National Day of Luxembourg

Today marks the national day of Luxembourg. Most countries’ national days mark an event of historical significance: the United States’ 4 July marks of course the declaration of independence, while Sweden’s 6 June commemorates the accession to the throne of Gustav Wasa – effectively the start of independence from the Danish-dominated Kalmar Union.

Today marks the official birthday of the Grand-Duke, but no Luxembourg sovereign has ever actually been born on 23 June. Grand-Duchess Charlotte was born on 23 January 1896, but the date of the national day was displaced by five months in the hope of better weather.

The choice of date therefore shows a mixture of pragmatism and respect for tradition which is perhaps not untypical of Luxembourg.

15 June 1215

On this day seven hundred and ninety-three years ago at Runnymede King John assented to the Magna Carta:

“No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land.
To no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice.”[1]

What is wrong with that?
[1] Text from British Library: http://www.bl.uk/treasures/magnacarta/translation/mc_trans.html

Not just 42 days

The resignation of the shadow Home Secretary has placed even further emphasis on the 42 days clause of the Bill currently before Parliament. Imprisoning suspects without charge for six weeks is a shocking development, but I wonder if the 42 days clause, appalling as it is, has distracted attention from some other unwelcome developments.

One provision that struck me was the power given to ministers to hold inquests in secret. Section 77 of the Bill which amends the Coroners Act 1988 provides in part:

“The Secretary of State may certify in relation to an inquest that, in the opinion of the Secretary of State, the inquest will involve the consideration of material that should not be made public—

(a) in the interests of national security,

(b) in the interests of the relationship between the United Kingdom and another country, or

(c) otherwise in the public interest.”

The idea of secret inquests – presumably held in camera without a jury – is an unsettling one. I cannot help wondering how wide the definition of public interest in (c) will prove to be. Will it be taken to mean anything embarrassing to the authorities?

Evangelism in Birmingham

I can add little to the chorus of (justified) condemnation of the West Midlands PCSO who abused two evangelists handing out tracts in Birmingham last week. Nonetheless, I would wish to call into question the concept of a “Muslim area” which apparently has formed in some quarters.

The United Kingdom is just that. Its laws apply equally in all parts of the kingdom, unless those laws provide otherwise. In particular, the Bill of Rights 1689 which refers to “this Protestant kingdom” has not been revoked. One may practice any religion in this kingdom, but the state itself is Protestant.

The Christian faith is a missionary faith. Our Lord has commanded us “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost…” (Matt 28:19). Those who decry proselytization are not obedient to this last command Our Lord uttered before His ascension.