British Law Bans Jews and Catholics From Official Duties

British Law Bans Jews and Catholics From Official Duties

Britain’s new prime minister is a Catholic. For that reason he is barred from one of the normal duties of holders of that office.

Prime Ministers usually advise the “Crown” on senior appointments in the state church. But Jews and Catholics are barred from that responsibility.

As the National Secular Society (NSS) puts it –

“Due to the Church of England’s established status, prime ministers play a formal constitutional role advising the Crown on senior appointments within the Church. But under the law, a prime minister or lord chancellor who is Catholic or Jewish is prohibited from doing so”.

The NSS tells us that “The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829 and the Jews Relief Act 1858 state Catholics or Jews who break these laws are deemed guilty of a high misdemeanour, and disabled for ever from holding any office”.

But this is not a ban on non-Anglicans in general. Atheists and followers of other religions are allowed to carry out the usual duties of prime ministers in relation to the state church. It is just Jews and Catholics who suffer this discrimination.

The NSS notes that “Despite being an open atheist, Keir Starmer faced no such restrictions as prime minister. Neither did Rishi Sunak, a practising Hindu”.

This discrimination has received renewed attention because the new prime minister is a Catholic.