British Catholic, Anglican leaders honor Reformation-era martyr

Published: 2004-01-22

LONDON (CNS) -- One of the first martyrs of the Reformation was honored by Catholic and Anglican leaders in London. A plaque was placed on the unmarked grave of St. John Fisher in the Tower of London by Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor of Westminster and Anglican Bishop Richard Chartres of London during a ceremony Jan. 19, as part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The plaque acknowledges that St. John Fisher, who died a traitor's death June 22, 1535, was a "bishop, cardinal, martyr and saint." St. John, who was canonized with St. Thomas More by Pope Pius XI in 1935, was beheaded after he refused to take an oath that repudiated papal authority. Prior to his execution, St. John, who was bishop of Rochester, England, spent 14 months in the tower after being arrested for opposing King Henry VIII's efforts to make himself supreme governor of the church in England. St. John was made a cardinal during his imprisonment.

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