In my view the Monarchy is an outdated institution – the UK would be far better with an elected head of state (although as a priority the abolition of the monarchy is on par with the compulsory eating of asparagus at breakfast). In addition, I parted company with the Catholic Church over 25 years ago. Why then does it annoy me that a minor royal may have to renounce his right of succession if he marries a catholic?
Peter Philips, the son Of Princess Anne and 10th in line to the throne has announced his engagement to Autumn Kelly, a Canadian Catholic. If Peter Philips wishes to retain his right of succession (prospect of him ever gaining the throne is remote – Princes Charles, William, Harry, Princes Andrew, Edward their kids and his mum would all have to die before that would happen) he would either have to cancel the marriage or she would have to become a member of the Church of England
The problem lies with the Act of Settlement 1701 which was intended to disbar Catholic descendants of James II (our last Catholic monarch) from the throne. Under the Act of Settlement Anyone becoming a Catholic or even marrying one can never ascend to the throne. Former Tory minister John Gummer (a convert to Catholicism himself), said: "It is inhuman in the 21st century for anyone to demand this." Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the primate of Scotland, told The Tablet (a Catholic newspaper) that he had every sympathy for Mr Phillips, "Whether a person is fortieth or second in line to the throne, it is wrong that they be deprived of that right because they have fallen in love and chosen to marry a Roman Catholic," he said.
The Act was made law in a time when the succession was, let’s say, “hotly debated” and at a time when religious allegiance came with a lot of political baggage. However, those days are dead and gone (when did we last see a Jacobite army pouring out of the Highlands to put a Stewart on the throne?) and the prospect of a minor royal (or even a major one) being a “papist” will not exactly rock the foundations of this country. Had Autumn Kelly been a Methodist, Jew, Muslim, Zoroastrian, Satanist, or Pastafarian there would have been no constitutional problem. A short piece of legislation rectifying this anachronism is in order.
10 comments:
Yes, that one irritates me too, though I hadn't realised that any other religion was OK. Total nonsense the whole thing.
The abolition of the monarchy, well I was going to put it higher on my list of priorities than asparagus but in fact, if they could descend from their pedestals into the real world, I could forgo that.
I was going to give you a link to a Spanish blog which showed the front page of a satirical magazine, a very funny cartoon of their royal family - and the issue was banned. Unfortunately the blog isn't loading now - I wonder ...
At least we don't have those problems in the UK.
I'm glad we don't have thos problems. I am not a royalist and Peter Philips's engagement would have not interested me in the least but for that. Pretty stupid, isn't it in this day and age!
"Be off with his head!", how dare he fall in love!!! It's ridiculous, some of our laws are a nonsence & so out dated. Good post Jams x
I agree Shaz. It's pretty outdated stuff
Forget religion, I'm more bothered about the prospect of the UK being ruled by "Queen Autumn".
As far as I'm concerned the Monarchy shouldn't be abolished... just recycled.
As an American, and a non-Catholic, I just have one question.
What is the 'primate of Scotland'? I'm thinking this Cardinal is a human primate..... :)
The part about this controversity re religion tht really bugs me is: what is the big deal about religion - for eithr of them, they have been "living in sin" for how many years, both of their parents are divorced, and the monarchy is a relic, which if to be preserved, should be allowed to follow its rules & guidelines to be relevant. However, I am thinking that it changes to suit the whims of whomever - and that right now it is just a way of drawing lines between classes - and having the sheepish multitudes pay for it. If you are feeding at the public trough, then give them what they want - make it worth their while to fork over hard earned money so you can have your tea-parties, luxury cruises, foriegn jaunts to shake hands, and give them the youngsters to creat juicy gossip. autumn hasn't felt bad about leaving her family, friends or homeland in order to score the big prize. What do you really know about her. What was her capacity at the Grand Prix when they met, and what kind of family did she really grow up in? Of course the palace is going to give a goody 2 shoes version, but really--- for a good picture of her go to www.carcraft.com and look at the rack pictures....
But what could they be recycled as Roger? I suppose we could stipulate that carrier bags contain 30% royal family.
Ah Elizabeth, I alsways had it in mind that some pope in the past made a gorilla a cardinal and the name sort of stuck!
Oh those crazy kids, trying to take press attention away from Charlie and his boys....
Terrible isn't it ewbl. Should thron in teh tower and turned protestant!
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