Pioneer Priests and Makeshift Altars: A History of Catholicism in the Thirteen Colonies

by Charles P. Connor, William E. Lori (Introduction)

In this comprehensive history, Fr. Charles Connor details the life of Catholics in the American Colonies. It's a tale that begins with the flight of English Catholics to religious freedom in Maryland in 1634, and continues through the post-Revolutionary period, by which time the constitutions of all but four of the first 13 states contained harsh anti-Catholic provisions. Catholic readers will be proud to learn from that despite almost two centuries of ever-more-intense religious persecutions and even harsher legal prohibitions, American Catholics in the colonies simply refused to abandon the Catholic Faith. This is an indispensable reading for souls interested in the deep roots of Catholicism in America, and in the holy courage of scores of Catholics who kept remorseless forces from driving Catholicism out of America. Among other things, you'll

Genres: Catholic, History, Nonfiction, American History, Religion, Church History

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 16, 2017

About the author

Father Charles P. Connor

Reviews

[Christine Calabrese · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hesitant to review this book because the subject matter is of great importance and it does have many good endorsements. The book though, to me lacks something and I don't know what. I guess because the author spent a good deal of time in Maryland and perhaps that's because that's the only place Catholicism actually was accepted in Colonial America.

At the end of the book, I finally got to learn a little about New York and it's struggles, New England and it's struggles as well with Catholicism.

I am interested in this subject simply because I'm a convert and wouldn't have ever learned about Catholicism were it not for its rich roots here on Long Island and New York.. Perhaps that came later on in history.

I still, though experience, this anti-Catholic, bias here in the USA especially perhaps for converts, and I therefore want to arm myself with an understanding of its roots.

Obviously Catholicism was lumped into the Tory mindset and therefore, Colonial America was not having any of it.

Presently, American Catholics may struggle a bit with the idea of authority since our historical roots run against such nobility. Yet, I find that human beings adhere to this hierarchical idea and here in the USA we've made kings and queens out of celebrities and politicians because we have this need in our very hearts and souls for this.

Thankfully the Catholic church offers this to us and more. We have Saints who are our celebrities, we have nobility in humility, Our Lord Jesus Christ and our Queen, His Blessed Mother. We have women who have fought the good fight and we can look up to them and admire them, pray for their intercession and ask for their help. We have angels who offer assistance as well upon our request.

You can see here that the richness of the Catholic faith is truly what I'm blessed to understand and know.

Colonial Americans were heroic, fought with courage and it was nice to learn the George Washington, because of the French relief was ok with Catholicism.

The book though, I learned quite a bit, was lacking in continuity or perhaps I'm reading too much James Michener who mingles history with fantasy and makes things interesting. :-)

[Richard Grebenc · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting a broader history but Fr. Connor does fulfill his promise per the title. This is a deep dive into the early years of English Catholicism (including a substantial, but interesting, history of the English Reformation) in the colonies. It does not venture much past 1800. More scholarly, this is better for the student of American Catholic history who already has the big picture. Many names and individual stories makes the reader get a real feel for the times. Anti-Catholicism, eventually rabidly present everywhere in the colonies is dealt with matter-of-factly. Very well written. Again, recommended for the advanced reader in related history.

[Qdysseus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads like a list of facts. It’s as dry as the Sahara desert. If you are like me, an American Catholic who is fascinated by history except for the history of your own country, then this is the book for you. This book contains nearly everything you need to know about the history of Catholicism in America. This was a good starter for me to move on to this author’s newest book; “Charles Carroll of Carrollton: American Revolutionary”.

Although I am curious to see how this book compares with Dan Leroy’s “Liberty's Lions: The Catholic Revolutionaries Who Established America” which is about the same topic.

[Blake Vajgrt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fr. Connor details the beginnings of the Catholic Church in America in an animated manner, providing highlights of key figures and events. This book should be highly engaging for Catholics but also illustrative for non-Catholics. America was built on religious freedom and worship of the one True God. This historical narrative should be read and reread in our time. This book shows that the United States has never been atheistic in it's establishment and the fate of our nation is tied up in the person of Jesus Christ.

[V Forr · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read!

[Beth Neu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did learn several things from this book, and it is well researched, but it is a 'dry' read. Approximately the first third of the book goes into great detail about the Reformation, particularly the English Reformation. While this is important background, not to be discounted or dismissed, it got a little tedious. It was interesting to learn about the life of early Catholics in Pennsylvania, as we tend to think of Catholic life being pretty much relegated to the Colony (State) of Maryland, but there were several attempts to establish a Catholic presence in other colonies and successfully, for the most part, in Philadelphia. It was also interesting to learn how strong the anti-Catholic bias was and how forcefully, and often times through law, it was imposed. Thanks to those who persevered or I might not be able to practice the Catholic faith here today!

[Elizabeth Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being in Southwest Missouri, I have often wondered why there was animus toward Catholics; especially, in the smaller towns surrounding my city. This was an eye-opener. Everything against Catholics seems to be based on the Inquisition. The Protestants want to squelch the Catholics as they were put down, just in an exclusionary way, not as horrifically as the Inquisitors did. A quote from Arthur Schlesinger, Sr sums it up. "...anti-Catholicism is the deepest bias in the American people." Freedom of religion in the colonies did not include Catholics.

[Robin Fairhurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an informative read. It shows how far back and how deep the ani-Catholism goes. It's in the DNA of the earliest Americans. Liberty and justice for all except the papists or those with romish leanings for which you could lose your life. Interesting to see that the Catholic immigrants extended religious toleration to others who in turn used that against the Catholics who continued then to be persecuted. And this is only in the original 13 colonies!!

[Leon Olivier, Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is no great surprise that Catholics have experienced discrimination in Colonial America. Even now many look at Catholicism skeptically as if they have two heads. While today the challenges have change from then this book provides a great reminder of what could happen if we fail to guard our religious liberties.

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brief history of Catholicism in the United States, since the beginning of the first 13 colonies...very interesting. I'd definitely recommend it for those wanting to learn more about their Catholic faith.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good overview of Catholics in America before, during, and just after the Revolutionary War. I could have used more details, more depth but that's just me.

[Jill M Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical perspective. Honest and unvarnished, Charles Connor tells it all. The references alone are worth the price of the book.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very good information but a little bit dry.

[Duane Prejean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really Interesting take on Early American Catholic History. I loved it.

[Debbie King · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. A thought provoking, well researched history of Catholicism in the settling of our nation. So many familiar names and now know so much more about them.

[Francesca Gehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The information is thorough, but the structure of the text isn't very flowing. It feels like a patchwork. But, interestingly, in this way it reflects the Catholic world in Colonial America: scattered in isolated groups.

This book is a great resource for researching English Catholic beginnings in America. I also liked that the author included a thorough introduction into the subject, starting with the Reformation.