Revolution of Love.com
The Eighteenth Century:
The French Revolution and Catholicism in America
Three Historical highpoints define this century -
More Attacks upon the Church
The Church faced a number of challenges that threatened its stability. Three of most devastating attacks were Febronianism, Josephism and the suppression of the Jesuits. Febroniansim attempted to revive the heretical teaching that the Pope was subject to the authority of a Church council. Josephism, named after the Austrian Emperor Joseph II, did its best to transform the Austrian Church into an instrument of the state. Lastly, the Jesuits, who had amassed a great amount of power over the centuries were expelled from a number of countries and in 1773 were finally suppressed by Pope Clement XIV.
The French Revolution
In 1789, French officials pushed for government reform which included taking power away from the reigning monarch, King Louis XVI. This reform led to the French Revolution (1789-1799), a bloody civil war. Because the revolution was influenced by the enlightenment, the state sought to control the affairs of the Church by electing priests and bishops. In 1790 the new French government implemented the Civil Constitution of the Clergy. This document put the Church and clergy under the control of the state. Many bishops and clergy signed the document. Those who did not were executed.
Catholicism in America
Catholics made up a very small percentage of the American population around the time of the American Revolution (1775-1781). Many were considered second class citizens and in some cases were persecuted. Since the number of priests and religious were small there were no parochial schools and very few parishes. Over time this changed. Two men who were instrumental in helping establish the Catholic religion in America was Bishop John Carroll (1735-1815) and Bl. Junipero Serra (1713-1784).
John Carroll, a Jesuit priest serving in Maryland, was chosen to be the country's first Bishop. His diocese was the diocese of Baltimore, established in 1789. Bishop Carroll, worked tirelessly promoting and spreading the Catholic faith. In the west Junipero Serra, a Franciscan missionary, founded nine missions along the coast of California converting many Native Americans to the Catholic faith.