Cardinal Says Basic British Document Supports Anti-Catholic Attitudes

In Scotland, according to today's Times Online, Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien has called on the British government to repeal the 300-year-old Act of Settlement that prevents Roman Catholics or those who marry them from ascending to the throne. He said that this constitutional document still describes Catholicism as "the popish religion" and calls Catholics "papists". Recently there have been high profile attempts to eliminate ugly anti-Catholic chants that Glasgow Rangers Football Club fans enjoy. The Scottish Parliament has created a working group on religious hatred. But Cardinal O'Brien argues that the anti-Catholic provisions enshrined in British law support the kinds of attacks that Parliament and soccer clubs are trying to eradicate.