Let's say that at some point, probably during the 17th century, the British* government decides that the best way to deal with its Catholic population is to dump them somewhere far away where they can't cause any trouble. So they set up a colony in North America where Catholics are guaranteed freedom of religion and full political rights, and offer free (or at least subsidised) passage to any Catholic from England, Scotland or Ireland who wants to move there.
Assuming that this colony is able to get off the ground, what effects does this have down the line? How would it view and be viewed by the rest of the British realm? If there's some sort of AWI equivalent, would it remain loyal or join the rebellion, and with what consequences?
(* Yes, I know Britain didn't technically exist yet, but the three kingdoms were pretty interdependent even before the Act of Union, so it makes a convenient shorthand.)