Last vestige of anti-Catholic laws in Britain ending not a sign of Church revival

Last week, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he is going to ask Parliament to stop the ban on Catholic members from advising the Sovereign on the appointment of bishops in the Church of England.

Many readers might ask: “Huh? Why are politicians playing a role in appointing Church people?”

Ever since the Reformation came to England in the 1500s, the King or ruling Queen has been the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and in charge of appointing bishops.

However, as the power of Parliament has grown, the prime minister has “advised” the monarch – in other words, has a major role in appointing bishops.

“I am making this statement to bring to the House’s attention steps the Government is taking regarding Church appointments,” Burnham said in a Sep. 10 statement.

He is the first Catholic to become prime minister in Britain, but he doesn’t have all of the authority of his predecessors.

“Restrictions set out in the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 and the Jews Relief Act 1858 prevent persons professing the Roman Catholic and Jewish faiths only from advising the Sovereign on appointments to the Church of England and Church of Scotland,” he explained.

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