Transcript Many of the American colonies were founded for religious reasons
The Church in America
The Colonial Era through the early Republic
COLONIAL AMERICA
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Many of the American colonies were founded for religious reasons
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The New England colonies were founded by Puritans seeking to establish a new “City of God” on earth Maryland was founded by Catholics fleeing persecution in England Pennsylvania was founded by Quakers seeking religious liberty that they were denied in Europe
The Thirteen Colonies
George Calvert, the First Lord Baltimore, received permission from Charles II in 1632 to establish a proprietary colony in the New World Calvert was a convert to Catholicism
Maryland
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George Calvert died before the colony was founded
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His son, Cecil, founded the colony It was to be a haven for persecuted Catholics from England and Ireland
Replica of The Dove – the ship that brought the first settlers to Maryland
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60 Catholic members of the English or Irish gentry who would become plantation owners Three Jesuit priests About 100 “freeholders” – settlers who held smaller tracts of land (usually farmers) Indentured servants African slaves From the very beginning, the Protestant settlers outnumbered the Catholic settlers!
First Settlers
Allows religious freedom for all Christians, Protestant or Catholic, who live in the colony
The Act of Toleration
William III & Mary • •
1688 in England Replaces the Catholic King James II with his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband William of Orange
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Anti-Catholic Penal Laws are enforced throughout England and her colonies
The Glorious Revolution
• • • •
In Maryland, the Calverts lost control of the colony Catholics can no longer vote or hold public office Catholics cannot practice law or become teachers No Catholic churches can be built (but private chapels are okay)
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No Catholic educational institutions Priests may not seek converts; ends missions to the Indians
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Restrictions on Catholic immigration to the colony
The Glorious Revolution
Catholicism remains illegal in the colony until 1776
The Glorious Revolution
Pennsylvania
Founded in 1681 by William Penn as a have for persecuted Quakers
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Allowed freedom of religion to anyone, although only Christians could hold government positions Pennsylvania quickly became attractive to Catholics, Mennonites, the Amish and other religious groups that were being persecuted in Europe
Penn’s Frame of Government
After the Glorious Revolution, practice of the Catholic faith became illegal in Pennsylvania . . .
but
The people who lived in Pennsylvania were tolerate of religious diversity and refused to enforce the law
The first Catholic Church to be built in the 13 Colonies was built in Philadelphia in 1735
St. Joseph’s Church
None of the rest of the 13 Colonies allowed Catholics to practice their faith
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
1774 – 1789
• • •
The Carrolls of Maryland were among the wealthiest and most influential families in the colonies They were Catholic In the late 1700s, the important members of the family were Charles Carroll and his cousins Daniel and John
The Carrolls
The Carroll Plantation
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Member of the Continental Congress Signer of the Declaration of Independence (only Catholic) U.S. Senator from Maryland Financially supported the Revolution
Charles Carroll of Carrolton
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Member of the Maryland State Legislature
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Congressman Helped write and signed both the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution
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Donated land for the site of Washington, D.C.
Daniel Carroll
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Jesuit priest Oversaw and organized priests in Maryland
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Sent on a mission with Benjamin Franklin to Canada to get Canadian support for the Revolution
Fr. John Carroll
Commodore John Barry “The F ather of the American Navy” Marquis de Lafayette Count Kasimir Pulaski Thaddeus Kosciusko
Other prominent Catholics in the Revolution
Catholic participation in the American Revolution contributed greatly towards alleviating anti-Catholic attitudes that had been so prevalent during the Colonial Era.
THE REPUBLICAN ERA
c. 1783 - 1820
After the Revolution, Catholics were only 1% of the American population:
• • • •
About 16,000 in Maryland About 7,000 in Pennsylvania About 1,500 in New York Maybe 200 in Virginia There were also Catholics living in the French areas of the Midwest and the Mississippi River Valley
Statistics
1.
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Lack of organization U.S. was mission territory and did not have its own bishop 2.
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The Suppression of the Jesuits in 1773 All the priests in the U.S. were Jesuits 3.
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Anti-Catholicism Still a problem, especially in New England Catholics could not vote or hold public office in some states!
4.
Increasing Catholic immigration and a lack of priests (there were only 21 in 1784)
Problems
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John Carroll was elected by the American clergy and his election was confirmed by the Pope
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Baltimore was the first diocese, established in 1789
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It included all U.S. States and territories!
America gets a Bishop
In 1806, Bishop Carroll laid the cornerstone for Baltimore’s first Cathedral: Our Lady of the Assumption
Cathedral of Our Lady of Assumption today
Carroll’s Accomplishments
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A school for boys near Emmitsburg, Maryland Staffed by Christian Brothers from France The first Catholic seminary in the U.S.
Mount St. Mary’s
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The first Catholic University in the United States Staffed by the Jesuits after their order was re established in the early 1800s
Georgetown University
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Founded by Bishop Carroll and Elizabeth Seton, a Catholic convert from New York First religious order for women in the U.S.
The Sisters established the first Catholic elementary schools in Maryland and Pennsylvania
Sisters of Charity
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Regular meetings of all the priests in the U.S. to discuss matters of importance As the Church grew and more dioceses were established, the Synod became a Council – where all the bishops of the U.S. met regularly Today this has become the National Council of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) which meets twice a year
Synod of Baltimore
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Carroll went on “begging trips” to European seminaries and religious houses Many young European priests, especially from France, came to the U.S. where they would later become bishops and greatly influence the growth of the American Church Religious Orders such as the Dominicans, Sulpicians, Christian Brothers, Carmelites and others established houses in the U.S.
Inviting European priests and religious orders to come to the U.S.
THE CHURCH GROWS!
New Dioceses
• In 1808, four new • • • dioceses were established: • Boston New York Philadelphia Bardstown • Baltimore became an archdiocese
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Catholics began to move west in large numbers, especially into Kentucky The new diocese of Bardstown was established and attracted the first Benedictine (Trappist) monastery of Gethsemane
Moving West
Ohio
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The first Mass was celebrated near Somerset, Ohio in 1808 by Fr. Edward Fenwick In 1821, Fr. Fenwick would be named the first bishop of the Dioceses of Cincinnati At the time, the diocese consisted of the entire state of Ohio as well as parts of Indiana, Illinois and Michigan !