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30% of the 756 convicts to arrive on the first fleet in 1788 were baptised Catholics all so half of these convicts were irish. in 1788, Governor Phillip ordered all convicts to attend Sunday Church services. If the convicts refused to attend Sunday church they would be flogged some convicts even burnt down the Anglican church so they don't have to go to church again.
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This petition was made early in the colony, It was many year's before a priest arrived. The governor refused, because of fears that the Irish would rebel.
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Most of the Early Catholics were Irish. the convicts had to youse there prayer beads and prayer books in the colonies before priests arrived.
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The first priests to arrive were convicts caught up in the Irish rebellion in 1798 and couldn't celebrate mass.
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When the colony allowed the first mass, police eagle eyed all the people to make sure they didn't rebel. A second mass was not excepted for no longer than 16 long year's.
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While father O'Flynn wasn't a convict he was not approved by the English but had been sent by a pope. he was expelled from N.S.W in 1818.
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Fathers Connolly and Therry were the first two official catholic priests in Australia.
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By the late 1820s 70% of Catholics were still ex convicts or convicts. Australia's first census was held of reveals a white population of 36,598 which includes both free settlers and convicts.
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This act means that Catholics were no longer prosecuted and could hold very important jobs.
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New South Wales now had 20,000 Catholics and disappointingly no bishop. Bishop Polding arrives in Hobart and a short time later sails to Sydney.
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The equality that has granted it to all religious people in New South Wales.
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As a colony of Moreton bay ( where Brisbane is now ) was a special part to the colony of New South Wales at this time, Polding was also the archbishop of Moreton bay.