Dr Sentamu's Protests Strike a Chord

York is a beautiful, peaceful city as visitors who purchase the Best of York Walk Talk Tour mp3 guided tour will discover. The current Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has persistently voiced his opposition to Robert Mugabe's despotic regime in Zimbabwe. On Sunday,27 April, Sentamu led a day of fasting and prayer in a show of solidarity with the impoverished people of Zimbabwe.

The picture postcard Shambles is one of the oldest surviving Medieval streets in Europe. Undercover tourists or interested locals can discover the history of the street with The Best of York podcast guided tour. The Shambles was once home for a time in the late sixteenth century to a woman called Margaret Clitherow. She converted to Catholicism and refused to attend the established Church. Worse still, in the eyes of the authorities, she allowed neighbours to take the sacraments in her home. Margaret was imprisoned for practicing her beliefs on three occasions as listeners to the Walk Talk Tour iPod travel guide will discover. Margaret was charged of several 'crimes', including harbouring Catholic priests in her home inThe Shambles.



Margaret's purported defence to the charges made against her was eloquence and bravery personified: "Having made no offence, I need no trial." Margaret Clitherow was sentenced to death. She met a particularly grisly end, as listeners with The Best of York Walk Talk Tour city guide will find out.

Margaret Clitherow became a martyr for her faith. Her death helped to radicalise a young Protestant who later converted to Catholicism. Discover who the man was, and what he then went onto do with The Best of York Walk Talk Tour downloadable travel guide.

Thankfully, religious toleration and freedom of speech are two of the pillars of British democracy. Others are not so lucky. The information that is coming out of Zimbabwe seems to suggest that Mugabe and his henchmen will stop at nothing to retain their grip on power. Dr Sentamu cut up his dog collar in December and vowed not to wear it again until Mugabe had been removed from power.

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