Catholic could become king under plans to abolish Act of Settlement

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/3076884/Catholic-could-become-king-under-plans-to-abolish-Act-of-Settlement.html

[Telegraph] 25 Sep 2008--The plan to abolish the Act of Settlement could ultimately lead to the disestablishment of the Church of England.

The Act also prevents Muslims and other non-Protestants from succeeding to the throne.
Scrapping it would also end the practice of primogeniture where male heirs are given priority in the succession. That could pave the way for a first-born daughter of Prince William to ultimately succeed him as monarch.

It was reported last night that Chris Bryant, a Labour MP drawing up options for contstitional reform, is backing the scrapping of the Act.

Mr Bryant, an aide to Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader, has now passed his recommendations to Wilf Stevenson, one of the Prime Minister's advisers.

Any move to scrap the Act would only come if Labour won the next election, and even then there may be douts about the political will to make the change.

Related articles:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/25/anglicanism.catholicism1
End of the Anglican crown - 300 year bar to be lifted - Guardian
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/philip_johnston/blog/2008/09/25/is_it_time_to_scrap_the_act_of_settlement Is it time to scrap the Act of Settlement? - Telegraph