Over on the BBC News website the story is reported this morning;
A Scottish bishop has criticised Prime Minister David Cameron for failing to act quickly to scrap the law preventing Catholics from taking the throne.Really? Is this what the Catholic people in Motherwell are really concerned about?
Perhaps I should point him to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's new website looking for laws to be repealed?
Joseph Devine, the Bishop of Motherwell, has apparently said the Act of Settlement was a "scandalous" law that discriminated against members of his faith.
The Act of Settlement was passed by the English parliament in 1701 and extended to Scotland after the union.
It only applies in countries where the Queen is head of state.
The attack from the Bishop of Motherwell follows comments from UK Constitutional Reform Minister Mark Harper MP that the coalition had not ruled out reform, but that any change would have to be taken "carefully and thoughtfully".
The Bishop of Motherwell said;
"When the monarch is free to marry a Scientologist, Muslim, Buddhist, Moonie or even a Satanist but not a Catholic, then there's something seriously wrong."Now, don't get me wrong, this is clearly something that should be sorted out in this day and age. However, is it really that important at the current time given the economical mess we find ourselves in after thirteen years of the Labour Party spending money as if it was going out of fashion or just grew on trees?
I suspect good Catholics in Motherwell are worrying about their jobs and their future rather than being up in arms about who the Monarch can marry.
Just saying.
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2 comments:
I understand where you are coming from, and am also not religious so don't feel this law is somehow immediately necessary, but this same argument could be used against any issue people feel passionately about.
Are disability rights laws that important given "the current crisis"? Is marriage equality really that important? Etc. etc.
There's argument that no they aren't, but that doesn't mean people who feel passionately about them shouldn't keep up the fight. There will always be something more pressing for the Government to think about than "the little things". And that's why those who care about the little things need to shout from the rooftops for reform.
Hi Jae, I see your point about saying this of any law, I suppose my point was he is in a position of power and therefore in my opinion should be using his 15 minutes of fame to stand up for the members of his congregation and their concerns.
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