| Organization name | Roman Catholic Church |
| Other names | Catholic Church |
| Org type | Religious group |
| Bio notes | A Christian denomination under the authority of the Pope and claiming direct succession from the earliest Church. Distinguished by its hierarchical organization, defined system of canon law, and belief in the infallibility of the Pope in matters of scripture and tradition. French Catholics were active in Canada and the Midwest in the early 18th century, where they built missions and tried to convert the natives. In British North America, however, they were a minority, Maryland being one of the few areas with a large population. As a result, the first Diocese was established in Baltimore in 1789. The Catholic population in the United States began to increase after 1790, particularly because of the influx of Irish and Canadian immigrants. Because the majority of Americans at the time were Protestants, and furthermore questioned the national allegiance of a creed that promised absolute devotion to the Roman Pope, anti-Catholicism was prevalent throughout the period. |
| See also | jesuits |
| Citations | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Roman_Catholicism_in_the_United_States; |
Joseph Moore's Journal
New York Yearly Meeting Committee on Indian Concerns Scrapbook