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 Roman Catholics, such as that excommunicated princes may lawfully be murdered, that no faith should be kept with heretics, and that the
Pope had any temporal or spiritual jurisdiction in Great Britain. Those taking this oath were exempted from some of the provisions of the
Popery Act 1698 (
11 Will. 3. c. 4). Although it did not grant freedom of worship, it allowed Catholics to join the army and purchase land if they took an oath of allegiance. The section as to taking and prosecuting priests was repealed, as well as the penalty of perpetual imprisonment for keeping a school. Roman Catholics were also enabled to inherit and purchase land, nor was an heir who conformed to the Established church any longer empowered to enter and enjoy the estate of his "papist" 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Lord Mansfield, who had objected to various prosecutions under the statutes now repealed. == Subsequent developments ==