Fourth of July Thoughts on American Freedom, and England’s Denial of Freedom as Exemplified by King Charles III’s Anti-Catholic Coronation Oath to Exclude Catholics.
Posted By: July 07, 2023
Fourth of July Thoughts on American Freedom, and England’s Denial of Freedom as Exemplified by King Charles III’s Anti-Catholic Coronation Oath to Exclude Catholics.
By Fr. Sean McManus
July 4, 2023
I came to America on October 2, 1972. I was deeply impressed by many things in this great country (while being aware “a more perfect union” was a still work in progress).
I was particularly impressed by the “Establishment Clause” of the First Amendment of the Constitution that rejects an Established Church. The Framers of the Constitution knew from the English example that an Established Church would invariably mean State-sponsored discrimination and sectarianism.
Like if Constitution excluded Black and Jews
Vowing to exclude, to ban, to discriminate against, and show total disrespect not only to English Catholics but to all Catholics in the world—and, indeed, disrespect to all people of goodwill who respect international human rights. Just as all people of goodwill would rightly be appalled and insulted if there were a clause in the American Constitution specifically excluding Blacks or Jewish-Americans from being the President of the USA. It would not just be Blacks in America or Jewish-Americans who would be insulted, but all Blacks and Jews everywhere, and all decent people everywhere.
And would Blacks and Jews be expected to attend the Inauguration of a President of the United States in such circumstances, in which the President swears an oath before God and the entire world to proudly stop American Blacks and Jews-Americans ever being President of the United States?
Vowing to enforce State-sponsored religious bigotry and sectarianism may no longer mean much in England, but in Northern Ireland, it means everything to the significant number of Unionists/Protestants who still believe in Protestant Supremacy. Indeed, since the London Parliament unilaterally enacted the “Partition Act” on December 23, 1920—with the assent of King George V, great-grandfather of King Charles III—top Unionist/Protestant leaders have reminded the British Government that their allegiance is not just to the Crown, but to Protestant succession to the Throne.
Some in England may seek an excuse in regarding this appalling anti-Catholic bigotry in the British constitution as a quaint, silly oddity from older days. But in Northern Ireland, it is not a quaint, silly little oddity, but the root cause of historic anti-Catholic programs of burning out Catholic homes, expelling Catholics from the workplace, Protestant murder gangs, and the systematic oppression of Catholics. After all, that was precisely why the artificial, undemocratic mini-State of Northern Ireland was set up on a racist and sectarian foundation: ensure Protestant Supremacy, thereby maintaining England’s foothold in the Six Counties.
As a Public Service
Now, as a public service, I again quote the document that got me censored by the Belfast Telegraph—King Charles’ own website on “succession to the throne,” which bluntly admits my charges of anti-Catholicism:
“The Act [of Settlement 1701] laid down that only Protestant descendants of Princess Sophia … are eligible to succeed. Subsequent Acts have confirmed this. Parliament, under the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement, also laid down various conditions which the Sovereign must meet. A Roman Catholic is specifically excluded from succession to the throne. The Sovereign must, in addition, be in communion with the Church of England and must swear to preserve the established Church of England and the established Church of Scotland. The Sovereign must also promise to uphold the Protestant succession.”— https://www.royal.uk/encyclopedia/succession
“Governor of the Anglican Church,” no excuse
All people of goodwill should be outraged by England’s appalling and hate-filled anti-Catholicism and State-sponsored discrimination and bigotry.
The wisdom and fairness of the First Amendment also dismisses the usual old canard given to excuse the anti-Catholic hatred and bigotry of the British constitution—that the Monarch cannot be Catholic because the Monarch is the Governor of the Anglican Church. That is not an excuse, but proof that Church and State should be separate.
And, by the way, the other provision in the First Amendment is equally applicable here—the Free Exercise of Religion. Because you see, the Bill of Rights 1689, states that should monarchs convert to Roman Catholicism, they immediately and automatically cease to be monarchs (“be forever incapable to inherit, possess, or enjoy the Crown”) and that the subjects are absolved from their allegiance.
I believe King Charles should have the right to religious freedom, and should not lose the Crown (whatever one’s views of the Crown) if he were to become Catholic. Just like I believe that President Biden should not lose the Presidency were he to become Protestant. And, if there were a clause in the Irish Constitution excluding the President of Ireland being Protestant, I would be the very first to oppose it … It’s not complicated—it’s basic decency.
This appalling anti-Catholic hatred and bigotry is not just the responsibility of the Royal Family but for the British Parliament. The King Charles website (https://www.royal.uk/) declares:
“It, therefore, came to be established not only that the Sovereign rules through Parliament, but that the succession to the throne can be regulated by Parliament, and that a Sovereign can be deprived of his/her title through misgovernment. The Act of Settlement confirmed that it was for Parliament to determine the title to the throne.” So, the British Parliament is totally also responsible for this
shameful, criminal, State-sponsored anti-Catholic hatred and vile bigotry.
Complicity of Church of England
But the Coronation also laid bare the complicity of the Church of England in this great sin of Catholic exclusion and demonization.
Again, the Royal Family website helpfully outlines the role of the Church of England and other participating Church Ministers in the Coronation in its “The Coronation Service – Order of Service”—
“Today’s service draws on that long tradition, set once again within the context of the Eucharist, which is the defining act of worship for the Church universal.”
Therefore, the Coronation is not just a civic ceremony but a religious one… And exclusion and bigotry in the context of the Eucharist is particularly shocking, if not sacrilegious and blasphemous.
How can the Church of England and the other Ministers who played an active role in administering the Anti-Catholic Coronation Oath possibly justify their action because the Eucharist is meant to be “ a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity.” … Yet, the very law—the highest law in England and in the British constitution—which governs the Coronation, brazenly, proudly, and by name excludes Catholics—the oldest and largest Christian faith in the history of the world?
God never gave Ireland to England
Finally, the script for administering the Anti-Catholic oath seems to tacitly condone the awful history of England’s colonialism and the discredited blasphemy of the “divine right of Kings.” Just one example: The Anglican Archbishop says: “WILL you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland…” and “BE your head anointed with holy oil, …so may you be anointed, blessed, and consecrated King over the peoples, whom the Lord your God has given you to rule and govern.”
Well, Archbishop, God never gave Ireland, or any part thereof, to any King of England—nor, indeed, did God give any country in the British Empire to England. England stole it all by international terrorism, racism, sectarianism, genocide, socially engineered famines, rape, and plunder.
God bless America and God save Ireland.
