Crown and Crozier
In Crown and Crozier, we invite leading thinkers to explore how the human experience is shaped by the interplay between Church and State, and what this means for tackling the great challenges of today. Join us as we examine what’s at stake for us as citizens and as a society in the dynamic engagement between civil and religious authority. The common good, basic freedoms, dignity of the person, administration of justice, self-government, the preservation of truth, goodness and beauty - all this and more hangs in the balance.
Crown and Crozier
Magna Carta, Freedom and You ~ John Robson
On June 15, 1215, in the meadows of Runnymede just west of London, English nobles and clergy gathered to witness – and to compel – King John to place his seal on a document that enshrined the rights of the Church and of free men, and declared the sovereign to be subject to the rule of law. The name of this document was Magna Carta, the Great Charter of liberty.
In his passionate and entertaining style, Dr. John Robson tells the story of this seminal moment in the history of democracy, the protection of human freedom, and the independence of the Church.
Dr. Robson is a historian, journalist, and documentary filmmaker. Chief among his documentary titles is “Magna Carta: Our Shared Legacy of Liberty”, which is accompanied by a companion book of the same name.
0:00 - Introduction
3:00 - Magna Carta - a launchpad for 800 years of liberty
7:40 - Genesis of the Magna Carta
10:40 - Missionaries, stories of a dead Jewish carpenter and the conversion of Britain
12:45 - Resisting One-Man Rule
16:00 - The drama: Bad King John, Pope Innocent III and Archbishop Stephen Langton
19:35 - The shadow of St. Thomas Becket's assassination
22:20 - How can a prince be under the law?
25:20 - The commoners have their say
28:15 - The miracle of Magna Carta
30:15 - Freedom for the Church
32:20 - Freedom for all
38:40 - Magna Carta and the New World
45:20 - Carrying forward the legacy of Magna Carta
49:15 - Conclusion
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting Crown and Crozier with a tax-deductible donation here: DONATE
Documents/Websites referenced
Magna Carta (English translation)
“Magna Carta: Our Shared Legacy of Liberty” (Dr. John Robson documentary)
Archbishop Stephen Langton
The (remarkably unusual) tomb of Archbishop Stephen Langton
podcast@crownandcrozier.com
www.crownandcrozier.com
twitter.com/crownandcrozier
Please note that this podcast has been edited for length and clarity.