The Sun.
London, England, 1825-03-28 00:00:00

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BILL.

A BILL to provide for the Removal of the Disqualifications
under which his 3lajesty's Roman Catholic Subjects now
labour.

Whereas the Protestant succession to the Imperial Crown of
this United Kingdom and its dependencies is, by the Act for
the further limitation of the Crown.and the better securing the
liberties of the subject, established permanently and inviolably :
And whereas the Protestant Episcopal Church of England
and Ireland, and the doctrine, discipline, and government
thereof, and likewise the Protestant Presbyterian Church of
Scotland, and the doctrine, discipline, and government thereof,
are, by the respective Acts of Union between England and
Scotland, and between Great Britain and Ireland, therein Se-
verally established permanently and inviolably :
And whereas after due consideration of the situation, dispo-
sitions, and conduct of his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects,
it appears just and fitting to communicate to them the enjoy-
ment of the benefits and advantages of the Constitution and
Government happily established in this United Kingdom,- so
that all his Majesty's faithful and dutiful subjects may grow
into one nation ; whereby there may be an utter oblivion and
extinguishment of all former dissensions and discords between
them, thus consolidating the Union between Great Britain and
Ireland and uniting and knitting together the hearts of all his
Majesty's subjects in one and the .same interest, for the support
of his Majesty's person, family, crown, and Government, and
for the defence of their common rights and liberties :
And whereas by certain Acts passed in the Parliaments of
Great Britain and Ireland respectively, certain declarations,
commonly called the Declaration against transubstantiation,
and against transubstantiation, and the invocation of Saints,
and the sacrifice of the Mass, as practiced in the Church of
Rome, are required to be made and subscribed as qualifications
for the enjoyment of certain offices and franchises : And wberee
as the said declarations are in the words following & that is to
say—
" I, A. B. do declare, That I do believe that there its not any
transnbstantiation in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, or
in the elements of bread and Wine, at or after the col/sea:diem
thereof by any person whatever."
" I, A. B. do solemnly and sincerely, in the presence of God,
profess, testify, and declare, That 1 do believe, that in the Sa-
crament of the Lord's Supper there is not any transubstantia-
tion of the elements of bread and wine into the body and blood
of Christ, at or after the consecration thereof, by any person
whatever. And that the invocation or adoration of' the Virgin
Mary, or any other Saint, and the sacrifice of the Mass, as they
are now used in the Church of Rotne, are superstitious and
idolatrous. And 1 do solemnly, in thepresence of God, profess,
testify, and declare, that I do snake this declaration, and every
part thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense of the words read
unto me, as they are commonly understood by English Protes-
tants, without any evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation
whatsoever, or. without any-dispensation already granted rue for
this purpose by the Pope or any other authority or person what-
' soever, or without thinking that I am or can be acquitted before
God or man, or absolved of this declaration, or any part thereof,
,although the Pope or any other person or persons, or power
whatsoever, should dispense with or annul the same, or declare
' that it wale null or void from the beginning."
And whereas the said declarations relate only ea .matters
of
epiriturd and religious belief, which do not in any manner affect
the allegiance of his Majesty's subjects ;
May it therefore please your Majesty, , •
That it may be enacted; and be it enacted, by the.Eing'e :Qat
teecellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the
Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present.
Parliament asseenfiled,. and by the authority of the same, That
all such parts of' the salts Acts as require the said declarations,
or either of them, to be made or subscribed as a qualificAti n
for the exercise- or enjoyment of office, 'franchise, or civil
tight, by anf of his MaiestY:ssasvue aiseelties;inbaef and the same are
beret)), absolutely repealed;A
Passed in t9' provided.
Mud Whereas by divers c the, saisl Parliaments
of Great Britain and Ireland respectively, the' path of Alle-
giance, Supremacy, and-Abjurationr therein-
thereincertain..trientiohed
AO where's., I,is Majes -
ty,e Roman Catholic subjects • in, t
lit Urn • • •brea
e" "MY' and desirous
Meth: grid Ireland have been.and Abjuration
lo take the said Oaths Allegiance 4 Juratioa

