by John Hudson, a professor at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, because he divided England in a way that was “unnecessary and self-indulgent.”

Full Story ​

PF

In today’s world anyone who would dare say that the Church should not bow down to the state would of course be an enemy of the state. And, worse yet in the eyes of this world anyone who chooses the eternal truth of God over friendship would certainly not be seen in a favorable light.

AJC

 

[auppie]

willy:

I think they neglected to mention King Henry VI ( or VIII cant remember) who was the one who seperated from the Church for the sole reason he couldnt decide on which wife to keep. Now its St. Thomas’s fault for sticking with it.

King Henry VIII