Pope welcomes Charles and Camila to the Vatican

Pope Benedict welcomed the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to the Vatican together for the first time. The visit is part of a two day tour of Italy as Charles campaigns for environmental reforms.

Their visit to the Vatican comes after Prime Minister Gordon Browns recent announcement of his intention to address an antiquated law in the United Kingdom that prohibits a Catholic from ascending to the throne.

Prof. Phillip Goyret
Vice Dean of School of Theology, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome)
I think we can say that it has been a violation of religious freedom historically.

Professor Phillip Goyret says that the United Kingdom has come a long way in the last century with regards to civil rights and Catholics.

And though he says this law is a form of religious discrimination, he admits getting rid of it is a lot more complicated than it seems.

Prof. Phillip Goyret
Vice Dean of School of Theology, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome)
With respect to Catholics and the crown of England, the problem is not simple because the queen or king of England is at the same time the head of the Church of England. So if a Catholic becomes king or Queen he would be also the head of the Church of England. Which is strange."

Though there seems to be no quick solution to the hindering law, Goyret hopes the U.K can start dissecting the issue from different angles.

Prof. Phillip Goyret
Vice Dean of School of Theology, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome)
Maybe then what has to change is this policy, no? Why the head of the Church of England has to be the king or the queen? I think thats the area and the matters that should be studied better.

The law, called the 1701 Act of Settlement, was designed to ensure Protestant ascension to the throne in the United Kingdom. Today its harshly criticised by Catholics who label it religious discrimination.

The Pope will probably visit England in the spring of 2010 at the invitation of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. There are wide expectations that he will beatify Cardinal John Newman while on his visit.

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[priest008]

Church and state can't be seperate because the Monarch is placed there by God in the first place thus must make sure that the laws of God are being followed, Church and state should never be seperate.

[idle44]

I am a Catholic and was once an Anglican. I don't care. and nor do any people I know. who is head of the C of E. Personally, if I was pressed, I would say that I like the idea of an established church (protestant) because in my day it was a sort of joint forum for all the other churches. Anyway, prayers for the Queen were part of the Mass until the 'reforms' of the 1970's. And Elizabeth, God Bless Her, is more a Christian than some I can mention..

[1chancery]

This was of course totally ‘staged’ in a pathetic attempt to make the vile camilla whore appear more acceptable. One can well understand why the Queen regarded this filth as wholly unsuitable in the 1970s with camillas overtly promiscuous lifestyle – even the father of camilla’s own children is questionable! Unfortunately, inbred charles is not particularly intelligent and has allowed himself to be influenced by this malevolent parasitic slut. Hopefully they will both come to an end very soon!

[mindspring57]

@priest008 You STATED that. I do not see where you have EXPLAINED it.

[Popperite]

@priest008 That may be your religion. There are of course many others. That's the way it is with religions. Most democratic countries (and some unpleasing dictatorships too) have learned that separation of Church and State is a sensible thing and they have implemented it. Even in England where Church and State are not separate, that union doesn't count for much anymore legally.

[priest008]

@Popperite YOUR POINT IS as Valid as the Devils, which makes it invalid.

[Popperite]

@priest008 Cause they should be seperate.

[priest008]

@Popperite I JUST EXPLAINED THAT THEY SHOULD BE ONE and so why do you come here saying they should be separate??????

God places a King, the Bishops anoint the King, during Coronation the King promises to govern by the laws of God, thus Church and state is one, when it comes to taxation etc then it is a matter of state, but when it takes to major laws and functions the Church assists the state.

[Popperite]

@priest008 Church and state should be seperate,