mon with his Majesty's other subjects, but entertains scruples
with respect to taking the Oath of Supremacy, inasmuch as they
apprehend that the same Might be construed to import a
claimer of the spiritual authority of the Pope or' Church of
Home in matters of religious belief: Be it therefore enacted,
that from and after the - it shall and may be
lawful for all or any of his Majesty's Homan Catholic subjects,
in all cases where the said Oath of Supremacy is now by law
required to be taken as a qualification for the taking, .holding,
or enjoying any civil right, office, or franchise, in lieu and place
thereof to take, make, and subscribe the oath following—(that
is to say) :
" I, A.B. do sincerely promise and swear that I will be
faithful and bear true allegiance to his present Majesty, and
will defend him to the utmost of my power against all con-
spiracies and attempts whatever, that shall be made against his
person, crown, or dignity ; and I will do my utmost endeavour
to disclose and make known to his Majesty, his heirs and sue=
cessors, all treasons and traiterous conspiracies which may be
formed against him or them : And I do faithfully promise to
maintain, support, and defend to the utmost of ,my power the
succession o:' the crown, which succession, by an Act intttuletl,
an Act for the further limitation of the Crown,'itod better
securing the rights and liberties of the subject,' is and stands
limited to the Princess Sophia, Electress and Duchess Dowager
of Hanover, and the heirs of her bpdy, being Protestants ;
hereby utterly renouncing and abjuring any obedience or alle-
giance unto any, other person claiming or pretending a right to
the Crown of these realms • and I do swear, that I do reject and
detest, as unchristian and impious, the position, that it is law-
ful to murder or destroy any person or persons whatsoever, for
or under pretence of their being heretics or infidels: and also,
that unchristian and impious principle, that faith is not to be
kept with heretics or infidels. And I do further declare, that
it is not an article of my faith, and that I do renounce, reject,
and abjure the opinion, that Princes eiccommuicated by the
Pope and Council, or any other authority of the See of Rome, or
by any other authorities whatsoever, may be deposed or murder-
ed by their subjects or any person whatsoever ; and I do pro-
mise, that I will not hold, maintain, or abet any such opinion or
any other opinion, contrary to what is expressed in this declara.
tion : And I do declare that I do not believe that the Pope of
Rome, or any other foreign Prince, Prelate, State-, or Potentate,
hath or ought to have any temporal or civil jurisdiction, power,
superiority, or pre-eminence, directly or indirectly, within this
realm : and I do hereby disclaim, disavow, and solemly abjure,
any intention to subvert the present Church Establishment for
the purpose of substituting a Roman Catholic Establishment in
its stead; and do solmnly swear, that I will sever exercise any
privilege to which I am or may become entitled to disturb the
Protestant religion or Protestant Government in this kindom :
and I do solemnly, in the presence of God, profess, testify,
and declare, that I do make this declaration and every part
thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense of the words of this
oath, without any evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation
whatever, and without any dispensation already granted by the
Pope, or any authority of the See of Rome, or any person what-
ever, and without thinking that I am or can be acquitted be-
fore God or man, or absolved of this declaration, or. any part
thereof, although the Pope, or any other person or authority
whatsover, shall dispense with or annul the same, and declare
that it was null or void.—So help me God." •
And that the person so taking, making, and subscribing the
same, shall be capable of talring, holding. and enjoying such
right, office, and franchise., as fully and effectually, to all in-
tents and purposes, as if such person had made, taken, and
subscribed the said Oath of Supremacy ; save as hereinafter
provided. . - -

Provided always, and be it further enacted, that nothing in
this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend to
dispense with, repeal, or alter any of the laws now in force
respecting the succession of the Imperial Crown of -these
realms.in the Protestant line, or respecting the marriages of the
descendants of his late Majesty King George the Second, or for,
establishing the uniformity of public praVeri, or administration
of sacraments in the United Episcopal Church of England and
Ireland.

