BY Ian Dunn | October 28 | 0 COMMENTS print
First Minister disappointed Catholics still cannot become British monarch
Alex Salmond welcomes progress by Prime Minister and Commonwealth leaders but regrets reform has ‘stopped short of removing the unjustifiable barrier’ to Catholics
First Minister Alex Salmond has today welcomed the fact Prime Minister David Cameron and other Commonwealth leaders have agreed to lift the bar on the British Monarch marrying a Catholic but said it is ‘deeply disappointing’ that a Catholic still cannot become King or Queen.
“I welcome the fact that progress has been made on this issue, which has been an impediment in the message of equality of faith and gender in society,” he said.
“However, it is deeply disappointing that the reform has stopped short of removing the unjustifiable barrier on a Catholic becoming Monarch.”
The First Minster also said it was ‘a missed opportunity not to ensure equality of all faiths when it comes to the issue of who can be head of state.’