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New law to allow Catholics to be monarch
Joe Murphy, Political Editor10 Dec 2008
NEW LAWS are being drafted to allow a Catholic to become king or queen, a Cabinet minister said today.
It will mean an historic change to the 1701 Act of Settlement which stipulated that the monarch could not even marry a Catholic without forfeiting the throne. Justice Secretary Jack Straw is "working hard" on the plans, which will not be enacted until after the next election, said fellow Cabinet minister Jim Murphy, the Scottish Secretary.
"It's wrong to have a settled constitutional position that discriminates," he told the Herald.
"It's not because I'm a Catholic that I feel it. It's unfair, wrong, and does not fit well into a modern sense of what Britain is about. The Act of Settlement states that only Protestant heirs of Sophia, granddaughter of James I, can take the British throne. It specifically bars Catholics, those who marry a Catholic, or those born out of wedlock, from the throne.
Amending it would be far from straightforward because the Monarch is also supreme head of the Church of England and a new settlement would trigger a fierce debate over whether the church should be disestablished.
Prince Charles has indicated he wants the monarchy to champion people of all religions, adopting the title "defender of faith".
Pressure has also come from the growing numbers of Catholics in Britain, and from Jewish and Islamic leaders. Former Home Secretary John Reid has called the law "divisive" and "offensive".
Reader views (14)
Well it sounds as if Tony Blair could still stand a chance
- Tony Wingfield, Nice - France, 10/12/2008 18:02
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I can't believe some of the ignorance and bigotry I've already seen in these responses. Get with the facts, everyone: Jews, Muslims, Bhuddists, pagans, Seventh Day Adventists, Zorastrians, Scientologists, Jedi Knights and members of every other cult and religion are already allowed to be our Monarch. But if you're Catholic, forget it. It's high time that this ridicu;ous and archaic excuse for a law was swept away.
- John, Bedford, 10/12/2008 16:08
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Look, we have a State Religion here. I don't believe in it either, but there's room for us all. If it really irritates you... Clear Orff. Merry Christmas and Custard.
- Steve, SW18, 10/12/2008 15:33
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But will they allow shape-shifting reptoids to be monarch? Just asking.
- Neil, london uk, Airstrip ONE ., 10/12/2008 15:32
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I have just logged into your poll and cannot believe that over 60% of people that have taken part of it say a catholic cannot be king or queen....can some of them respond and tell me why??
- Nicky, glad to be leaving England soon, 10/12/2008 15:12
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What next? Maybe we should allow Muslims into the Royal family too, so that we don't offend anyone.
- Casper Slides, France at the moment, 10/12/2008 15:06
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With her 12 June rapid sign-off on the Lisbon Treaty, the lady occupying Buckingham Palace showed that she just considers herself to be part of the Government rather than a separate institution acting on the people's behalf as a check on improper government action. I lost all respect for QEII that day. Since she now considers herself to be working for -- and a part of -- the U.K. Government (Tourism Department?), the whole charade of monarchy in the U.K. should be abolished. Her job was to stand up for the people's sovereign rights against the Government's blatant improper action in giving parts of U.K. sovereignty away (Lisbon Treaty) without the British people having any say -- and she didn't do that job. A lifetime of respect for the British monarchy ended for me on 12 June. QEII, your name is Elizabeth Windsor. Come and join the rest of us.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 10/12/2008 14:58
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At last - it should never have taken this long to get rid of this...it has always been a great insult to catholics, a bit like "no blacks int he clubhouse in the US"...and i'm sorry, not a waste of money but a rule that as British we should be embarressed about having.
- Nicky, london, 10/12/2008 14:39
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You can't have a Catholic as head of the Church of England, any more than you could a Muslim, Jew or pagan. Would they make a Bhuddist Pope? I think not.
- Deborah, London, 10/12/2008 14:29
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Mick,London, Go and get lost, we have had a Monarchy for hundreds of years and long may it go on, pity the Monarchy cannot have more of a say and disolve this joke of a Goverment for a start.
- Anne,, Devon, 10/12/2008 14:09
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Here we go again, another part of our heritage this government wants to do away with, whats next our countries name. Cant this government wait until our dear Queen has passed on before they start systematically dismantling everything she stands for and has given her life for.
- Lynn, Benfleet, 10/12/2008 14:03
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I hope the reform will make it clear that Jews and Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus and members of other faiths are also welcome to the throne. Surely the question of leading the Church of England is a secondary issue which can be dealt with either by disestablishment, or more creatively, by interposing a Council of religious Ministers between the throne and a plurality of resident established faiths.
- Blackstone Coke, London, 10/12/2008 13:12
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I don't really care who or what sits on our thorne, as long as the person is 100% for the United Kingdom, and do not try to change any laws. Has no say in the way UK is run in any way.
- Katherine, sheffield, 10/12/2008 12:31
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What a waste of government time and taxpayers' money. Better to simply abolish the archaic undemocratic monarchy.
- Mick, London, England, 10/12/2008 11:58
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