Pope Benedict and the Enigma of English Christianity

From The Living Church-

In London’s East End stand two churches commemorating religious martyrs. A plaque in St. James Clerkenwell celebrates a line of succession from the Lollards, whose inspiration was the Bible translator John Wycliffe, to people burned at the stake on orders from Queen Mary. About a mile away, English Martyrs Roman Catholic Church honors people who suffered death in the turbulence accompanying the Protestant Reformation.

Here is an example of the enigmatic nature of English Christianity. The lists of martyrs share not a single name. People of Protestant heritage have one version of martyrology, thanks largely to the influence of John Foxe’s gruesome Book of Martyrs published in 1563. Roman Catholics have a completely different story line and different dramatis personae, their memories kept alive in more than 20 churches throughout the country.

There is a subliminal anti-Catholic mindset in British culture. It persists despite the rampant secularism that pervades modern life. There was a dash of it in a jokey but hurtful Foreign Office memorandum saying Pope Benedict, on his forthcoming visit to England, should be invited to open an AIDS clinic and “Benedict” condoms should be sold as souvenirs.

More here-

http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2010/9/10/pope-benedict-and-the-enigma-of-english-christianity