A bill which would allow Andy Burnham, as Prime Minister, to advise on bishop and archbishop appointments has taken another step closer to becoming law.
As a professing Catholic, Burnham is barred from advising the King on appointments in the Church of England under the Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829. The Jews Relief Act 1858 puts the same restriction on those of the Jewish faith.
The Prime Minister called this an “antiquated and archaic anomaly” in September, being “unacceptable for there to be a legislative bar against people of any faith performing all the functions of my office.”
Approval from the Prime Minister is now symbolic in the modern day, as the Church puts forward its candidate, but the practice dates back to the Reformation when the monarch became head of the Church and took responsibility for appointments.
The Church Appointments (Repeal of Discriminatory Provision) Bill passed second reading in the House of Lords on Tuesday with support from across the chamber, including on the Bishops’ Benches.
Speaking in favour, the Bishop of Manchester, Rt Rev David Walker, said: “This is a modest but important Bill that brings our constitution to closer alignment with the values of modern Britain. The restriction preventing those who profess the Catholic or Jewish faiths from advising the crown on church appointments has its origins in a very different period."
"I and other Christians believe that God created humans equally and in his own image, each of us with inherent value and purpose."
He added: "The strength of our UK democracy is derived from the unique diversity of its participants.”
He went on to say he believed it was important for the Prime Minister, and their appointments secretary, to be included in the process, reflecting interests “on behalf of the nation” so new appointments “can serve wider society at both diocesan and national level, while also serving the structures of the Church.”
Bishop David concluded: “The repeal of this discriminatory provision will strengthen not only the important relationship between Church and state but the constitution itself, by better reflecting the principles of religious freedom and equal citizenship.”
Not all parliamentarians have been supportive of the change. Sir Edward Leigh MP, who is Catholic, told the House of Commons he was “not sure that many of us Jews and Catholics have really felt discriminated against since 1829”. He added that the government should focus on “more important things”.
The bill will go through its final stages in the House of Lords on 23 November. If passed, it will go to the King, the Supreme Governor of the Church, for Royal Assent to become law.