Page 5 - Faith Connections Issue 2 (4)

ISSUE 2 JULY 2021

The paradox of faith is that it believes precisely in the
unbelievable. Seeing is only necessary to the faithless.
To those who keep the faith, no worldly explanation for
what they believe is possible; and in that, and that
alone, is peace and salvation.

Jesus commanded his apostles “to go forth and
baptize all nations,” sending his spirit with the power to
be missionaries; some of those apostles were
miraculously transported across oceans and over
mountains to nations in the far-flung corners of the
world. To God, nothing is impossible. St. Thomas
accepted the command of Jesus to come to India.
Catholicism flourished in India and the Catholics were
known as St. Thomas Christians. Eventually, St.
Thomas Christians immigrated to America, and to this
day they are flourishing and growing in number as
well. Their faith and their presence in America are very
enriching and powerful, even though the Catholic faith
in America is diminishing.

Now let us look at the history of Catholicism in
America in order to understand the importance of the
presence of St. Thomas Christians as they are the
exemplars of FAITH!
Catholic Church in America and aroused the
Roman Catholicism in the United States suspicion of Protestants. A nativist Protestant
Although French Catholics participated in the crusade was formed and was characterized by
exploration and colonization of the Mississippi valley, intense anti-Catholic prejudice.
among the 13 colonies of the United States, only
Maryland included an appreciable number of Catholics Despite these problems, American Catholicism
before American independence, as Catholics were endured. Its ranks were greatly increased by
often unwelcome in other parts of the colonies where immigration, and it attracted a large number of
Protestant churches were supported by law. converts, including the first American-born saint,
Elizabeth Ann Seton. The church built an extensive
From the first, however, leaders in the Catholic Church educational system that ranged from parochial
enjoyed a respected place in American society. elementary schools to universities. Through these
Charles Caroll, a member of a notable colonial institutions, Catholic leaders enabled their
Catholic family, served in the Continental Congress parishioners to combine religious loyalties to Rome
and the U.S. Senate and signed the Declaration of and civil loyalties to the United States.
Independence. He also helped to write the Maryland
state constitution, which guaranteed freedom of Ironically, one of the most divisive events in
worship for all Christians. His cousin, John Carroll, the American history, the Civil War, contributed to the
first bishop in the United States and the first growing acceptance of Roman Catholicism in the
archbishop of Baltimore, pioneered the exploration of United States. Some Catholics, due to the fact they
positive relations between Catholics and their fellow were immigrants, did not want emancipation
citizens of other religions. because they thought that it would lead to
competition for already scarce jobs, as these
Beginning in the 1830s and 40s, the assurance of immigrants were already living in poverty. The
religious freedom attracted millions of Catholic Catholic Church taught that all people regardless
immigrants to America, and by 1850, Catholicism was of color or cultural background must be treated
the single largest Christian church in the country. The humanely, and many northern Catholics came to
cultural differences between the immigrant Catholics oppose slavery. When war broke out, Catholics on
caused issues in the relationship with the established both sides enthusiastically joined the fight.

PAGE 5 FAITH IN OUR COUNTRY EDITION | ISSUE 2