Roman Catholic Relief Act 1829

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8 So much of any Acts as require the formula contained in 8 & 9 Will. 3. c. 3. (S.) to be tendered or taken, repealed. Roman Catholics may elect and be elected members for Scotland.U.K.

And whereas in an Act of the Parliament of Scotland made in the eighth and ninth session of the first Parliament of King William the Third, intituled “An Act for the preventing the “growth of popery,” a certain declaration or formula is therein contained, which it is expedient should no longer be required to be taken and subscribed: Such parts of any Acts as authorise the said declaration or formula to be tendered, or require the same to be taken, sworn, and subscribed, shall be and the same are hereby repealed, except as to such offices, places, and rights as are herein-after excepted; and that it shall be lawful for persons professing the Roman Catholic religion to elect and be elected members to serve in Parliament for Scotland, and to be enrolled as freeholders in any shire of Scotland, and to be chosen commissioners or delegates for choosing burgesses to serve in Parliament for any districts of burghs in Scotland, being in all other respects duly qualified . . . F6

F79. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .U.K.

10 Roman Catholics may hold civil and military offices under his Majesty, with certain exceptions.U.K.

It shall be lawful for any of his Majesty’s subjects professing the Roman Catholic religion to hold, exercise, and enjoy, all civil and military offices and places of trust or profit under his Majesty, and to exercise any other franchise or civil right, except as herein-after excepted . . . F8

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12 Offices witheld from Roman Catholics.U.K.

Provided also, that nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend to enable any person or persons professing the Roman Catholic religion to hold or exercise the office of guardians and justices of the United Kingdom, or of regent of the United Kingdom, under whatever name, style, or title such office may be constituted; nor to enable any person, otherwise than as he is now by law enabled, to hold or enjoy the office of lord high chancellor, lord keeper or lord commissioner of the great seal of Great Britain . . . F10; or his Majesty’s high commissioner to the general assembly of the Church of Scotland.

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14 Roman Catholics may be members of lay corporations.U.K.

It shall be lawful for any of his Majesty’s subjects professing the Roman Catholic religion to be a member of any lay body corporate, and to hold any civil office or place of trust or profit therein, and to do any corporate act, or vote in any corporate election or other proceeding . . . F12 upon taking such oath or oaths as may now by law be required to be taken by any persons becoming members of such lay body corporate, or being admitted to hold any office or place of trust or profit within the same.

[F13F1415 Such members of corporations not to vote in ecclesiastical appointments.U.K.

Provided nevertheless, that nothing herein contained shall extend to authorise or empower any of his Majesty’s subjects professing the Roman Catholic religion, and being a member of any lay body corporate, to give any vote at or in any manner to join in the election, presentation, or appointment of any person to any ecclesiastical benefice whatsoever, or any office or place belonging to or connected with the [F15Church of England], or the Church of Scotland, being in the gift, patronage, or disposal of such lay corporate body.]

16 Not to extend to offices, &c. in the established church, or ecclesiastical courts, universities, colleges, or schools; nor to presentations to benefices.U.K.

Provided also, that nothing in this Act contained shall be construed [F16to enable any persons, otherwise than as they are now by law enabled, to hold, enjoy, or exercise any office, place, or dignity, of, in, or belonging to the [F17Church of England], or the Church of Scotland, or any place or office whatever of, in, or belonging to any of the ecclesiastical courts of judicature of England and Ireland respectively, or any court of appeal from or review of the sentences of such courts, or of, in, or belonging to the commissary court of Edinburgh, or of, in, or belonging to any cathedral or collegiate or ecclesiastical establishment or foundation]: . . . F18; [F16or] to repeal, abrogate, or in manner to interfere with any local statute, ordinance, or rule, which is or shall be established by competent authority within any university, college, hall, or school, by which Roman Catholics shall be prevented from being admitted thereto, or from residing or taking degrees therein: [F19Provided also, that nothing herein contained shall extend or be construed to extend to enable any person, otherwise than as he is now by law enabled, to exercise any right of presentation to any ecclesiastical benefice whatsoever; or to repeal, vary, or alter in any manner the laws now in force in respect to the right of presentation to any ecclesiastical benefice.]

[F2017 Proviso for presentations to benefices connected with offices.U.K.

Provided always, that where any right of presentation to any ecclesiastical benefice shall belong to any office in the gift or appointment of his Majesty, and such office shall be held by a person professing the Roman Catholic religion, the right of presentation shall devolve upon and be exercised by the archbishop of Canterbury for the time being.]

18 No Roman Catholic to advise the Crown in the appointment to offices in the established church. U.K.

It shall not be lawful for any person professing the Roman Catholic religion directly or indirectly to advise his Majesty, or any person or persons holding or exercising the office of guardians of the United Kingdom, or of regent of the United Kingdom, under whatever name, style, or title such office may be constituted, [F21or the lord lieutenant of Ireland], touching or concerning the appointment to or disposal of any office or preferment in the [F22Church of England], or in the Church of Scotland; and if any such person shall offend in the premises he shall, being thereof convicted by due course of law, be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and disabled for ever from holding any office, civil or military, under the Crown.

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38 Penalties how to be recovered.U.K.

All penalties imposed by this Act shall and may be recovered as a debt due to his Majesty, by information to be filed in the name of his Majesty’s attorney general for England or for [F30Northern Ireland], as the case may be, in the [F31High Court or the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland] respectively, or in the name of his Majesty’s advocate general in the Court of Exchequer in Scotland.

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