BRIAN MacGABHANN,
A chara, - I welcome the recent visit of Charles Windsor, particularly his call for reconciliation and healing. May I suggest that a good place to start would be to repeal the Act of Settlement. This legislation explicitly excludes Catholics, or any person married to a Catholic, from the English throne. This is not some ancient historical oddity; the legislation remains in force and has been invoked in recent times to remove the right of succession from a member of the royal family who married a Catholic.
The argument for its retention is that the British monarch is also head of the Church of England, but the legislation doesn't specify that the monarch must be Anglican, it specifies that he or she must not be Catholic. Theoretically one could be Buddhist, Hindu, Quaker or atheist, just not Catholic.
Effectively the British monarchy have erected a sign saying "no Catholics allowed" over the door, and to accept a visit by a head of state representing a jurisdiction which discriminates against a particular minority in such a fashion would be incompatible with modern standards of tolerance and equality.
Would we welcome a visit from a foreign head of state if, for example, Jews were specifically excluded from holding that position? Can you imagine the howls of protest if the Government were to suggest a state visit by the President whose country's constitution specified that no Muslim may become president? Would we look forward to a visit by a head of state whose office was only open to white people?
Discrimination is unacceptable, even if it's only Catholics who are being discriminated against. - Is mise,
BRIAN MacGABHANN,
Béal an Daingin,
Conamara,
Co na Gaillimhe.