Always a minute and persecuted minority in British America, most Catholics by the time of the AmericanRevolution flocked to the Patriot cause for independence, and greater liberty for themselves. This paperexplores the historical basis for Protestant prejudice toward Catholics, and reveals that ProtestantPatriots in America accepted Catholics in the ranks of the Continental Army and Navy in the commonstruggle to achieve American independence.
Because of the privileges granted in the Maryland charter, English law did not apply to Maryland. The governor and assembly could enact legislation independent of Parliament. Lord Baltimore used his prerogative as proprietor to prevent English penal laws from being put into effect in Maryland, enabling him to extend the rights and privileges of English citizens to all his settlers without regard to religion. It was in this environment that Catholics and Protestants coexisted for fifty-five years before Lord Baltimore was removed from power.16 English identity was defined by profession of the Protestant faith. Anti-Catholicism served as a unifying force in the development of an English identity. As a result of the English Reformation, religious and political leaders wanted to clearly distinguish their beliefs from the Roman Catholic Church to define themselves as a Protestants. The struggle among Catholics for
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17 4
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Gray: Catholic Identity and Allegiance to the Patriot Cause Under the pastoral care of the Jesuits, Marylands Catholic community experienced a small religious network of priests that provided its members with a stable and supportive environment to support religious worship.18 Even after the Society of Jesus was suppressed by the Holy See in 1773, Jesuits in America continued to minister to Catholics in Maryland. The Jesuits stressed the themes of personal suffering, penance, and redemption as a means for the faithful to cope with Catholic penal measures. The Jesuits reversed the intentions of the discrimination and persecution Catholics endured for their beliefs; instead of allowing demoralization of members of the community, the Jesuits sought to promote the discrimination as welcome challenges to their faith.19 This was not a gospel of acceptance but a rallying call to defend their faith. Despite the penal laws, Catholics did not compromise their faith to gain
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Rather they persevered.20 By the time of the American Revolution, Protestant Americans continued to use the language of anti-popery to defend their rights and express their fears of tyranny, because that language was evocative, effective, and easily understood. But the language was no longer directed against the Jesuits who lived in Maryland or the wealthy, disenfranchised laypeople those Jesuits served. Rather, the language of anti-popery was direct against the members of Parliament, and eventually the King of England-all of whom were Protestant.21
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