Today is the feast of the Holy Roman Emperor Saint Henry II, who lived from 972 to 1024. From Bavaria, he succeeded his cousin, Otto, as emperor, and ruled with relative fairness and justice. He encouraged a spirit of respect and cooperation between Church and State. He personally assisted the poor, and as emperor he respected the Church's freedom. He fostered church and monastic reform and established the See of Bamburg as a center for missions to the Slavs. His wife, Cunegunda, is also a saint. For this Henry, the state's role was to foster the best with gospel values and truth.
There is another Henry II. This one was the King of England in the mid 1,100's, following King Stephen. This is the Henry who was great friends with Thomas Becket, who in the end was a martyr for the Faith. The relationship between Church and State suffered under this Henry, who desired the wealth of the Church. In appointing his good friend and buddy, Becket, to the role of Archbishop of Canterbury, he thought he would have control of the Church. Thomas warned him that there would be problems with this arrangement, and there was. The rights of the Church were undermined by Henry's rule, and Thomas Becket became a champion of Church rights. For this he was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral (and acknowledged a saint in two short years). For this Henry, the Church was meant to support and uphold the State.
The struggle in the relationship between Church and State still exists. Hopefully it does not lead to the martyrdom of the defenders of Church rights nor to the subservience of State to the whims of the Church, but rather to mutual respect and cooperation. Together we must build a better society, rooted in Gospel values and strong in respect and freedom for all peoples.
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