A Catholic King of England, Part II
Two months ago, as Tony Blair prepared to step down as prime minister of England, the British Liberal Democrat Party called for the repeal of the Act of Settlement (1701), which prohibits a Catholic, or anyone who marries a Catholic, from ascending the throne of England. The persistent rumors that Tony Blair might swim the Tiber had led the Liberal Democrats to hope that Blair would support the repeal. Blair left office, however, without taking any action.
At the time, the Liberal Democrats considered their request simply a matter of fairness. Now, however, the prohibition may very well have a real effect. As The Age, out of Australia, reports, "Peter Phillips, the Queen's eldest grandson and 10th in line to the throne, might have to surrender his place in the succession." The son of Princess Anne, Mr. Phillips recently became engaged to a Canadian woman, Autumn Kelly, who is a Catholic.
For Mr. Phillips to maintain his place in the line of succession, Miss Kelly would have to renounce Catholicism. Lord Lester, an advisor on constitutional issues to new Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has suggested that, instead, the Act of Settlement should be repealed.
Public opinion is divided. The Telegraph of London published an op-ed piece comparing the ban to antisemitism and pointing out that, even though Mr. Phillips cannot maintain his claim if he marries a Catholic, "Peter Phillips can marry a Jew. Or a Muslim, or a Scientologist, or a Moony or a Wiccan. Or even an ardent Dawkinsite atheist."
But the Telegraph also published an editorial arguing that "The repeal of the Act of Settlement . . . would bring us to the brink of the disestablishment of the Church of England." In other words, in the name of fairness to Catholics, Parliament might take the final step in the transformation of England into a wholly secular state. And with a significant minority of Muslims in England (1.6 million in England and Wales, according to the 2001 census), some fear that Islam might take the place vacated by the Church of England.
What do you think? Should the Act of Settlement be repealed? Should the Church of England be disestablished? Are there dangers in either proposal? Lend your voice to the discussion in the comments!
Two things annoy me here. First the Act of Settlement. And Second the fact that you are ignoring England, Wales, Northern Ireland and most of the Commonwealth Countries. The House of Windsor is Head of State not only in England but in the other nations within the UK and a number of other countries such as Australia. If you are going to comment on a foreign Head of State it would be nice if you did a bit more research first.
AMGP, I apologize for any offense, which was unintended. Rest assured that I don’t need to do “a bit more research”; I understand the point entirely.
I made a judgment call in writing this up, based on American coverage of the story. (Most readers of the guidesite, by far, are American.) Here, the stories use the technically correct but (as you point out) incomplete “king of England.” I had the choice of referring to the British king, with no explanation; explaining the situation, which would make the article longer, distract from the main issue, and annoy those who understand (because they would think they were being patronized); or go with the lowest common denominator in the American media.
I chose the latter; perhaps I shouldn’t have. In the end, of course, if I had chosen the first or second routes, it wouldn’t have changed the point of the article at all.
I have always been fasinated with Royalty since I can remember. I guess because my family has desended from one of the knights of Spain.
With all respect to people who will read this:
This is my opinion: You know what, with “Charles” as a successor, they can shove it up thier ‘blip’, for all I care. Let them repeal it. Who wants thier Royalty, I have a Royalty not even them can over power and that is GOD.
From a loyal Vatican I Roman Catholic
The reasoning behind this article is a bit nonsensical. It seems at one point, that the entire leadership of the English/Anglican church is based on their rejection of Catholicism. That somehow the “establishment” of the Church of England is hanging on a thread based on inherent anti-Catholicism.
“That some fear Islam might take the place vacated by the Church.” implicates two grossly erroneous assumptions. 1. That somehow even if all of England converts to Islam that it would technically be saved from becoming an Islamic state. Or 2, that the head of the Church of England may be maintained by its simple rejection of Catholicism even though the King or Queen of England is married to a Muslim and may even convert to Islam as long a it is not Catholicism.
Fact, is that Henry VIII, was wrong in declaring a secular monarch a leader of any religious society- much less an entire “Church”. The Act of Settlement must be repealed and should have been centuries ago. The dangers that exist are absolutely irrelevant to the issue. England and the Church of England may implode on itself, regardless of any concept which accepts or rejects a monarchal leader for simply marring a Catholic Christian.
I am a Catholic convert from Methodist. As I grow older, I realize the beauty of my Catholic religion & what it means to me. Too bad they are missing out on something very beautiful and special.
The real reason Roman Catholic’s were banned from taking the crown is because it was understood that the Papacy wanted to rule the entire world and have every king on earth pay tribute to him as king of kings and lord of lords.
The Church of England actually held the belief that the Papacy was Antichrist because the Popes think they are God. They have everyone call them Holy Father. Anyone who has ever read a bible knows that the Holy Father is how Christ referred to his God and that the antichrist will claim to be God. Thus the Papacy is Antichrist.
The Roman Catholic Church has tortured and slaughtered millions over the years, all in the name of God. It’s obvious to anyone with a brain in their head, that they are sadistic monsters with a desire for world domination and a lust for blood and guts.
One only has to travel to France to view the torture chambers of the Enquisitors to understand that only men driven by Satan himself could do such horribe things to another living creature.
The RC’s worked hand in hand with the Nazis regime and they had their hand in Bosnia and Rawanda
These people are religious maniacs and if they get control of the throne of England (and they will) the commonwealth is doomed.
Firstly, they will retract all commonwealth national declarations of independance. In other words America will no longer be a free democratic republic nor will Canada Australia, New Zealand, South Africa etc..
All Roman Catholics in commonwealth nations will be ordered to obey Pope over national government, (no problem for a Catholic) then they will enslave their own people and inprison them and then an armis from Europe will invade all commonwealth nations
Your were warned!
J