Provided also, and be it further enacted, that nothing in this
Act contained shall be construed to enable.any person or per.
sons, otherwise than as they are now by law enabled, to hold,
enjoy, or to exercise any office, beneficial place, or dignity, of,
in, or belonging to the said United Church of England and
Ireland, or to the Church of Scotland, or any piece or office
whatever, of or belonging to any of the Ecclesiastical Courts
of Judicature of this realm, or any Court of appeal from or
review of the sentences of such Court or Courts, or of or be,
longing to any cathedral or collegiate or ecclesiastical este-
,blishmentor foundation Within the same ; or any office or place
whatever, of or belonging to any of the- Universities of this
realm, or any officeor place whatever, and by whatever name
the same may be called, of in or belonging to any of the col-
leges or hails of the said Universities, of the colleges of Eton,
Westminster, or Winchester, or any college or school of eccle-
siastical foundation within this realm ; or to repeel, abrogate,
or in any manner to interfere with any loCal statute,' ordinance,
or rule, which is or shall be established by competent authority
within any such University, college, hall. or school, and by
which Roman Catholics' shall be prevented from being admitted
thereto; or from residing or taking degrees therein. Provided
also, that nothing herein contained shall extend or be construed
rtoe
leigxitoenn,dt
oto e
xe ne
racib lsee anyany persongia t o professingf
presentation
to anyy ne
ecclesiastical
esCatholiciastic a l
benefice whatsoever, and that in every case in which a right of
presentation is or shall he vested in a person professing the
Homan Catholic religion, the same shall be and continue to .be
exercised in the same manner, and in no other, than is now by.
law required ; save and except where such right of presentation-
shall belong to any office in the gift or Appoin tiri ent of his Ma-
jesty, his heirs and successors, in which case, if such office
shall be hdd.by a person profeasing the Roman Catholic reli-
gion, it shall and may be lawful for his Majesty,. his heirs and
successors, to appoint by commission under the great seal, such
member or mothers of the Priyy Council, being a Protestant
or Protestants, as he or they shall think fit to be a Commis.
sioner or Commissioners for exercising such right of. presents-
tion, whilst such office shall be held by a person professing the
Roman Catholic religion. Provided also, that nothing herein
contained shall extend or be construed to exterrd to enable any
person being a Roman Catholic to hold and enjoy threoffice of
Lord High Chancellor, Lord Keeper nr Lor&Coniznis3inner of
the Great Seal of Great Britain. or Ireland, or of Lord.Lieuten.
ant or Lord Deputy, or other the Chief Governor Or.Chiel Go.'
vernors of Ireland. .

.
And be it further enacted, that it shall and may be lawful rot.,
any of his .Majesty's Roman Catholic subccts personally to
appear in any of his Majesty's Courts of-Exchequer, King's
Bench, Common Pleas, or Exchequer, at Westminster. or
Dublin, or before any Judge of Assize, or in any Coors of ge.
neral Quarter Sessions in Great Britain or Ireland, or in any
of his Majesty's Courts of Session, Justiciary or ExcheqUer, or
in any. Sheriff or Stewart Court, or before the -Magistrates and
Councillors of the Royal Burghs, or before the Council of their
respective Burghs in Scotland, and there, in open Court, be-
tween the hours of nine in the morning and two in the after-
noon, to take make rind subscribe the said 'oath hcreinbefore
prescribed to be taken ;' and that the proper offs r' of sitar
Court, with whom the custody of such record shall rdrunins.:
shall make subscribe and deliver a certificate- of such oath,
having been duly made. taken and subscribed, to the person-
who shall have so made taken and subscribed the same, as oKen•
as the same shall be demanded ; and such_certilicate shall be
sufficient evidence of such person having duly taken' madle.
and subscribed such oath as aforesaid ; and that nom*d-
arter the no oath or oaths shall beiendered to or
required to be taken by his Majesty's Homan Cailiolic subjects,,
who shall take, make and subscribe the said oath ISSCherein,
before descibed, and
.obtain such certificate thereef as herein,
before prescribed for enabling 'them to' hold -or'enioY'any real
or personal property; other than Such as may by -adered
to
thattheyf ro be. taken by At?.,BiajestrA' other sUbjects ;
and - made
taken and
.subscribed, and such eertifieare'therecif obtained as
aforesaid, shall be in the Place of, and as" valid -rind beneficial to
all intents and purpotO, tbr the persons so makillg, tAkfrig, and
subscribing the same, as if such person 'had 'duly made.. taken,.
.and subscribed tho several oath& '.noW by hiw rent:lit:ell to be
taken
, hi 4 :Majesty's Roman .Catholic .Subje4ts, clualitica.'
property. Provided always, that
tions for the enjoyment of any Civil right, office, or franchise,-
norotohfinagnyilreeareli-r
i.l):OnPtearrnendaishall be held to dispense with the
'taking of the said oath hereby appointed . to be taken in the
place of the.said oath of supreinacy, in all edaes where-tticsaid
'oath of supremacy is now by law required to be taken. .
And whereas tt• hi expedient that sack precautions shou'ir
• be taken in respect:of' persons .in Holy ()retell •proreseing, tt e
po oan. catholic religion, who may at Any
.thne hereafter be
sleeted, nominated, or appointed to the exercise or disehtr.ie
•of episcopal thitieivr.funstions in the:, 4fakian Catholic Char rek,
hi Ireland, or to the duties or function(pLa in,jhe:s4l:‘
church, as that rip such person shall at 'any time 21:.radttr

