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Thomas More Society of America's Thirtieth Anniversary Celebrations!
Thomas More was a saint laboring for liberty. Dr. Gerard Wegemer developed this theme for the Thomas More Society’s members and friends at their fall luncheon at the Army Navy Club.
To commence its 30th Anniversary Year, the Society presented Dr. Wegemer with its first Thomas More Award. Wegemer is a noted More scholar and biographer. He is the Director of the Center for Thomas More Studies and a professor at the University of Dallas.
Thomas More was a man who found humor and joy in the ordinary things of daily life. Even under sentence of death he did not lose his perspective. He worked at developing and practicing the virtues in his daily life. True liberty is in practicing the virtues. More is, says Wegemer “a splendid example of true integrity.”
Bishop John Fisher
and
'The King's Great Matter’
On January 19, Mary Ellen Bork offer cogent reflection on John Fisher, a major figure not often considered by the Thomas More Society. Her diligent research was much in evidence in the presentation. What follows are a few points that have stayed with me these last two weeks.
Bishop Fisher was a humanist who favored church reform. He was well known in England. Henry VIII sought his advice on the question of divorce. His advice, however, was not what Henry expected.
The broader issue that Mary Ellen sketched was the transition going in England and Europe. Fishers’ fellow Bishops thought that things were running well. They opposed Henry on his efforts to exert more control over the church. They thought that this particular marriage controversy would pass. So they did not oppose Henry on the divorce. Their focus was narrow.
What was beginning to happen was a ‘sea change.’ The political and spiritual landscape was altering and would never be the same. The ascendancy of political leaders over the church was being established. It was not a matter of specific controls but of establishing a whole new mindset. Fisher opposed this and was executed.
The presentation provokes numerous questions—Why is Thomas More remembered and John Fisher in the shadows of history; what was the role of the papacy in those days and now. Such questions call for more study of both men and of the period in which they lived.
John W. Crossin, OSFS
The Thomas More Society plans a series of further luncheon lectures to celebrate its anniversary.
