Catholicism in America (and the New World)

Colonial Era Background

-1492 - Christopher Columbus sails across the Atlantic in search for a quicker route to India and discovers the New World. (Bahamas) -Colonization and evangelization efforts begin. -Catholic Spain and Portugal lead the way establishing missions and colonizing much of South and Central America, and some of the Southern US.

Natives

• 3 main civilizations: – Aztecs (Mexico)– Mayans (Southern Mexico/Central America)– Incas (Peru)

• Polytheistic • Practiced Human Sacrifice• Collectivized society (no individual)

Conquistadors

Hernan Cortes Accomplishmetns 1. Military conquest of Aztecs

(1000:1 odds)2. Elimination of human sacrifice

and cannibalism.3. Establishment of civilized, fair, just

government in New World.4. Exploration of Central America.5. Support of missionary activity.

St. Peter Claver 1581-1654

• Spanish Jesuit who worked in Cartagena (Colombia).

• Evangelized and cared to enslaved Africans.

• Gave them food, medicine and reminded them of their human dignity.

St. Kateri Tekawitha

• Canonized 12/21/2012• Born to Mohawk parents in 1656, her

mother died of smallpox. The disease also disfigured Kateri’s face.

• Converted as a teenager, baptized at age 20.

• Led a devoted life towards the Eucharist and to Jesus.

• Died at the age of 24. • Known as the “Lily of the Mohawks”

and the first Native American Saint.

Canadian Missions

• French Jesuits begin to evangelize in Northern US and Canada.

• North American Martyrs– 6 French Jesuits and 2 assistants are

martyred between 1642-1649.– Killed by Iroquois Indians in what is

today Northern NY and Ontario. – St. Isaac Jouges : Captured, tortured

and enslaved by the Iroquois. Escaped, went back a few years later. Recaptured, stripped, cut with knives, took a hatchet to the head then decapitated.

Catholics and the 13 Colonies

• Religious Freedom only existed in NY, PA, and MD colonies.

• 1632 – Lord Baltimore is given the a charter for the land between Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. “The Charter of 1632”

• Lord Baltimore wants to establish a colony where Catholics can live free from the Protestant persecution in England.

• Maryland is settled 2 years later and named after who?

Maryland• 20 Catholic gentlemen and 300 indentured servants first

settled the colony. When service contracts were done the servants were granted land and the right to vote thus making a Protestant majority.

• However Catholics and Protestants remained in harmony.

• Maryland Toleration Act of 1649 - established to help protect Catholics from imminent Protestant mis-treatment. Not lasting Maryland is taken over by Protestants

• The Church of England becomes the established Church of Maryland

• 1692 Act of Religion Mass forbidden, Catholics cannot vote, converting was punishable by death and more.

The Revolution

• America Declares war on England in 1776 due to a number of “Intolerable Acts.”

• Catholics generally opposed the British. • Charles Carroll of Carrollton – Prominent Catholic from

Maryland who used his wealth to help the American cause, served on the first Continetnal Congress and signed the Declaration.

During the Revolution

Notable Catholics - Charles Carroll- Fr. John Carroll- Lafayette (French General) - Pulaski and Kosciusko (Polish military officers)- John Barry (Father fo the American Navy)- France and Spain- Daniel Carroll and Thomas FitzSimmons (signed

the Constitution)

After the War

• 25,000 Catholics in the United States. • 1789 Baltimore Diocese becomes the first

diocese of America (covered all 13 colonies)• John Carroll becomes the first Bishop and

Archbishop of America.• Seminaries and Catholic schools are

established. – Georgetown 1789, St. Mary’s 1791.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

• First native born American Saint.

• Begins the Sisters of Charity in the U.S.

• Establishes the first Catholic Orphanage in America.

• Feast day: January 4

Immigration to the US

• 1850 – 2 million Catholics• 1865 – 4 million Catholics French, German and Irish immigrants come to America.• Huge increase in America’s

Catholic population. • 1880’s over 1 million more

come from Eastern Europe• Why? Better jobs, land,

freedom

Anti- Catholicism & Nativism • A policy of favoring native

inhabitants as opposed to immigrants. Anti-immigrant sentiments.

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Anti-Catholicism • The Awful Disclosure of Maria

Monk – Book written by Protestant ministers claiming to be an ex-nun telling scandalous stories of convent life.

• Convents mobbed and burned. • Churches destoryed in Nativist

riots• Know-Nothing Party, American

Protective Association and the KKK were all anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant organizations within the US.

St. John Neumann

• Born in Austria John Neumann went to America and became a priest.

• Worked amongst the German Catholics who had immigrated.

• Worked very hard to shepherd his people, giving sacraments, taking care of the sick and teaching.

Frances Cabrini 1850-1917

• Founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.

• Worked with the Italian Immigrants in the US who were very poor and underprivileged.

• Opened many schools, hospitals and orphanages.

Katherine Drexel 1858-1955

• Donated her entire inheritance to charity (about $15,000,000).

• Established the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

• Aimed to help the impoverished African Americans and Native Americans.

• Built many schools and orphanages.

• Visited Belmont Abbey in 1904.

Civil War

• Slavery had been condemned by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839.

• Catholics fought on both sides of the Civil War.

20th Century

1900 12 million Catholics live in the U.S. (16%)82 Diocese 12,000 Priests 1000’s of religious

World at War

• Many Catholics fight for their country.• US Bishops create the National Catholic War

Council • Catholic movement and action grow within

social justice, political and economic spheres after WWI

First “Catholic” President

• John F. Kennedy • Marked a great victory against American

Anti-Catholicism • Says that he will not let his religion influence

his political performance.– People feared that he would put the Vatican

before the United States.• Set an unfortunate precedent amongst

Catholic politicians divorce your religion and politics.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Jr03ADQmk

Vatican II and the American Church

• American Catholics had great enthusiasm for the council.• Catholic sentiment and practice drops during the Council• Dissent against Humane Vitae, general anti authority

within America, crazy liturgies…• Sex abuse scandals that were covered up hurt the

church.

http://www.catholicmemes.com/?s=liturgical+abuse&search=Search+

Interesting Facts

• The Vatican lifted America’s “missionary status” in 1908.

• Diplomatic relations between the Vatican and the US was not established until 1984.

Diocese of Wichita History

• Jesuit missionaries arrive in SW KS in 1847• Diocese founded in 1887– Bishops

• John Hennessy• Mark Carroll – (namesake of Bishop Carroll)• Maloney • Eugene Gerber - develops structural model of

stewardship • Thomas J. Olmstead• Michael O. Jackels• Carl Kemme

Diocese of Kansas

• St. Rose Philippine Duchesne of the society of the Sacred Heart opens school for girls in KS, OK, and MO.

• Pottawatomi Indians named her “the woman who prays always”

Fr. Emil Kapun

• Fr. Emil Kapaun dies a prisoner of war in a Chinese Communist Hospital in Korea, May 23 at the age of 35.

• Because of his heroism both as a priest and a chaplain to the prisoners of war in the Korean prison camp, the Diocese of

• Wichita and the US Military are seeking his canonization.

Kansas Bishops

Bishop Eugene Gerber – Developed the structure for the stewardship model for Diocese of Wichita.

Bishop Michael O. Jackels – Together Vision to unite parishes and people to the Diocese for future directions.

Bishop Carl Kemme 2014-Present

Catholic Church Today and beyond

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