Religion: Inside Information

Last Roman Catholic King of England was James II (1685-88). By oaths of accession, by laws of the realm, by popular tradition, no British Sovereign since has been permitted to become a Catholic. Yet last week in the New York Catholic News column of Rev. James Martin Gillis, famed Paulist preacher, appeared the following :

“I still feel about kings in general as Patrick Henry and James Otis and Thomas Paine felt and spoke about George III. . . . However, I am ready to admit that some of the more recent English kings have been rather good fellows, in some respects. Edward VII had the decency to protest against the Oath against Transubstantiation. In reward for his courage in that matter, he died a Catholic. Having made that point-blank statement, perhaps I had better add that I will not enter into any controversy on the matter. But I have direct, authentic reliable inside information on the matter which I could not as a journalist obtain permission to publish. But you may put it down as a fact—Edward VII died a Catholic.”