Rule change for William and Kate's first child underlines monarchy's absurdity
MEDIA RELEASE 13 October 2011
British Prime Minister David Cameron is mustering support for changes to rules for the British monarchy's succession, and will lead a meeting at this month's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Australia. The changes put the absurdity of the monarchy in New Zealand back into the spotlight.
"This is a ridiculous situation: Britain's PM will essentially be telling the 15 Commonwealth realms - including New Zealand - what their constitutional law will be. While the changes are well overdue, the form they are taking emphasises the way the monarchy undermines New Zealand's independence" said Lewis Holden, chair of the Republican Movement.
Earlier in the year New Zealand Prime Minister John Key pledged his support for changing the sexist males-before-females rule, which currently means that if William and Kate's first born child is a girl, she would come second to a younger male child because of her gender. Mr Cameron also proposes getting rid of the discriminatory rule banning Catholics. This is unlikely to succeed as it would mean the United Kingdom would have to disestablish the Church of England.
"More than likely, New Zealand will be stuck with the discriminatory rules banning Catholics from the throne because of the arcane rules of another country. There is no-way New Zealanders would accept such discrimination in any other office. It's clear that the changes are being rushed in before William and Kate's first child is born. This is an absurd situation for the office of New Zealand's head of state in the 21st century to be in. The simplest way to get rid of this discrimination is to have an independent New Zealander as our head of state" concluded Mr Holden.
ENDS
Media contact: Lewis Holden 027 699 1350 (m)
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Hey Lewis, "This is unlikely to succeed as it would mean the United Kingdom would have to disestablish the Church of England." Really?? While I agree it is unlikely (i did just finish writing 7000 words on this topic, then the article came out...sigh), I would disagree that allowing equality of succession to the throne would mean no more established CoE.
In order for a Catholic to be head of the Church of England, the UK Parliament would either have to (a) allow a Catholic to be head of the protestant church (not something the Synod is likely to be in favour of) or (b) disestablish the CoE, as it has already for the Churches of Ireland, Wales and Scotland. See Noel Cox, The Church and State in the Post-Colonial Era.
As it turns out, I was wrong on that point - Cameron's proposal is only to allow the Sovereign to be married to a Catholic, but Catholics would still be banned (or have to convert) to accede to the throne.
You'll be pleased to know I've requested the letter Cameron sent from the DPMC. :-)
Excellent. You have thus saved me the trouble :D
Would a Catholic want to head the Anglican Church and do you think that would be good for the Anglican Church?
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