The Scottish Government White Paper arguing for a 'yes' vote in the independence referendum on 14 September 2014 does little to advance the cause of secularism.
The proposed continuance of the UK monarchy means that the head of state of an independent Scotland would be a Christian and Protestant monarch confirmed in office by religious rituals.The Scottish Government does not plan to change the rules of succession. Roman Catholics and others not in communion with the Church of England would continue to be excluded from succession to the throne (Answer to Question 581).
However this statement is in conflict with a the summary of the White Paper in the section headed 'The monarchy and the crown', which states that an independent Scottish Government would promote and support, among the states of the Commonwealth that have the monarch as head of state, a measure to exclude religious discrimination from the succession rules.(Such a change would have to be agreed by all 16 other relevant states).
In answer to Question 590 the Scottish Government says that it proposes no change to the legal status of any religion or of Scotland's churches.(This would presumably mean that churches would retain their allocated places on local authority education committees).But the answer conflicts with the White Paper statement that the Acts of Union would be repealed as part of the transition to independence. This would remove the obligation on a new monarch immediately on coming to the throne to take the oath to 'maintain and preserve the True Protestant Religion and the Presbyterian form of church government in Scotland'.
The repeal of the Acts of Union would thus remove the special position of the Church of Scotland but the current monarch could not assent to this change because of the oath sworn upon accession on 8 February 1952 (although this oath could be overridden by UK Parliamentary legislation). No wonder the Moderator of the Church of Scotland met with UK Scotland Office ministers shortly after the White Paper was published since the historic position of the Church is in jeopardy if Scotland becomes independent.
There is very little to advance the cause of secularism in the White Paper proposals. The monarch's institutional favouritism towards the Church of Scotland is threatened and there are possible steps that would remove the discriminatory rules of succession to the throne but the Scottish Government emphasises, somewhat mistakenly, that there will be no change to the legal status of any religion or Scotland's churches.
Some secularists argue that their agenda can be pursued at the proposed constitutional convention that will be established after the achievement of independence in order to design a new constitution for the new Scottish state but if it cannot be achieved within the context of current constitutional arrangements or in the proposals for independence why should it be expected under that scenario? And what confidence can people have in voting for independence if the proposed initial arrangements for independence can so readily be overturned?
The most effective steps that secularists might take are to press for the removal of all religious tests for the monarchy and the removal of all its religious roles. The secular monarchy should be campaigned for as part the independence package or as part of the continuing United Kingdom whether or not Scotland achieves independence.
Please send any comments on this post to normanbonney2010@gmail.com
The proposed continuance of the UK monarchy means that the head of state of an independent Scotland would be a Christian and Protestant monarch confirmed in office by religious rituals.The Scottish Government does not plan to change the rules of succession. Roman Catholics and others not in communion with the Church of England would continue to be excluded from succession to the throne (Answer to Question 581).
However this statement is in conflict with a the summary of the White Paper in the section headed 'The monarchy and the crown', which states that an independent Scottish Government would promote and support, among the states of the Commonwealth that have the monarch as head of state, a measure to exclude religious discrimination from the succession rules.(Such a change would have to be agreed by all 16 other relevant states).
In answer to Question 590 the Scottish Government says that it proposes no change to the legal status of any religion or of Scotland's churches.(This would presumably mean that churches would retain their allocated places on local authority education committees).But the answer conflicts with the White Paper statement that the Acts of Union would be repealed as part of the transition to independence. This would remove the obligation on a new monarch immediately on coming to the throne to take the oath to 'maintain and preserve the True Protestant Religion and the Presbyterian form of church government in Scotland'.
The repeal of the Acts of Union would thus remove the special position of the Church of Scotland but the current monarch could not assent to this change because of the oath sworn upon accession on 8 February 1952 (although this oath could be overridden by UK Parliamentary legislation). No wonder the Moderator of the Church of Scotland met with UK Scotland Office ministers shortly after the White Paper was published since the historic position of the Church is in jeopardy if Scotland becomes independent.
There is very little to advance the cause of secularism in the White Paper proposals. The monarch's institutional favouritism towards the Church of Scotland is threatened and there are possible steps that would remove the discriminatory rules of succession to the throne but the Scottish Government emphasises, somewhat mistakenly, that there will be no change to the legal status of any religion or Scotland's churches.
Some secularists argue that their agenda can be pursued at the proposed constitutional convention that will be established after the achievement of independence in order to design a new constitution for the new Scottish state but if it cannot be achieved within the context of current constitutional arrangements or in the proposals for independence why should it be expected under that scenario? And what confidence can people have in voting for independence if the proposed initial arrangements for independence can so readily be overturned?
The most effective steps that secularists might take are to press for the removal of all religious tests for the monarchy and the removal of all its religious roles. The secular monarchy should be campaigned for as part the independence package or as part of the continuing United Kingdom whether or not Scotland achieves independence.
Please send any comments on this post to normanbonney2010@gmail.com
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