_WORLD WATCH______________________________
______________________England____________________

Catholic clergy allowed in parliament
An old ban rescinded

Members of Parliament have voted in favor of a bill which will allow Catholic priests to sit in the House of Commons.

The Removal of Clergy Disqualification Bill aims to reverse a 200-year-old law that prevents some serving and former ministers of religion from becoming MPs. Although Catholic canon law forbids priests from taking up political positions, British law had also barred former priests from sitting in Westminster.

However one Tory MP, Ann Widdecombe—herself a Catholic—argued that it was wrong for religious ministers to become MPs as this would cause a conflict of interest between “God and Caesar.” Catholic convert John Gummer added that the issue was problematic because MPs would be making a statement in English law about what he described as an ecclesiastical matter. 

Andrew Stunell, a Liberal Democrat, said the folly of the current restrictions on clergy entering politics was that it was “keeping good people out of the House.” He added: “It ought to be an offense to us that in this day and age we do have religious discrimination built into our legislation.”

Anti-discrimination bill
Protects Catholics, but causes ire

In a separate move against bias, the British government is planning to introduce laws to protect people from religious discrimination—a move which will allow Catholics to attend Mass on holy days of obligation without fear of losing their jobs.

Under the proposed legislation, employees will be given the legal right to take time from work to pray or attend religious festivals. But some bosses believe all the plans will achieve is the introduction of more red tape for employers.

Ruth Lea, the head of policy at the Institute of Directors, told the Sunday Telegraph: “Our members are already totally fed up with red tape this government has introduced. The idea of employees taking time off for religious festivals will only increase their frustrations.” She continued: “This sort of legislation will be counterproductive because employers may be put off taking on people from ethnic minorities. If you run a business, especially a small business, you can’t have people disappearing.”