America’s first Catholic bishop after independence was John Carroll, cousin of signer of the Declaration of Independence Charles Carroll, and brother of signer of the Constitution Daniel Carroll. This illustrious and influential family of Maryland Catholic patriots always put an emphasis on both personal integrity and public virtue.
Indeed, many of the Founders were greatly preoccupied with the issue of how private morality impacts the public welfare. George Washington, John Adams, George Mason, Alexander Hamilton, and others reflected on how important it was for Americans to have integrity, without which they could never retain liberty. Without Judeo-Christian religion and biblical morality, not all the high-sounding ideals in the world could save America from spiraling into division, chaos, and tyranny. Unfortunately, we are seeing that nightmare unfold right now, and so it is more important than ever to take their advice and try to reverse course.
Fr. John Carroll became a Jesuit at a time when the Jesuits were still at the forefront of the fight against heresy and corruption rather than the controversial order they are today. During one of the backlashes of less fervent Catholics against the Jesuits, Fr. John returned to America from Europe, where he had served in Belgium and England. He was ministering to Catholics in Virginia and Maryland when the Revolution broke out. Fr. John not only supported the Patriots, but he undertook a mission to Quebec with his cousin Charles, Benjamin Franklin, and Samuel Chase, which unfortunately did not succeed in convincing the Canadians to join the Americans. Franklin, though he vacillated between deism and loose Christianity, would always retain a high respect for the Catholic cleric, especially as Fr. John helped him through an illness.
At first, after the Revolution, Fr. John Carroll and five other priests did not think there was a necessity for a bishop in America, so Fr. John became prefect apostolic with the Vatican‘s approval. He faced many problems, including a dishonest priest from France, a lack of clergy, harmful meddling from wealthy Catholic laymen, and false accusations. To address the authority issues, Pope Pius VI appointed Fr. John a bishop for all of America’s Catholics on Nov. 6, 1789. It is said that John Carroll’s old friend Ben Franklin, who was on a diplomatic mission in Catholic France at the time, recommended Carroll for the role of first American bishop. The new U.S. bishop was able to form friendships and encourage mutual respect in a country founded on the idea of religious liberty and equal rights for members of all religions.
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It is also interesting that when the new bishop sent out his first pastoral letter in 1792, he had a great deal to say about the responsibilities that laymen had not only for their own personal faith, but for improving the new nation. He was particularly concerned about the education of young people, and emphasized that above all, parents are responsible for inculcating virtue and good habits that form good men and women and responsible citizens.
I have considered the virtuous and Christian instruction of youth as a principal object of pastoral solicitude. Now who can contribute so much to lighten this burden, which weighs so heavy on the shoulders of the pastors of souls and who can have so great an interest and special duty in the forming of youthful minds to habits of virtue and religion, as their parents themselves? …How many motives of reason and religion require, that parents should be unwearied in their endeavours, to inspire in them the love and fear of God; docility and submission to His doctrines, and a careful attention to fulfill His commandments? Fathers—bring up your children in the discipline and correction of the Lord [Ephesians 6:4]. …
The same habits of obedience to the will of God; the same principles of a reverential love and fear of Him; and of continual respect for His Holy Name; the same practices of morning and evening prayer; and of the frequentation of the sacraments; the same dread of cursing and swearing; of fraud and duplicity; of lewdness and drunkenness; the same respectful and dutiful behaviour to their fathers and mothers; in a word, the remembrance and influence of the parental counsels and examples received in their youth, would continue with them during life. And if ever the frailty of nature, or worldly seduction, should cause them to offend God, they would be brought back again to His service and to true repentance by the efficacy of the religious instruction received in their early age.
Bishop Carroll worked with some of the most famous and important Founders of the Revolution, and he guided American Catholics through the difficult, tumultuous early years of the Republic. His advice is still as good today as it was in 1792.
Parents, you are the primary educators of your children, and if our future voters are not all to be Communists, parents need to start taking a lot more responsibility. And young Americans, if you suffered from a difficult family life in childhood, determine that you will give your own children the education, love, and patriotic example that they deserve.
