Queen of Scots return?

[Arlen]

I have to take issue with this, I had the misfortune to have a room between 2 Scotsmen once, one was left foot and one right, one would not even touch something if it were orange and the the same if it was green white and gold, he even refused to wear gold rings etc only having silver.

Like I said, 'MOST' Scots.
Those rabid few never like anything and rarely know anything.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

While the "rabid few" that Arlen has mentioned are stewing over the dust and bones of Queen Mary, perhaps they should also set their sights on having James I/VI and Charles I & II sent up from England as well. And while they are at it, why not go for the full set, and see if they can get the Vatican to hand over James VII and Bonnie Prince Charlie as well! Oh, and lest we forget, Queen Anne will need to be accommodated as well. Better send her north in two packing crates.

I know that some of you will think I'm being factitious, but my argument is motivated by genuine concern for the Scottish taxpayer. If the Stuart dynasty is brought north piecemeal, it will result in duplicating the expenses of shipping (even if Eddie Stoddard gave a discount, the costs would be exorbitant), to say nothing of the burden placed upon the populace in having to foot the bill for seven state funerals. Parking in Edinburgh would be impossible.

I can already hear grumblings of discontent from all the Hibernian supporters-- "What about Henry Benedict, Cardinal of York, de jure Henry IX of England and I of Scotland and younger brother of BPC?" No anti-catholic sentiment here, but in death (as in life) he was Church property, and he was disposed of in accordance with the cannon law then appertaining. And I'm sorry, but adding him to the list would mean an eighth state funeral, and that's just asking too much of Jock Q. McPublic. That said, maybe the Hibs could stop their grumbling and have a quick whip 'round at the next Rangers v. Celtics match and come up with enough coin of the realm to erect a suitable monument somewhere in Scotland that desperately needs to become a tourist destination.

Of course, what everyone has overlooked is that this really isn't a government matter, despite what a member of that staunchly royalist party, the SNP, may think.

Perhaps someone better versed in English church law would care to comment: As I understand it, the government cannot force the Church of England to surrender its property, or levy taxes upon it. By extension this would (it seems to me) include the remains of those buried within the walls or precincts of any church.

Since you would expect law makers to have at least a nodding acquaintance with the law, you might find yourself asking what's really at the bottom of this nonsense about "returning" Mary's bones to Scotland.