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British Prime Minister Backs Off Proposed Repeal of Act of Settlement

By Howard Friedman

Today's London Telegraph reports that British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is having second thoughts about a proposal he intended to make-- repealing the 1701 Act of Settlement. The ancient law requires the monarch to be in communion with the Church of England and prohibits the monarch from embracing Catholicism or marrying a Catholic. Originally intended to entrench the concept of constitutional monarchy, the law is now seen as an insult to Catholics. It is reported that the Queen had given her approval to repeal of the law, but then experts found that the legal issues were more complicated than they first appeared. The monarch is also the head of the Anglican Church, a position that could not be held by a Catholic monarch. So repeal would likely lead to disestablishment of the Church of England. Also the 16 Commonwealth countries would have to agree, since the Queen is also formally head of state of those nations. The 1707 Act of Union would also need to be amended and special legislation on the rights of the House of Windsor would be required.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 27, 2008 (boomark / email).