Britain's Anti-Catholic Law - 9/16/26

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is seeking to repeal a law that specifically restricts Catholics in public office. Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham is Catholic. He is calling on Parliament to repeal a 19th century law that prevents a Catholic Prime Minister from exercising the traditional responsibility of advising the monarch on Anglican Episcopal appointments. The Times reported on September 14 that Burnham and his cabinet are introducing a bill in the House of Commons. that would eliminate the provision barring Catholics and Jews from advising the British monarch on the appointment of Church of England bishops.

Burnham calls the law unacceptable and said it amounts to discrimination against Catholics. He stated that the government would introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity to correct what he described as an antiquated and archaic anomaly. Under the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829, a Catholic prime minister who advises the British monarch on Anglican- and Episcopal appointments would be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor and barred from holding public office. Burnham is the first Catholic to serve as Britain's Prime Minister. However, the law did not prevent non-Christian Prime Ministers, including former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is Hindu, from advising the monarch on Church of England matters.

Today is also the Feast of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, early Christian martyrs who share a feast day. Cornelius was the 21st Pope of the Catholic Church, while Cyprian was a Bishop of Carthage. And a prominent lawyer and writer. I'm Josh Mercer, editor of The Loop, taking you behind the headlines. Go to zeal.co for the rest of today's Loop, and while you're at it, subscribe to get The Loop in your inbox every morning. Again, that's zeal.co.