in what way would our [english] character be different if our monarchs were catholic?

Answer 1

In no way I think. Apart from the Pope, Church of England and Catholicism share the same principles.

Answer 2

Tricky. The obvious answer is it wouldn't, our character at least, as the Church of England was only invented so Henry the 8th could get a divorce. However, we would potentially live in a different society, if the national religion was Catholicism and the majority of citizens Catholic, the value consensus of society may have been different.

To know this we need only to look at Irish Law, and Irish Precedents

for example Divorce was illegal until the 1990's in Ireland when a national referendum on the issue legalised it.

Abortion is still illegal in Ireland, a doctor could be struck off for performing one(wikipedia) Abortion can only happen if the pregnancy puts the womans life at risk (Catholic double effect principle) Free Birth control, and abortion counselling are also not provided

It is also doubtful we would have had civil partnership legislation
or legalised stem cell research, and all state education would be Catholic, as it is in Ireland.

I think morality would also be a bigger issue nationally as well, what with Catholic guilt.

I am a Catholic, and I am English, I don't think I would be more English than I already am however if I were CofE not Catholic.

Answer 3

This sounds like homework to me and requires an answer too lengthy for this site.

Answer 4

first of all, you would be very poor
secondly, terror would be the thing of the day
and last but not least, you would not exist as a country anymore

Jesus dislikes Popes

peace