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CofE voices support for Succession to the Crown Bill

Proposed legislation which could end the bar on royal heirs marrying Catholics if they want to keep their entitlment to the throne is being discussed in Parliament today. The Succession to the Crown Bill would also end discrimination against female royals, meaning men will no longer take precedence over women in the order of succession. It could see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child become monarch even if it is a girl who later has younger brothers.

The Church of England has given its support to the plans.

A statement said:

"The move to amend the rules of succession, to enable the first born child of any person in line to the throne to take their place in the line of succession regardless of gender, is welcome.

"For the Church of England the key issue is the current statutory requirement that the Sovereign join in communion with the Church of England.

"The Bill leaves that unchanged. Future Sovereigns will therefore continue to be able to take their place as Supreme Governor of the Established Church.

"The present prohibition on anyone remaining in the line of succession or succeeding to the Crown as a result of marrying a Roman Catholic is not necessary to support the requirement that the Sovereign join in communion with the Church of England. 

"Its proposed removal is a welcome symbolic and practical measure consistent with respect for the principle of religious liberty.

"It reflects the sea change in ecumenical relations over recent decades."

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg insisted it was time to bring the "arcane laws" up to date.

Speaking ahead of the Succession to the Crown Bill's second reading debate, Mr Clegg said:

"The reforms couldn't be more timely, given the fantastic news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby

"The other Commonwealth countries where Her Majesty The Queen is head of state have just given us the green light to change the law, and we are wasting no time.

"At the moment, if the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is a girl, any younger brothers she has will overtake her in line to the throne. "We're modernising these out-of-date rules so that men and women in line to the throne have equal rights.

"The current law also says that our monarch can't be married to a Catholic. This legal ban doesn't apply to any other faith – not Muslims, Jews, Hindus, nor to atheists. Just Roman Catholics.

"The reasons for this go back 300 years, to the days when Britain was worried about the threat from its Catholics neighbours, such as Louis XIV of France. "Times have changed, along with our attitudes towards each other. It is time for us to bring these arcane laws up to date."

Premier's Political Editor Martyn Eden says questions were raised in the debate over whether an heir apparent would be forced to be raised as a Catholic:

The legislation is being rushed through the Commons with just two days set aside for debate. There have been reports Prince Charles is concerned about this.

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