UK government introduces bill to remove ban on Jews, Catholics advising monarch on church appointments

The UK government introduced legislation on Tuesday to lift long-standing bans preventing Jews and Catholics from advising the monarch on appointments to the Church of England and the Church of Scotland. These prohibitions, stemming from the Roman Catholic Relief Act of 1829 and the Jews Relief Act of 1858, made it a high misdemeanor for individuals of these faiths to offer such advice. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, a Catholic, described the existing laws as an “antiquated and archaic anomaly,” noting he had transferred this constitutional responsibility to the lord chancellor. The Cabinet Office stated, “This short, targeted bill will modernize the law to enable the prime minister, and any future Jewish or Roman Catholic prime minister, to carry out the complete functions of their office,” ensuring all prime ministers can fulfill their duties regardless of personal religious beliefs.