catholic monarchs

[greendog]

can britain have a catholic monarch?

[THECORBYLOON]

Under the terms of the 1701 Act of Settlement, Roman Catholics, or those marrying a Roman Catholic, are forbidden from succeeding to the throne of the United Kingdom..   

[spainlads]

Also I believe that the monarch becomes the head of the church of England and a divorcee can't do that.

[hopalong]

And a  Roman Catholic cannot be Prime Minister or Lord Chancellor.   The currant speaker of the house of commons is the first RC to hold that position

[THECORBYLOON]

There is no bar on Roman Catholics being Prime Minister or Lord Chancellor. Have a look at this site for more info http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc -01493.pdf

[JohnPPotts]

I would guess that if William (say) were to convert to Catholicism then the bar would be lifted - presumably somebody else would have to head the Church of England (a still-Anglican Prince Harry, perhaps).

[galltin]

I think you'd find you guess wrong then.

[Peter Pedant]

Although the Act of 1701 says that the P of W (everyone thought Camilla was an RC a few years ago) shall not marry a Roman Catholic it doesnt say what happens if he does.

It doesnt say anything about if his wife converts to an R C. Diana made this mistake -but she wasnt very bright.

As for an R C Prime Minister - the protocol office of the House of Commons says there is no bar to this.

And yes an RC can become Lord Chancellor - Lord Irvine did (and was the first since Cardinal Wolsey). In fact, the bar was the Test Act, which no RC could swear to, but this was quietly modified when some crypto Catholic looked as though he was gonna be Chancellor. (Sir Peter Rawlinson I think)