The Catholic Church - Article Example

Lesson Early Missionary History of the Catholic Church in America The catholic doctrines came into America in the early 1500s by Spanish catholic explorers. The explorers came along with other Spaniards whose sole purpose was to explore America. The first band of these Spanish explorers (around 400 in number) came to the west coast of Florida in 1528. Among them was one Cabeza de Vaca who was a military veteran and a relative to the King of Spain. Additionally, he was the head of the Holy Catholic Empire in Spain (Fisher 1). Vaca led other missionaries in trying to spread the Catholic doctrines to the Native Americans whom they referred to as Indians. The missionaries used sign language to communicate to them the gospel of Christ, how Jesus died and resurrected and how he was the third party of the Holy trinity. Vaca believed that these natives deserved to be treated kindly and gentle for them to understand these doctrines. Unfortunately, other explorers differed with him. They treated the natives as outcasts by enslave ring them (Fisher 7). The spread of Catholic doctrines was greatly accepted but there was resistance as the natives thought the explorers had ill motives. Many catholic churches were built from the west all the way to Maryland in the 1700s. A French Jesuit missionary named Jacques Marquette and a French-Canadian adventurer named Louis Jolliet travelled up the Mississippi valley to explore the opportunities. They discovered new navigable waterways, which were favorable for business. This attracted more explorers and missionaries up the Mississippi river. Jacques described this voyage in his journal as successful as more Americans accepted the Catholic doctrines. There were, however, revolutions, which were against the oppression of the explorers’ way of ruling. After these revolutions, the natives were promised freedom from oppression and heavy taxes against them and freedom to worship in the churches. This led to enormous increase in the number of Catholics in America in the 18th and 19th century (Fisher 22). Institutions and Movements that contributed to the building of Catholics Church in America during the 18th century After the America got its independence and George Washington named the first president of America, John Caroll was elected the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in America. Caroll had a strong believe that all men and women were equal and he played a great role in unifying the Catholic Church. He was based in Maryland at his election and he supported the publishing of the first U.S. edition of the bible in 1790 by Mathew Carey, an Irish-born publisher living in Philadelphia (Fisher 29). He brought together priests and encouraged priests to preach sermons on Sundays in the churches. This fostered continual growth of the Catholic Church and more churches were built. The bishop encouraged the use of traditional English language in masses combined with some Latin. In the early 1800s, a woman by the name Elizabeth Seton together with other young women started a women’s group that was later referred to as sisters. This grouped lived and worked in a religious community. This catholic community helped so many needy people and with the help of donors built schools, hospitals, and churches throughout the continent. They were hugely embraced by the Catholic community and other communities as well (Fisher 31). The number of Catholics in the young nation of America was growing tremendously with four more dioceses created in Kentucky. This lead to scarcity of priest thus the Women’s group played a major role in the growth of the church. With immigration on the rise from Europe, the Catholic Church in America grew and a priest by the name John England was brought to America in the 19th century. At his time, there were approximately 250 thousand Catholics, which further grew to 3 million (Fisher 41). Challenges faced by the Catholic Church in America and Its Ecclesial practice during the 19th century Between 1815 and 1845, over one million Irish immigrants came to America. These immigrants were fleeing hunger in Europe, which was caused by blight that destroyed potatoes. The potatoes were their main source of food. Most of these immigrants were Catholics. Their numbers became so large that they were used as the main cheap laborers in the fast growing economy of America. Activist started rebelling against the Catholic Church and many Churches were burnt. Conspiracies against the church were made up and more people rioted and burnt Catholic convents (Fisher 46). In the 1850s, a Catholic bishop called John Hughes fought for a school system that would respect the diversity of all students. This was not backed up by others who viewed Irish people as inferior to them. He established an independent school was governed by Catholic doctrines and viewed all students as equals. He also endorsed political leaders who fought for the right of immigrants and Catholic as a Church. More and more people struggled to change the way immigrants were viewed throughout the 19th centuries. Groups were formed to fight these problems. Similarities and Challenges between the 19th century Church and the 21st century Church in America In the 21st century, the Catholic Church faces some similar challenges the 19th century did face. Today Catholic Church is the largest single religion in America. It has millions of followers and continues to grow each day. The Catholic Church has maintained most of its doctrines which keeps the church strong. The church is headed by a Pope, just as before, who is stationed in Vatican, Rome. It has, cardinals who head the church in countries, bishops, fathers and sisters. All these clergy people help in leading the church and maintaining its ethics just as in the 19th century. However, the church faces criticism from other religions including Protestants. Just like in the 19th century, there are conspiracies, which depict Catholic regime and doctrines as evil and manipulative. Some people believe that the clergy people belong to certain cults that they attend in secret. They view these clergy people as hypocrites. There are activists who depict some of the Catholic priests as homosexuals and adulterers. A case in the year 2008, where a father was reportedly involved with young