Protestant religion as by law
established, its doctrines, its discipline, and government. First of
all, he would repeal those laws which placed Catholics, unless they took
certain oaths, on a different footing from Protestants even in regard
to real property; a distinction which Protestants and Catholics were
equally interested in abolishing. The next provision would be the
admission of Catholics to parliament on the same terms with Protestants;
for unless this was granted, all other concessions of political power
would be of no avail. The bill would, also, render Catholics admissible
to all corporate offices in Ireland, and all offices connected with the
administration of justice, and to all the higher civil offices of the
state. He was aware, he said, of the objection as to the last; but
having once resolved to yield political power, this could not be
refused. In order to leave the avenues of ambition open to the Roman
Catholic, he was of opinion that we ought to render him capable of
being employed in the service of the country. As regards the oaths to
be taken, it necessarily followed from their concessions, he said, that
they should be modified. In the new oath, the Catholic would be called
on to swear allegiance in the usual terms; to disclaim the deposing
power of the pope, and the doctrine that his holiness had any temporal
or civil power, directly or indirectly, within the realm; solemnly to
abjure any intention of subverting the church establishment; and to bind
himself not to employ any of his privileges to weaken the Protestant
religion or government. As regarded the exceptions from the general
rule, Mr. Pitt said that they lay within a narrow compass, and related
to duties or offices connected with the established church. The
only offices he meant to exclude Catholics from were those of
lord-lieutenant, or chief governor of Ireland, and of lord high
chancellor, or keeper, or commissioner of the great seal. He meant,
however, to exclude Catholics from appointments in any of the
Universities or Colleges, and from exercising any right of presentation,
as lay patrons, to the benefices and dignities of the church of England.
In the bill, also, there were certain prohibitions against carrying the
insignia of office to places of Roman Catholic worship, and against the
assumption, by prelates of that communion, of the same episcopal titles
as those belonging to the church of England. There were also certain
precaut