Can an English lord be Catholic?

Question

Thanks to all for these informative replies!

Answer 1

Yes, though in centuries past I think they couldn't sit in the House of Lords, and there may still be a bar on Catholics serving as Lord Chancellor (who until recently had to be a member of the Lords).

As well as the Dukes of Norfolk, the Earls of Shrewsbury are prominent Catholic peers. One of them was a patron of the great Catholic architect, Augustus Pugin.

Answer 2

Yes. As long as the Lord peer is not in line of succession to the throne.And there have been and still are English lords who are Catholic!

Answer 3

Shades of Brideshead Revisited!  Wikipedia lists numerous examples of recusants (members of the peerage or gentry who have maintained their adherence to Roman Catholicism), most prominently the Dukes of Norfolk (the Fitzalan-Howards), as well as the Acton (Acton-Dalberg) family.  Other prominent English aristocratic families include the following surnames: Ainscough, Throckmorton, Cary-Elwes, Gilibrand, Berkeley (of Spetchley), De Lisle, Weld (Weld-Blundell), Ward, Holman, Fitzherbert, De Trafford, Trappes-Lomax, Stourton, Vasasour, Clifford, Bedingfield. Stuckley, Swarbrick, Talbot, Hornyold, Towneley, and Stonar.

Also, during the 19th century, several peers and their families reverted to Roman Catholicism, including  Lane-Fox, Noel (Gainsborough),   Radcliffe.

Answer 4

As long as they aren't in the line of succession to the throne, yes.

Answer 5

Yes. The Duke of Norfolk comes from a proud line of Roman Catholics. He has a role in the coronation as the Premier Duke in the peerage of England, and also, as Earl of Arundel, the Premier Earl, the Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England.

Answer 6

Yes, even British royal members can become Catholics (if one truly wishes to do so). The Act of Settlement of 1701 only stipulates Catholics from inheriting the crown, however it does not legally prevent one from marrying a Catholic or converting to Catholicism. Anyone who is Roman Catholic, becomes Roman Catholic, or marries a Roman Catholic is permanently excluded from the succession.

There have been no Roman Catholic clergymen appointed, though it was rumoured that Cardinal Basil Hume was offered a peerage, but refused, and accepted instead the Order of Merit, a personal appointment of the Queen, shortly before his death. Roman Catholics who have received Holy Orders are forbidden by Canon Law from holding offices connected with the government of any state (aside from the Holy See) and so no Catholic cleric will likely ever sit in the House of Lords.

Note: There are discussions of removing "anti-Catholics" from the Act of Settlement, which is currently in conflict with the discrimination law in the UK.

Answer 7

The Ban on Catholics is only to ascending to the throne, there are Catholic, Jewish and Muslim members of the House of Lords (or have hereditary peerages).