The new primate-elect of the Church of Ireland has called for the removal of the ban on Catholics, or those married to Catholics, from becoming British monarch.
English-born Bishop Alan Harper said that in his personal view, the Act of Settlement (1701) "belongs to its time and we should move on". It bans Catholics and those married to Catholics from ascending the British throne "forever" and applies also to Australia, Canada, Jamaica, New Zealand and all other Commonwealth countries where Queen Elizabeth is recognised as monarch.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, Catholic primate of England and Wales, has pointed out that under the act's terms Prince William "can marry by law a Hindu, a Buddhist, anyone, but not a Roman Catholic" and still be king.
Bishop Harper agreed that repeal of the act could have implications for the Church of England, of which the British monarch is governor. But he felt disestablishment of the Church of England (whereby it would no longer be the state church) was something it would "not only get over, but would be the better for it".
Looking from Ireland, where disestablishment took place in 1869, he asked of the Church of England whether "the price to be paid for 'establishment' is worth paying?"
Referring to the controversy over a new national children's hospital in Dublin, he expressed concern at the direction decision-making process in the issue was taking and its implications for Tallaght hospital.
He hoped the contribution of the Protestant community to the Irish health service could be safeguarded in whatever shape the new national children's hospital took.
He expressed admiration for the way the Republic had begun to tackle the issue of difference where inward migration was concerned, pointing out that it was now a destination of choice for immigrants. "The great thing about Ireland is not just the Celtic Tiger but that it is a good place to come to. It is quite a turnaround," he said.
Reflecting on experience elsewhere, he commented favourably on policies of integration as opposed to multiculturalism, and said such policies should be about "reinforcing bonds of one community".
But he warned against tolerance in the Republic of growing disparities between wealth and poverty, which was "not always about absolute poverty".
The Republic was now "self-confident, young, vibrant, an exciting place to be," he said.
He was hopeful politicians in the North were "edging towards a political accommodation which would permit people to govern themselves". There had been "too many deadlines", which did not always contribute to a positive outcome.
