Second and Third Catholic Relief Acts (4 May, 27 July)

Second Catholic Relief Act (4 May 1778)

• Allowed Catholics to own land on lease for 999 years or in fee simple (outright ownership), which had previously been forbidden or severely limited.
• Applied outside parliamentary boroughs, meaning Catholics still faced restrictions within towns with parliamentary representation.
• Required an oath of allegiance to the Crown but not renunciation of core Catholic beliefs, making it more acceptable to Catholics.
• Marked the first legal relaxation of the Penal Laws.

Third Catholic Relief Act (27 July 1793)

• Went further than the 1778 Act.
• Permitted Catholics to become teachers, previously barred from education-related professions.
• Allowed Catholics to serve as guardians of minors—important for legal and inheritance rights.
• Also allowed Catholics to vote in parliamentary elections (if they met property qualifications), although they still couldn’t sit in Parliament.
• Reflected growing pressure for reform and recognition of Catholic support during European conflicts.