Papists Act 1778
Encyclopedia
The Papists Act 1778 is an Act
of the Parliament of Great Britain
(18 George III c. 60) and was the first Act for Catholic Relief. Later in 1778 It was also enacted by the Irish parliament.
Before the Act, a number of "Penal laws"
had been enacted in Britain and Ireland, which varied between the jurisdictions from time to time but effectively excluded Catholics from public life.
By this Act, an oath was imposed, which besides a declaration of loyalty to the reigning sovereign, contained an abjuration of the Pretender
, and of certain doctrines attributed to Catholics, as that excommunicated princes may lawfully be murdered, that no faith should be kept with heretics, and that the Pope
has temporal as well as spiritual jurisdiction in Britain.
Those taking this oath were exempted from some of the provisions of the Popery Act 1698
. The section as to taking and prosecuting priests was repealed, as well as the penalty of perpetual imprisonment for keeping a school. Catholics were also enabled to inherit and purchase land, nor was a Protestant heir any longer empowered to enter and enjoy the estate of his Catholic kinsman.
The passing of this act was the occasion of the Gordon Riots
(1780) in which the violence of the mob was especially directed against Lord Mansfield
who had balked at various prosecutions under the statutes now repealed.
This Act was repealed by the Promissory Oaths Act 1871 (c.48).
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
(18 George III c. 60) and was the first Act for Catholic Relief. Later in 1778 It was also enacted by the Irish parliament.
Before the Act, a number of "Penal laws"
Penal Laws (Ireland)
The term Penal Laws in Ireland were a series of laws imposed under English and later British rule that sought to discriminate against Roman Catholics and Protestant dissenters in favour of members of the established Church of Ireland....
had been enacted in Britain and Ireland, which varied between the jurisdictions from time to time but effectively excluded Catholics from public life.
By this Act, an oath was imposed, which besides a declaration of loyalty to the reigning sovereign, contained an abjuration of the Pretender
Charles Edward Stuart
Prince Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain , and Ireland...
, and of certain doctrines attributed to Catholics, as that excommunicated princes may lawfully be murdered, that no faith should be kept with heretics, and that the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
has temporal as well as spiritual jurisdiction in Britain.
Those taking this oath were exempted from some of the provisions of the Popery Act 1698
Popery Act 1698
The Popery Act 1698 was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of England passed in 1700. The long title of the Act is "An Act for the further preventing the Growth of Popery."...
. The section as to taking and prosecuting priests was repealed, as well as the penalty of perpetual imprisonment for keeping a school. Catholics were also enabled to inherit and purchase land, nor was a Protestant heir any longer empowered to enter and enjoy the estate of his Catholic kinsman.
The passing of this act was the occasion of the Gordon Riots
Gordon Riots
The Gordon Riots of 1780 were an anti-Catholic protest against the Papists Act 1778.The Popery Act 1698 had imposed a number of penalties and disabilities on Roman Catholics in England; the 1778 act eliminated some of these. An initial peaceful protest led on to widespread rioting and looting and...
(1780) in which the violence of the mob was especially directed against Lord Mansfield
William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield
William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, SL, PC was a British barrister, politician and judge noted for his reform of English law. Born to Scottish nobility, he was educated in Perth, Scotland before moving to London at the age of 13 to take up a place at Westminster School...
who had balked at various prosecutions under the statutes now repealed.
This Act was repealed by the Promissory Oaths Act 1871 (c.48).