[naturalman1975]

While in Britain (and consequently Australia), the other fellow would surely have experienced the effects of the Popery Act, the Act of Settlement, the Disenfranchising Act, the Ecclesiastical Titles Act, and many others since the reformation (that basically boiled down to saying, "We won't kill you if you just be good, quiet little Catholics"). Even the so-called Catholic Relief Acts (1778, 1791, 1829, 1851, 1871) still had huge barriers placed in the way.

Just a note on this. While most of British law was incorporated into Australian law, one big exception were most of the above acts. This is because the Australian Constitution included the following section from the time it became active in 1901.

The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth.

(If it looks somewhat familiar, it is because the text of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States as used as a starting model for it).

This section rendered most of the anti-Catholic laws that had passed in Britain over the years irrelevant within Australia.

There was some anti-Catholic prejudice here, certainly, but at about the time Father Rumble began his radio broadcasts in Sydney, Australia elected its first Catholic Prime Minister. He may well have experienced anti-Catholic feeling - I'm sure he did at times - but it wasn't down to the effects of Acts of Parliament.

[GonzoII]

"Just a note on this. While most of British law was incorporated into Australian law, one big exception were most of the above acts. This is because the Australian Constitution included the following section from the time it became active in 1901."

Thanks for your input.