Roman Catholic Relief Act 1926


The Roman Catholic Relief Act 1926 was an Act of Parliament that removed almost all the remaining legal disabilities affecting Roman Catholics in Great Britain. It was sponsored by the Conservative MPs Francis Blundell and Dennis Herbert.
One of the triggers of the bill had been the successful blocking of a Corpus Christi procession on public roads in Carfin by the local MP and Orangeman Hugh Ferguson.
The Private Members Bill was opposed by Thomas Inskip the Solicitor General. The Bill was successfully amended to exclude Northern Ireland but an amendment to remove Scotland failed with the opposition led partly by Fergusson's successor James Barr.
It repealed bans such as admitting new members to Catholic religious orders. public Catholic processions and most remaining disabilities of Catholics. It also repealed the Putting away of Books and Images Act 1549 and Treason Act 1714.