"Burial in unmarked graves seems to have been common practice for most people throughout the history of humankind."
Not in the 'civilised West' Joe, and certainly not in Catholic Ireland, where ritual burial has been a psychological and spiritual necessity and had been part of Catholic life for as long as Catholicism has held sway here.
It is so important that there are only two crematoriums in the whole of Ireland - so important is it to undergo the correct process before they can be considered correctly dispatched 'to meet their maker'
We have finally managed to arrange that our remains will be donated to medical research, with a great deal of difficulty, so uncommon is a practice that is still largely frowned on and misunderstood
One of "the great silences" of Irish history has been The Irish Famine - one serious published work in a century and a half, and that was written by an Englishwoman.
Yet throughout Ireland, a major part of Irish folk memory has been the unmarked mass famine graves - the Irish were prepared to forget the horror of the Famine for all that time but not not the fact that the victims were deprived of a proper burial
Ireland is dotted with patches of 'hungry grass' where, if you cross them you are smitten with 'hunger pains' because they are unmarked Famine Graves.
Another major cause for concern are the 'Killeens'; the graveyards of newly born children who were refused a Christian burial because the priest wasn't on hand to bless administer last rites before their short lives were over.
Unless things are very different in your part of the world, I believe that your 'Hogwarts' reference is somewhat flippant - yet another excuse for the behaviour of your church..
The occurrence of unregistered deaths is a matter of legality, not religion
Couple these with the extreme brutality associated with these homes and you have what is described in the detective shows as 'a suspicious death'
"Keith A of Hertford"
Keith is an obsessive who has brought all his problems on this forum on himself - this thread being an example
His 'last man standing' approach and his obsession to 'win something' is the cause of all his problems, not the fault of those who argue his points, which are usually extremist to the most basic level.
If you are referring to Keith's health - it is hiw own choice to participate in these arguments - it would be patonising on our part to refuse to do so on these grounds
If you, he or anybody wants to hold a "I'll show you how ill I man if you'll do the same" bring it on!
I'm sick and tired of having my hole poked and pieces nipped out of by prostate over the last ten years, and don't get me started about the removals of suspected skin-cancer tissues from my face, or my sleep apnea tests, or my hearing problems....
I'm off to Galway in a couple for weeks a major operation - wish me luck girls.....!
You ought to be ashamed of yourself for bringing Keith up considering the self-harm he constantly inflicts on this forum - that is little more than emotional blackmail.
I hope Joe does not delete this before people have a chance to read it - then feel free Joe
I find it insulting that anybody should be expected to respond to such a despicable tactic
Jim Carroll