assume the exercise or discharge of any such duties or
functions within the United Kingdom, or any part thereof,
whose loyalty and peaceable condyct. shall •not haste;heen
previously ascertained, as hereinafter provided ; be ittber.deffe
enacted, that it shall and may be lawfill'for his MajoittY, tae
heirs and subscribed,- by Commission to, be issued undeethe
great Seal of Ireland, to nominate and appoint such persons in
I-loly Orders professing the Roman Catholic Religion, and ex-
ercising episcopal duties or functions in Ireland, as his MA-
jesty,. his heirs and successors, or the Lord Lieutenant, or Lord
Deputy, or other Chief Governor or Governors of Ireland, shall
from time to time think fit, to be Conunissioners under this
Act, for the purposes herein after mentioned.
And be it further enacted, that any number not less than
of the said Commissioners, shall .form a Board for executing
the se+eral powers and duties by this Act vested in the said
Commissioners.
And be it further enacted, that it shall and may be lawful
for his Majesty, his heirs and successors, from time to time,
at his and their will and pleasure, to revoke and determine the
Commission aforesaid, or any Commission issued under the
provisions of this Act, and to cause a new Commission to ire,ue
instead thereof.

Provided always, and be it further enacted, that such new
Commission shall issue within after the revocation
and determination of the Commission so revoked and determined
as aforesaid ; and provided always, that every such new Com-
mission shall consist in like Manner of Roman Catholic Bcch•-
siastics exercising episcopal duties or functions in Ireland. as
aforesaid ; and that every Commissioner to be appointed undc.
this Act shall, before be acts as, such, take and subscribe the
following oath I—
" r, A. B. do promise and swear, that I will, without favour
or affection, prejudice or malice to any person whatsoever, faith,
fully and impartially, and to the best of my judgment and dis-
cretion, execute and perform the duties of a Commissignier
vested in me by virtue of an Act of the Fifth year of the reign
of his present Majesty, intitulad, ' An Act,' [here insert the
title of the Act 4 and will honestly and truly advise his Majesty
in all matters which shall come before me as a Commissioner
,under said Act ; and that I will not directly or indirectly pub-
lish, disclose, or make known, except to his Majesty, or by his
Majesty's command, any matter or thing whatsoever which
shall come to my knowledge by reason or in consequence of
my being a Commissioner under the said Act.
" so help me GOD."
And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the
said Commissioners so to be appointed as aforesaid, or any
of them, from time to time to certify to his Majesty, or the
Lord Lieutenant, Lord Deputy, or other Chief Governor or
Governors of Ireland, the appointment of any Bishop or Dean
to be hereafter appointed in the said Roman Catholic Much
in Ireland ; and which certificate shall be in die words follow-
ing; (that is to say)
" We do hereby certify, That A. B. having been previously
chosen and recommended by certain Ecclesiastics of the Roman
Catholic Church of Ireland, to be a Bishop or Dean (as the
case maybe), of the said Church, has accordingly been ap-
pointed a .Bishop or_ Dean (as the case may be) of the said
Church : and we do believe the said A. B. to be. a loyal sub-
ject of his Majesty."
And they shall transmit a duplicate of such certificate to the
Bishop or Dean named therein.
And be it further enacted, that every person who shall, after
the commencement of this Act, commence exercising the func-
tions of a Bishop or Dean of the said Roman Catholic Church
in Ireland, shall instead of the oaths now by law required to he
taken by his Majesty's Roman Catholic subjects in Ireland,
take, make, and subscribe the oath hereinbefore appointed to be
taken by his !Majesty's said Roman Catholic subjects, in,,,teact
of the said oath of supremacy;. and shall, at the time of taking
the Same, deliver to the proper officer of the Court before which
he shall take the same, the said duplicate certificate so to be
transmitted to such Bishopor Dean aforesaid, and such-otliccr
shall indorse thereupon a certificate of the said oath having
been se taken, and shall return the same to such 1 Sishop or Derr,,
and the said certificate, so indorsed as aforesaid, shall he evidence
of such Bishop or Dean having taken the said oath, provided
that no Bishop or Dean to be hereafter appointed in the said
Roman Catholic Church, in Ireland, shall act as such, until
such duplicate certificate shall be delivered or transmitted to hint
as aforesaid.

And whereas it is fit to regulate the intercourse and corre-
spondence between his Majesty's subjects of Ireland and the See
of Borne ; be it therefore further enacted, that from and after
so often as any subject or subjects of hii Majesty
in Ireland shall recoire any bull, dispensation, or other instru-
ment from the See of Rome, or from any foreign bOdy or indi-
vidual whatsoever, or from any person or body whatsoever in
,foreign parts, acting under authority of the said See. or under
that of any other Spiritual Superior, the person or persons so re-
ceiving the same shall within after receiving the same,deliver
the same, or cause it to las delivered in the original, to the Presi-
dent of the said Board of-Commissioners, who shall lay the
same before the said L'card of Commissioners, who shall forth-
with inspect the same ; and if the said Board of Commissioners
shall not find any thing in the said instrument so submitted to
their inspection, which-shall appear to .them in any Way
oils to the safety- or tranquillity of the United Kingdom, or to
the Protestant Establishment in Church or State, they shall
forthwith report the- receipt thereof to the Lord Lieutenant,
Lord Deputy, or other Chief Governor or Governors in Ireland,
and thereupon the said instrument shall be returned to the per...
son by whom the same shall have been so subMitted for insoec-
tion as aforesaid, with an indorsement signed by -the President,
signifying that the same had been duly- inspected, and reported
upon to the Lord Lieutenant, Lord Deputy, or other Chief Go-
vernor or Governors of Ireland, according to the provisions of
this Act.

