Monday, November 29, 2004
IT WAS INEVITABLE
given the papal apologies that sooner or later a group representing the Knights Templar would ask for one. A reader sent in the link to this story at the UK Independent, "Knights Templar seek papal apology for 700 years of persecution".
The request is signed by the "Council of Chaplains, for and on behalf of the acting Grand Master", and asks for "an apology from the Vatican for the persecution of our brothers of the Knights Templar and the torture and murder of our leadership, under Pope Clement V during the 14th century AD".
Will the Vatican respond or ignore it? This is, afterall, a branch of Freemasonry, and a positive response from the Vatican would indicate a desire for reconciliation with the Lodge.
The article cites the theme of Templars fleeing to Scotland and fighting with Robert the Bruce, defeating the English at Bannockburn.
That's an interesting last paragraph! Does anyone know if it's true?
