Prince Charles is an Atheist, what would happen?

[RATTER15]

Just what would the repercussions be if the next in-line to the throne announced that he was an Atheist?

[ABerrant]

I do not see why Parliament would wish to repeal parts of the Act of Settlement to accomodate a future monarch who would not swear to maintain the C of E, when the normal procedure is to remove any such person from the line of succession and promote those below who would maintain the Protestant church.

Furthermore Westminster could not act unilaterally - it would need the unanimous agreement of all the Commonwealth realms (Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, etc.) before any changes to the rules of succession could be made.

[starone]

I hope you are right 237, because there is certainly a lot being spent on the actual wedding. I don't know who is paying for it, but I suspect quite a lot is from the public purse. I don't like paying income tax anyway, but I certainly object to some of it being used for this.

[boxtops]

He should have married Camilla in the first place, IMO.

[Canary42]

I thought he had already caused some ripples in Establishment Circles by expressing the wish on becoming King to be known as Defender of the Faiths rather than the current Defender of the Faith.

[237SJ]

Well, starbuck, the media says that the Uk economy will benefit by £450 million over the royal wedding. My company will benefit by millions. For all people in the UK say, there are benefits to be had and that is no bad thing. That is good for the economy.

[ABerrant]

...the irony being "Defender of the Faith" was a title bestowed by the Pope on the young Henry VIII when he was still Catholic.

[anneasquith]

i think so !

[ABerrant]

BTW the actual quote by the Prince of Wales of his (potentially) future role as Head of the Church of England was “I personally would rather see it as Defender of Faith, not ‘The Faith’”

http://www.princeofwa...tice__1739581824.html

[Canary42]

Thanks for the clarification Aberrant, I wasn't sure of the wording.

[mike11111]

Henry VIII was a catholic until his death. It was papal authority over the Church of England, not catholicism that he rejected. He was merrily burning protestants right up to the end.

[ABerrant]

Sorry, didn't mean to imply otherwise - i should have written "...still Roman Catholic"

[jno]

I don't see why he couldn't lead the C of E even if he isn't a believer. The man who's worldwide head of Marmite doesn't actually have to eat it if he doesn't want to. PR considerations will doubtless lead him to say he does, but who would know if it were true.

[woofgang]

lol jno

[RATTER15]

Not quite the same thing jno lol

I'm sure the head of Marmite does believe in his product, It would be beneficial for the leader of any faith to believe in that particular faith.

I think I should be the world leader of all faiths, something to get my teeth into.

Now where could I lay my hands on some Roman Lions :-)

[starone]

237 - perhaps we could have a rebate on our income tax if we, as a nation, are going to make big bucks. If your company is going to make millions well good. Maybe you will get a bonus especially if you are working for a bank. Sorry, I am bitterly resentful at paying income tax on my retirement pension. Personally speaking the benefits that are supposed to be coming are eluding me.

[WELSHYORKIE]

Who would believe him - he talks to the trees!!!

[Huderon]

When Henry VIII fell out with the pope, the pope revoked the title Defender of the Faith. Parliament then voted to bestow it on Henry, but referring to what has since become known as the Church of England.

[jno]

Ratter, Lord Marmite doesn't have to believe in his product, he just has to sell it. Yes, it might help if he believed in it, and it definitely wouldn't help if he said it was vile (much like Mr Ratner); but if he raises its profile and doubles its sales, nobody will care whether he eats it or not. Same with Charles: he could defend the faith without sharing it. The only thing that would bar him from the throne was if he was a Roman Catholic.

[Ankou]

if charles declared atheism, he could still be king regardless of when he declares it. he could also technically still be head of the c of e in england.

i really don;t think it ould make much difference as the regal diplomacy would probably still require him to acknowledge the existence of the various faiths, even if he didn't believe in them.