The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #67113 Message #1121827
Posted By: Dave the Gnome
23-Feb-04 - 11:14 AM
Thread Name: BS:Jewish Prime Minister? (Michael Howard)
Subject: RE: BS: JEWISH PRIME MINISTER? (Michael Howard)
There is no bar on a Catholic become Prime Minister. However the Catholic Relief Act of 1839 makes it illegal for a Roman Catholic to directly or indirectly advise the Sovereign on appointments in the Church of England.
Similarly, with a non-Christian Prime minister there would be no legal reason to prevent it but, as the Sovereigns advisor, the PM would either have to give up his or her power to assist in the appointment of Bishops or the Church of England would have to accept a non C of E 'director'. I suspect the latter would occur if it ever came about and I see it as being a change for the good of unification of differing faiths.