Commonwealth Leaders Approve Ending Ban On Monarch Marrying A Catholic

BBC reports today that at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth, Australia, the leaders of the 16 British Commonwealth countries have agreed to amending Britain's 1701 Act of Settlement to eliminate the ban on British monarch being married to a Roman Catholic. The original provision was put in place to settle the succession to the throne following the Glorious Revolution of 1688. (Background.) Explaining the change, Prime Minister David Cameron said:

Let me be clear, the monarch must be in communion with the Church of England because he or she is the head of that Church. But it is simply wrong they should be denied the chance to marry a Catholic if they wish to do so. After all, they are already quite free to marry someone of any other faith.

Some expressed disappointment that Catholics will still not be able to become king or queen.  The Commonwealth summit also approved changes giving daughters equal rights with sons to ascend the throne. Under current law, a daughter becomes queen only where there are no sons. Parliaments in Britain and the other Commonwealth nations will need to approve legislative changes before the reforms take effect.