,
Provided always, and be it further enacted, that when any
person shall receive from the See of Rome, or from any autho-
rity under the same, an instrument which relates wholly
exclusively to the spiritual concerns of an indiVidual:or indiv*
duals, he shall so certify, within • after he has recei+cd
&tine., and shall verity such Certificate by the following oath :
" I, A. B. do swear, that the instrument (describing the in-
strument) which I hereby acknowledge to have received ,froto
the See of Rome (or from such other bodies or persons, as the
ease may be) under the authority of the See, as relates. wholly
to the personal spiritual concerns of the party or partici in re-
spect of • whom it has been issued; and to no miter matter or
thing. whatsoever. - • "- So help GOD."
: - •

orith•it shall and may be lawful for such person to take
and: aubiicribe before -the said Board of Commissioners (who
are hereby ethpowered to administer the same) or in any of the
Courts hereinbefore mentioned, or before • of his .Y 1 a-
jesty'3-Justices ; if the person taking and subscribing the same
shall be-resident more than - miles:from Dublin, or
shall from ill health or infirmity he unable to travel and in,
every such'
came it shall and may be lawful. for- the said 13vard
of Conimhimioners, in the exercise of their judgment anti ciis;:
cretion, to direct the said instrument to : in transmitted, sealOd
.up, for ttre sole inspection. and verification of -thePresidentsof
'the'said Board :•who shall inspect • the sarne,. and. ii-h& slutlis•
after such inspection certify that the-saidPiltrunientsiti io Din
eoniccientious opinion and judgment of thee nature licittibed !It
the certificate and oath of the person by whom:'ilis'iaine shail-
- so transmitted as aforesaid, the receipt thereof shill'
be-reported male 1.40 rd Lieutenant or• Lord Deputy,, or other
chief Governor Xir• Governors of Ireland, --and thereti•pon 'the*
said instrument shall be returned f• sealed up,-to the'persori by
-
whorti the same shall have been so transmitted, ti fter being
•dcirsed by the said President.

. .
And le it further enacted, that any person or persona in Ire-
land, 'receiving any such bull, dispensation,. pr, Olor,
nient as aforesaid, who shall ao tieliver the saute, preause it to
be delivered in the original, or who shall if certify, the receipt,
rind so describe and Verify by, oath the nature of,the.-.SaO irstru-
ment by him or them received its aforesaid, •pnrl; whoel cern&
cute and oath shall be so confirmed, and allowed as goresaid,
shall be free and exempt from. an pains and. P PIPANAYM tS'') -
ever, which he or. they would be liable by.any laws tio,Fxistiog
.in Ireland, against the receiving and,.publiebint :hulls, d.is-
pensations, or, other instruments from the 4lee of,llome, or from
.any authority or pretopiled authority under said Sof.
And be it further enacted, that.any .pgrtinllX-Perons so re-
ceiving apy such ..bull', dispensation, :PX tivtrum ent
aforesaid, and not so rlelivering.or.cariSing,:tsi*Acli,vered as
aformaid, either the said original instruPlol34;atiftAch'qe.rtilicate
of the,receipt,thereof, accompanied by,sUch qauliO,krAtnbetore
piTs!,cribeti :,'01• who shall publish or_vmtt i4,:efe9Ukipir, or be
, wilfully and knowingly concerned. in,,pArbli,sbing,9o4tting
execution, any such- bull,disperisation,?pr.ekthq, rik4ritment as
aforesaid,, in Ireland, before the same shilLipsVOg.properly
inspected and indorsedne aforesaio, Snell be.„llcert:
,pd taken
to be giil4lof a misdemeanour, and shall 1104 ',4itott,Punisi s
men tits way by law be im Upon: persoas 41.01Ly,0f a mu
ilifilliatigue,:.ilkitegia. of any -,ptinistur eat, rwhili.:,wgh peesou
rvsi4tict,beliable to, foritusti•ofance-by any..lays 44.t0k now ip