Dr. Bradley J. Birzer, author of Sanctifying the World: The Augustinian Life and Mind of Christopher Dawson and other books, was recently interviewed by The Washington Times about his new book, American Cicero: The Life of Charles Carroll (ISI; available in Feb. 2010). Carroll was the only Catholic to have signed The Declaration of Independence.
Q: What role did Charles Carroll's faith play in his political life?
A: A huge role. Prior to 1774, as a Marylander and a Roman Catholic, he did not have any rights except for economic rights. So his faith had shaped everything in his life. His signing of the Declaration, at least as he saw it, was intimately related to his religious faith. He said in 1829, "When I signed the Declaration of Independence, I had in view not only our independence of England but the toleration of all sects, professing the Christian religion, and communicating to them all great rights."
Q: How exactly did Colonial Maryland persecute Catholics?
A: In November of 1689, the state's 1649 law of tolerance was undone. Roman Catholics could practice privately after that, but they could not practice publicly. In 1704, they started closing all Catholic churches in Maryland. I think the craziest law passed in 1715. It said that children who were raised in Roman Catholic fashion could be taken from their parents and be given permanently to Protestants. But all those laws were undone in 1774.
A: A huge role. Prior to 1774, as a Marylander and a Roman Catholic, he did not have any rights except for economic rights. So his faith had shaped everything in his life. His signing of the Declaration, at least as he saw it, was intimately related to his religious faith. He said in 1829, "When I signed the Declaration of Independence, I had in view not only our independence of England but the toleration of all sects, professing the Christian religion, and communicating to them all great rights."
Q: How exactly did Colonial Maryland persecute Catholics?
A: In November of 1689, the state's 1649 law of tolerance was undone. Roman Catholics could practice privately after that, but they could not practice publicly. In 1704, they started closing all Catholic churches in Maryland. I think the craziest law passed in 1715. It said that children who were raised in Roman Catholic fashion could be taken from their parents and be given permanently to Protestants. But all those laws were undone in 1774.
And have a wonderful Fourth of July!
just some grammar carl, "too" should be "to"
Posted by: J | Saturday, July 04, 2009 at 10:07 PM
Certainly, Catholics who live in the US should honor the Carrolls of Maryland.
But I think their Recusant take on what Catholics' role in public life ought to be is central to the "faithful citizenship" impasse we face today (and really have faced, though not as acutely, since the founding of the republic).
Charles Carroll may have been the "last Roman" -- and perhaps even the noblest of them all. But he was not an American Caesar, and neither is the US regime. Before we "render unto Caesar", we must first ask Our Lord's question: "Whose image and inscription are these?"
Posted by: Robert Miller | Sunday, July 05, 2009 at 11:30 AM
No one claimed Charles Carroll was an American Caesar--the author refers to him as an American Cicero! I presume he gives him that title because Carroll defended the republic against, not imperialism like Marcus Tullius Cicero, but democracy. Looks like an excellent book.
Posted by: Stephanie Mann | Tuesday, July 07, 2009 at 06:53 AM