boys hit the news rooms and spread worldwide. This case has changed the way people view the catholic priests and has also tarnished the name of Catholic Church.There are cases where color has been a topic of contention, which has brought animosity among the catholic followers. However, certain groups of the Catholic Church leaders have stood firm to bring the believers together. These groups include the sisters, priests and the Pope, by whom believers believe, is the corner stone of the Catholic doctrine. Although some of these church leaders have gone astray, majority of them have stood firm in the ministering of the Gospel of Christ and ensuring that the Catholic doctrines stand the test of time. Lesson 2 Ethnic Contours in the Catholic Church in the late 19th and early 20th centuries In the late 19th century and early 21st century, many more immigrants came to America. These immigrants were significantly Polish and Italians between 1870s and 1920s. The Polish immigrants came to America before the Italians. The Poles settled in the developing towns mostly in the west of America. Most of them were employed in industrial companies in cities that were coming up at a fast rate. They provided cheap labor in these industries that led to growth of the industries with time. The Italian immigrant followed the same process as the Polish immigrants. They came into America beginning in the late 1870s. Since they were looking to earn a living, they also settled in the developing towns and cities so that they could work in the industries in these towns and cities. Most of these immigrants were Catholics. Ethnic rifts between these new immigrants and the much-populated Irish and German followers led to a fall out of the new immigrants who started Catholic churches that represented their ethnic groups. The Polish and Italian immigrants felt that the Catholic Church doctrines favored the established immigrants who had settled in America prior to their arrival. They believed that the doctrines should have been in a way that they were used to, just like back at home where they came from. Italian priests began missionaries that were referred to as Scalabrini fathers to minister to the Italians abroad (Fisher 72).They built churches specifically for the Italians and preached using the Italian native languages. Catholic Social Reformers After the publishing of a book of social conduct called Rerum Novarum (On the condition of the working classes) by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, Father John Ryan went a long way in advocating for changes in the way the workers were treated. He proposed for enacting of new laws that included, an eight-hour working day, ‘minimal wage’ law, housing, and support of the disabled and the elderly by the government. This came a long way in favoring the working conditions of employees in industries and other sectors. Father John Ryan became popular for actively involving himself in the improvement of workers’ rightsin the closing years of the 19th century and the beginning of 20th century (Fisher 96). In the early 20th century, a progressive reformer by the name Alfred Smith, who was a politician, defended the rights of workers. He was elected as the governor of New York. He was the first Catholic to be nominated as the president of a major political party in 1928 but did not win the presidential campaign. He is the most compelling person as he made people realize that catholic believers could be leaders even in the highest offices of the land. There was no other Catholic leader after Alfred Smith who had a clear shot of becoming the United States president for the next thirty years. This was not until John F. Kennedy vied for presidency and successfully became the first Catholic president in the United States. Other individuals that are seen are Catholic social reformers of the 20th century include Dorothy day and Peter Maurin who established the Catholic worker movement in 1933which saw the growth of workers’ rights groups in America. These groups compelled the employers in industries and other sectors to continually revise the working conditions of workers and also improve their pay. Therefore, the two Catholics (Dorothy day and Peter Maurin) played a major role in the improvement of the lives of Catholic and other workers in the 20th century. They were seen as the most influential activists in America during and after their time (Fisher 113). Challenges the Catholic Church faced and faces from late 20th century The late 20th century saw very drastic changes of the Catholic doctrines. Leaders believed that passing on the Catholic doctrines in a more civilized manner would be better for the believers. Several doctrines were revised to suit the changing world the Catholics were living in. The second Vatican Council between 1962 and 1965, headed by Pope John XXIII, saw the translation of the Roman rite from Latin to vernacular languages through the constitution of Sacrosanctum concilium. Many Catholics viewed this as liberation, many sisters of the church become reluctant with the once very strict dress code, and many behavioral changes occurred to suit the secular way of style at that time (Fisher 138). The Catholic doctrines received another blow when in 1973, the U.S. supreme court legalized abortion national wide. The pope had earlier fought against use of artificial contraceptives. The legalization of abortion in The United States strongly differed with the doctrines taught by the Catholics. The Catholic Church, led by Pope John XXIII saw this as an act of going against the religion ways of life. The Latin American immigrants also came with problems in the late 20th century. They wanted the Catholic Church topreach in a way to suit their way of life. They wanted the churches to conduct masses in a way they were used to back in their homeland where they came from. All these diversity in America still has the advantage that allow all people to practice and witness Catholicity which is the universality of the Church. The diverse races were brought together with a common believe of being Catholics. Although they had different ways of living, the Catholic Church and its doctrines united them as a universal way of believing in one living God. Works Cited Fisher, James T. Communion of Immigrants. New York: Oxford, 2007. Read More