British P.M. Would Consider Ending Bar to Catholic Monarch

London, Mar. 26, 2008 (CWNews.com) - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown will allow reconsideration of the Act of Settlement, which bars Catholics from the throne, the Herald newspaper reports.

The Act of Settlement, passed in 1701, stipulates that neither a Roman Catholic nor the spouse of a Catholic may wear the crown. The legislation has regularly been denounced by Catholic leaders as an instance of blatant religious discrimination.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair, responding to criticism from Church leaders, admitted that the anti-Catholic legislation should be re-examined. But Blair's ability to provide leadership on the issue may have been compromised by the fact that his own wife was Catholic, and he was frequently rumored to be considering entry into the Catholic Church. (Blair did, in fact, enter the Church shortly after resigning his government leadership post.) In any event, the Act of Settlement remained intact during his term.

Brown, however, has said that he is prepared to entertain proposals for constitutional reform, including an end to the ban on Catholic monarchs.

An amendment to the Act of Settlement could require careful consideration. Under existing law, the British monarch is the legal head of the Church of England.

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