Is Camilla a Catholic?

[COUNTESS]

Originally Posted by Russophile

Yes, indeed it goes back to Henry 8th and his divorce to Catherine of Aragon which the Pope wouldn't recognize. Don't forget Catherine's parents were Ferdinand and Isabella, heavy hitters in the Catholic realm for the Pope. So that didn't sit well at all! Henry made himself head of the church and confiscated all the churchs lands for his own. He taxed them and took the wealth to fill his coffers because he was running into some expense entertaining lavishly at court. When Mary Tudor came to power, she turned the apple cart upside down and went back to Catholicism executing all those who didn't agree to re-convert. It wasn't for naught she was called "Bloody Mary". (And it's an awfully nice drink if made with horseradish and worchestershire) Elizabeth 1 went back to CoE. The people must have been mixed up and upset.
Well, long story short, marrying a Catholic DOES NOT make you Catholic. You have to be baptized and take communion, confession, etc. Mr. Russo's a Catholic and I'm a Jack Mormon. Go figure!
There is no way that the Royal Family wants to open that can of worms. If they reverse the law, what is to say that the current sitting Pope won't request all his lands and churches back that Henry took?? It could happen! Blacks are asking for reparations in America because their ancestors were brought here against their will.

Oh, what nonsense. The Pope isn't going to do that and the answer would be no. John Kennedy made it very clear that you could be a Catholic and not be dictated to by the Pope. This is the 21st century, not the 16th. The Pope has very little power. Influence in his own chuch, but only to some degree. Many American Catholics openly practice birth control and still go to church. The world has changed since Henry VIII.

[Elspeth]

As long as we have an established church, the monarch has to be a member. If we don't, then I suppose the monarch could still be required by law to be CofE or Protestant or something, but I think that the fewer the number of people whose religious freedom is curtailed by requirements of state, the better.

[Russophile]

Originally Posted by COUNTESS

Oh, what nonsense. The Pope isn't going to do that and the answer would be no. John Kennedy made it very clear that you could be a Catholic and not be dictated to by the Pope. This is the 21st century, not the 16th. The Pope has very little power. Influence in his own chuch, but only to some degree. Many American Catholics openly practice birth control and still go to church. The world has changed since Henry VIII.

Yes, Countess, it IS the 21st century but guess what?? Mitt Romney is running for President and there are a LOT of scared people out there wondering what the Mormon church is going to do and/or how much influence they will have over Mitt. Again, go figure.

[COUNTESS]

Many are unsure because he is a Mormon, that doesn't mean the Pope will makes demands on a King of England. Many don't like Rommney because he seems to change he story and lie, so what he was for before, he is against now. But all of that is not the issue. The issue was, would a Pope make claims on an English Monarch if he married a Catholic. That was nonsense.

[Russophile]

My point is that you don't know. And if I were the CoE I would let things just lay there until you have a strong monarch in there who can bring some reforms.
Some things start small, then gather momentum and make sweeping changes.
You are in America. You have seen YouTube and the cry for reparations. Again, my point is: it could happen. You don't know.
(Well, unless you're Kreskin, and in that case, can I'd be divining the winning lottery numbers. . . . )

[BeatrixFan]

The main issue with the Pope is power and influence. For example, the Pope decries abortion and countries with a Catholic monarch are expected to hold Catholic doctrine as the foundation for law. It's also the idea of the Pope holding power and influence over the English monarch. In Britain, the Church of England provides the basis for law (or did) and the monarch is answerable only to God (or parliament if you're not religious). It's a power and influence issue.

[Russophile]

I agree Beatrix, but before we get admonished we need to steer it back to no, the Duchess of Cornwall is NOT Catholic. A Catholic marriage does not make one Catholic.


(Okay, I'm doing it for brownie points. . . )

[Duchess]

exactly right...marrying a catholic doesn't make you a catholic. camilla would have had to convert and since she didn't do that she is not a roman catholic.

[iowabelle]

The rift between England and the Roman Church goes way back before Henry VIII. Remember the story of Henry II and Thomas a Becket -- that was basically the conflict between nationalism and the concept of a universal Christian church (and who got to wring the last coins out of the merchants and peasants). Sorry to digress.

Although Camilla might have been married to a Catholic, she doesn't strike me as the sort to have secret religious thoughts -- and probably adheres to the religion of her parents.