No doubt much of this resentment was due to rome's treatment of non-catholics during Inquisition and the Protestant reformation.
And the treatment was justified by...? Retaliation? My, what kind forgiving Christian people. Were they the same that gave is the Salem Witch Hunts? More hatred toward Catholicism...
Absolutely true. I remember very well that, at the time, it was widely discussed that Kennedy, though an excellent candidate, would have a tough time winning the White House because he was Irish-Catholic.
I was only a kid, but I remember the discussions. I was growing up in a Catholic family that always registered "Independent," but leaned Democrat until my 20's.
FWIW