Catholic Emancipation
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [1]
an enactment to relieve Roman Catholics of the civil and religious disabilities imposed by the laws passed in the time, chiefly, of Elizabeth. These forbade a Catholic priest receiving a neophyte into the Church in England under penalty of death; Jesuits forfeited life by appearing in the country; no man could plead at law or become a schoolmaster, or hold any office, especially in Ireland, without taking the oaths of supremacy and against transubstantiation. All this was abolished by the act of parliament of April 23, 1829, since which time Catholics and Protestants have enjoyed equal protection and liberty before the law.
The Nuttall Encyclopedia [2]
The name given to the emancipation in 1829 of the Roman Catholics of the United Kingdom from disabilities which precluded their election to office in the State, so that they are eligible now to any save the Lord Chancellorship of England and offices representative of royalty.
