Why is there a conflict over religion in England and why did it matter whether it was a cathloic or protestant monarch?

Answer 1

Historically, there was a great deal of unrest and atrocities committed in the name of religion. It began with corruption in the Catholic monasteries at the time of Henry VIII who, worried about the power the monasteries had, and needing an annulment from his wife, broke from Rome to form the Church of England with himself as 'supreme governor' of the Church. This title was chosen specifically as governors of colonies were representatives of a higher ruler - the monarch, and Henry declare he was governor under Christ himself and not the pope. As a result he destroyed most of the monasteries and imprisoned many priests and monks.

On restoration of Catholicism under Mary I she oversaw a reign of bloodshed and terror and earned her the nickname 'Bloody Mary' having put to death (usually by burning alive) many high-ranking churchmen.

The Church of England was only reinstated by Elizabeth I to a great sigh of relief from many in the country as the bloodshed would then cease.

However, that was hundreds of years ago. Nowadays there is no real conflict in England between Catholics and Protestants. Most towns and cities have an ecumenical council of 'Churches Together' and Catholics and other denominations work together in peace, harmony and mutual respect. In my own town we even share occasional worship - something that would never have happened a hundred or so years ago -and which is still frowned upon my some hard-line Catholics.

The problems in Northern Ireland between Catholics and Protestants have little to do with religion but the labels 'Catholic' and 'Protestant' are convenient labels to use for the republican south (mostly Catholics) and the British ex-pat north (mostly Protestant). Republicans wish to see the British out of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic be united. Britain has a different view. Although there has been peace in Northern Ireland for a while, there are still skirmishes an incidents cause by a few republican terrorists who refuse to search for a peaceful outcome.

As for the monarch remaining Protestant, again this is a political situation. All monarchs hold the title of 'supreme governor of the Church of England'. If a monarch were allowed to marry a Catholic, the Catholic Church would insist that the children of that marriage be brought up Catholic. This would mean a Catholic heir to the throne. When he or she became monarch it would be untenable being a Catholic and also governor of a 'protestant' church that rejected the authority of the pope. So no monarch, by law, can marry a Catholic. Nor can members of the royal family who are close in line to succeeding the throne, although some have, in the past, given up their right of succession to marry a Catholic spouse.