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 neither temporal nor as spiritual jurisdiction in Great Britain.

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.

[3] The section as to taking and prosecuting priests was repealed, as well as the penalty of perpetual imprisonment for keeping a school.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.

[4] 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the mob was especially directed against Lord Mansfield, who had objected to various prosecutions under the statutes now repealed.