Catholicism in American History

Write a paper on the attached document that would explain the context and significance of this historical document. Under what historical circumstances was this document produced? What events taking place in America at the time would have led to this document? What kind of person or organization was likely to have produced this document? Why would they have produced it? What would other groups active during this period of history have thought about this document? Who else would support the document’s message? Was their any type of person or organization that would have strongly disagreed with this statement? What would they say to the message of this document? What does this document tell us about what it meant to be an “American Catholic” in this particular time and place?

This is a letter written by a Jesuit stationed in Philadelphia, Ferdinand Farmer, to a fellow Jesuit from Canada in 1773. It was Farmer’s response to the suggestion from Rome that the Bishop of French Quebec take responsibility for Catholics in the English colonies. Until that point, the English colonies had been governed from afar by the Vicar Apostolic in London. This was his report on the state of Catholicism in the English colonies.

Reverend Father in Christ,

Your Reverence desires to know the state of our Missions. I shall describe them briefly. In only

two of the several English Provinces or Colonies is the Catholic religion tolerated, namely in Maryland and Pennsylvania; in the latter in virtue of a Royal Charter given to the founder of the Colony; in the former more from ancient possession than owing to any right. In Pennsylvania, by virtue of a Royal deed, all religions are tolerated, not that each one is free to publicly perform the rites of his religion, but in this sense that he may accomplish them in private, and that he may be in no way compelled by anyone to share in any exercise whatsoever of another Religion than his own.

As, however, the oath must be exacted of all such as desire to be numbered among the born

subjects of the Kingdom, or hold divers offices in the Commonwealth, contains a renunciation of the Catholic religion, none of our faith can obtain the like favors. In Pennsylvania there are presently five missionaries, one Englishmen and four Germans, who attend with no mean labor to small congregations of men nearly all poor and widely scattered throughout the Province. In Philadelphia, however, where reside two missionaries, there is a greater number of souls comprising men of different nationalities. In Maryland, there are both more missionaries and a greater and better number of faithful, but, as I already mentioned, they enjoy less liberty than that which we here enjoy. All of these Missionaries are of our society; the Superior resides in Maryland…

From the foregoing it is easy to see that the Catholic Religion is practiced with far greater authority and freedom in Canada than in our own country. Wherefore it is most certain that the advent in our midst of the right Reverend and Illustrious [Bishop of Quebec] would create great disturbances, with the danger of depriving us of the paltry privileges we are now enjoying, especially in Maryland where, as already mentioned, the exercise, even in private, of our Religion rests upon no authority. For the same reason, when several years ago the Vicar Apostolic of London intended to send some one hither for the purpose either of visiting or of giving Confirmation, the gentlemen of Maryland placed under our care, by a letter to the right reverend Vicar, informed him of the danger to which they were exposed; wherefore the said Vicar, under whom are all these colonies, gave up his intention. I do not wish you to understand by this that we are not greatly desirous of having Confirmation administered to those of our flock born in this country [a bishop is required to confer the sacrament of confirmation], but that it is plain to our eyes, being given especially the character of Americans, that such rite could not safely be conferred by a person established in dignity. For it is incredible how hateful to non-

Catholics in all parts of America is the very name of Bishop, even to such as should be members of the Church which is called Anglican. Whence many considered it a most worthy measure that a Bishop be granted to the Canadians; and, as for several years past the question is being agitated in England of establishing in these Provinces a Protestant Bishop of the Anglican Communion, so many obstacles were found, due especially to the character of the Americans (of whom most of the early colonists were dissidents from the Anglicans, not to mention such as left our own faith) that nothing has as yet been effected. Hardly can I persuade myself that the Right Reverend [Bishop] might succeed in obtaining from the Governor of Canada or from the King, the faculty of exercising his power beyond the limits of the Provinces belonging formerly to the Canadian government, and lately ceded by treaty to the English.

From Europe we have received no letters for several months past, so that we are ignorant as to

what may be the state of our society. However, from what we learned last year from Ours, and also from what the newspapers announce, we justly infer that our interests in Rome are not succeeding favourably, though that doth succeed favourably whichsoever it pleaseth Divine Providence to ordain. Your Reverence will excuse me for not having written this more neatly, as in this city, especially at the present time, we are very busy with various labors of our ministry. I urgently recommend myself in all holy intentions.