Interesting article. The situation of Catholics at the time of the Civil War was particularly complicated for many reasons - historical, socio-economic, and religious. One thing the article does explain is the historical connection between the Democrat Party, which always went around looking for vulnerable immigrants (and still does) and Irish Catholics.
However, the Church was here long before the Potato Famine, and Catholics fought in and aided the Revolution, even though there were serious restrictions on them and they weren’t even allowed to participate in politics or run for office.
“However, the Church was here long before the Potato Famine, and Catholics fought in and aided the Revolution, even though there were serious restrictions on them and they weren’t even allowed to participate in politics or run for office.”
Maryland had been established as ‘the Catholic colony’ but I don’t think that situation lasted long. Although the Carroll family was still prominent there at the time of the Revolution.
I have Irish ancestors who I think came to the Delmarva Eastern Shore in the late 1600s- records are kind of hard to come by- they had estates in Ireland that were seized by Cromwell so they must have been Catholic at that time. I suspect they were Presbyterians by the Revolution.
livius, I want to congratulate you for actually reading this most excellent article.
As long time Freepers we know that reading the article in question is rarely a requirement for posting something, and in fact it often seems to be actively avoided.
“...they weren’t even allowed to participate in politics or run for office.”
Too bad that is not still the case...we wouldn’t have to deal with such as a Pelosi or a Biden or many others of the leftwing set in US politics.
And a question for you...why are so many Catholic politicians ‘leftwing’? (and I mean that in the context of ‘against the America established by our Founding Fathers’...including the Catholics of the day who were a part of our Founding Fathers)