An effort to amend the Act of Settlement, which bars any Roman
Catholic from succession to the British throne, was blocked by an
intervention from the Church of England, the London Daily Telegraph reports.
Nick Clegg, the deputy prime minister, had been working to repeal the
Act of Settlement, which was originally passed in 1701. But his effort
has been sidelined, the Telegraph says, because the Church of England objected.
According to the Telegraph, Anglican leaders of the pointed to
the incongruity of having a Catholic serve as Supreme Governor of the
Church of England.
The opposition could also reflect a degree of rancor
aimed in reaction to Pope Benedict’s open invitation for Anglicans to
enter the Catholic Church.
Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish National Party, expressed
concern at the report that a “much-needed and long overdue reform has
been shelved,” and asked Clegg for a clarification.