Political implications of Johnson's Catholicisim

So is the OP just an ill informed storm in a tea cup?

"If he was a Catholic the other marriages are not recognised. If he wasn't a Catholic they are. I think you are the one missing the point."
Sorry, 'theworriedwell', I was querying your statement that "it seems he must be saying he is a Catholic.." He doesn't have to say he's a Catholic - because various (apparently expert) commentators are telling us that the fact that he was originally baptised as a Catholic means that the Catholic Church consider him still to be a Catholic, regardless of his being subsequently confirmed into the CofE.

We humans are very good at complicating matters, aren't we? My father was an ornithologist and spent many happy hours in the forest. He also knew a lot about wild flowers and fungi. He rarely set foot in a church because he felt he was nearer God in the forest than in a church building. I sympathize with his view.

Bodach

"If he was a Catholic the other marriages are not recognised. If he wasn't a Catholic they are. I think you are the one missing the point."
Sorry, 'theworriedwell', I was querying your statement that "it seems he must be saying he is a Catholic.." He doesn't have to say he's a Catholic - because various (apparently expert) commentators are telling us that the fact that he was originally baptised as a Catholic means that the Catholic Church consider him still to be a Catholic, regardless of his being subsequently confirmed into the CofE.

By using the rule he is in fact saying he is and was a Catholic. He can't have it both ways, well I suppose he can as his legion of fans insist he can do no wrong but he shouldn't be able to.

Whether he is/was/would like to be/never will be a Catholic; I honestly can't see it making a ha'porth of difference politically. So I suppose that my answer to the OP would have to be "there won't be any implications because it just doesn't matter".

Peasblossom

Umm, Thomas Cromwell, Vicar General, was Catholic.

He would have been hard pressed to be Anglican!

Yes, he was Catholic.

Whether you like or not, chewbacca, the Anglican Church is still very strongly linked to the British Government. For all the wrong historical reasons of course, but it is what it is.

We have never had a Catholic PM- and at the same time, I think we can all agree BJ is no Catholic at all. He can't have it both ways.

It is clear now reading newspapers, magazines and Internet sites- that the fact he was allowed to marry in Westminster Cathedral, as a Catholic- has upset a massive number of people for whom it does matter- and that for many, it will influence negatively their view of the British Catholic Church.

Even if it does not matter to you personally.

Chewbacca

So is the OP just an ill informed storm in a tea cup?

It is a discussion- for those who are interested. And those who are not, can, as usual, just go along and ignore. Very simple.

Fact is, that we hve never ever had a Catholic Prime Minister. And it does set a precedent, especially as, as PM, he has a very stong rôle to play:

''The supreme governor of the Church of England is the titular head of the Church of England, a position which is vested in the British monarch.[1] Although the monarch's authority over the Church of England is largely ceremonial and is mostly observed in a symbolic capacity, the position is still very relevant to the church. As the supreme governor, the monarch formally appoints high-ranking members of the church on the advice of the prime minister of the United Kingdom, who is in turn advised by church leaders,[1] such as the Lords
Spiritual. ''

How is the PM going to continue to do this now?

How many Catholic Lords do with have in the House of Lords?

Kali, are you speaking as someone who is a practising Catholic and very knowledgeable about the Catholic faith, or someone who has trawled the internet for information. I, for one, was perplexed at some of the inaccuracies in your posts. ?

Kali2 we get that you do not like Boris Johnson or anything that he does/says, but on this occasion Marydoll and others on this thread are correct.

It's seriously amazing to me that anybody cares what religion our PM is. Wasn't Disraeli Jewish? What would happen if Sunak became PM?

Disraeli was Anglican.
i believe his father or grandfather had joined the church.

but i agree with your general point.
i think Kali has missed upthread where someone pointed out that the role of the PM to advise the monarch on church appts was removed in 2008.
since 2013 royals inc the monarch, may marry a catholic.

Sorry, that was an uninformed assumption on my part.

And after I posted I wondered about atheists!

Kali2

What about Godparents at the Christening- who were they, and were they all Catholics (as they would have had to make a promise to bring the child up in the Faith).

the faith referred to is the christian faith, not specifically catholic, so godparents do not have to be catholic.
as Marydoll has stated. and she should know.

now we know why wise hostesses steer conversation away from religion and/or politics !

Marydoll

*Kali*, are you speaking as someone who is a practising Catholic and very knowledgeable about the Catholic faith, or someone who has trawled the internet for information. I, for one, was perplexed at some of the inaccuracies in your posts. ?

As someone who father was a Catholic, who suffered terribly because he fell in love with a divorced Protestant.

I am not religious, at all- but I am aware of British history and/of politics, and the close link to the Anglican Church- and the fact Anglicans are the only ones represented in the Lords, etc. So yes, I do rely on information from the internet, from official sites, to gain knowledge.

We have never had a Catholic pm, for very important historical reasons, and the State and Anglican Church do still have a very official and strong link which has never been broken.

For me, it is all nonsense actually. But I feel that if you are a Catholic, you should live by it and follow its principles. Wanting it both ways smacks me as being very hypocritical and worse. And the Catholic Church should not allow him his stupid and hypocritical games, lest it be damaged by it.

And it is clear that for very many, this was the last straw, in many ways. My best friend just said to me 'that's it- just can't do this anymore'. And she is not the only one.

As the supreme governor, the monarch formally appoints high-ranking members of the church on the advice of the prime minister of the United Kingdom, who is in turn advised by church leaders,[1] such as the Lords Spiritual.

But surely that does not mean that the PM has to have an in-depth knowledge of the C of E? Church leaders would advise him and he or she in turn then advises the Supreme Governor who is more than capable of saying whether or not she or he approves.

It's just a formality.

Oh too right, welbeck ! That is why I usually steer clear of politics or religion on GN. However, I was becoming seriously irritated by the pontificating and suggestion that I was misinformed about my faith! To be honest, BJ is of little importance to me, unless his behaviour actually impacts on the running of the country, negatively or positively! I have no interest in his private life.

And it is clear that for very many, this was the last straw, in many ways. My best friend just said to me 'that's it- just can't do this anymore'. And she is not the only one.

Goodness - so she and others were prepared to overlook child sexual abuse, the orphanages run by Catholic Christian Brothers, by nuns, the disappearance of indigenous children taken and put in the care of Catholic nuns and priests, babies removed from their mothers, the Magdalene Laundries etc but this marriage has caused her and others to lose faith in the Catholic Church?

Words (nearly) fail me!

Callistemon totally agree, I find totally hypocritical!

Callistemon - Kali said it was the last straw - not the main reason!

I think the last straw would have been long before this for me!

But people may have different ideas from me about what is acceptable.

Kali2
This is a genuine question. Living as you do in Switzerland, and not religious at all why are you so angry about something that has no relevance at all to your life?
Is all this just your ( bordering on the obsessional) hatred of Boris Johnson?
If so, your beginning to look ridiculous.

Kali, you are right that only the Anglican bishops have a place in the House of Lords as of right, they are the lords spiritual; but there are several lords who represent other faiths, eg former chief rabbi, cardinals, and other religions.
the house of lords is long overdue for reform, agreed by most parties, and to take away the hereditary remnant of it.
they just can't agree exactly how, what.
at which point i would expect this element to be looked at too.

UK - approximately 3.8 million Roman Catholics
Worldwide - 1.2 billion Roman Catholics

Will your best friend join another branch of the Christian church, now, Kali2?