1. Catholic and Jewish growth stretch diversity Chapter 8

2. Catholics in America »John Carroll became the first American bishop in the nation- a move that recognized and affirmed the major Catholic presence in the United States »In spite of this (or perhaps as a result of this) anti-Catholic sentiment among Protestants was high »Catholic loyalty to the pope, “odd” doctrines such as “transubstantiation” inclined many to believe that Catholics would make poor, even dangerous, citizens

3. Catholics in America »Thus, Catholics faced the dual problem of trying to assuage Protestant fears, but still live an authentically Catholic existence; efforts often competed »Many churches, to the chagrin of Carroll and Rome, shrugged off church authority, in favor of a more autonomous, seemingly Protestant church »On the other side, parochial schools were created to insure that Catholic beliefs would be taught to Catholic children »On either side, priests and bishops worked tirelessly to provide organization and integrity to their American Catholic Church

4. Catholics in America »Immigration, particularly between 1865-1914, brought an even greater influx of Catholics from Europe »Adding to the English and French Catholic presence, Irish Catholics (coming over due to famine in Ireland) joined and then surpassed their compatriots in numbers; to this day, Catholicism in America is seen as bearing a decidedly Irish cast »Catholic women, particularly women religious, played a prominent role in creating a distinctly American »Catholic identity, particularly since they were in charge of educating children in the home and at school, respectively »Nuns played a particularly central role; teaching at the parochial schools they were the primary shapers of young Catholic minds

5. Catholics in America »However, many Catholics wondered whether America was a fit environment for Catholicism »The separation of church and state was seen as problematic for those hailing from countries where a single institution governed society and the church »In response, Orestes Brownson, a Catholic convert, espoused “’Americanism; or the view that Catholicism as a religion represented the epitome of the values and ideals associated with American democracy” (114) »Complicating these internal debates was the growing culture of literature, rhetoric and nativist political campaigns by non-Catholics intended to scare Protestants into reclaiming religious control of their country (see pp. 115-116 for more details)

6. Jews in America »Though far fewer in number than their Catholic counterparts, Jewish immigrants carved out a space for themselves in the American religious landscape in the years prior to, but especially, following the civil war »The early wave was comprised of Sephardic Jews (those hailing from southern and southwestern Europe); later waves brought more Ashkenazim, Jews of eastern European origin

7. Jews in America »Ideological and theological strains stemming from German thinkers “came to dominate American Jewish life” reflecting diversity even among this relatively small immigrant population »Reform Judaism, a movement based on Enlightenment principles with the intention of stripping Judaism down to its “essential principles”; this became a primary means of adapting Judaism to the American context »David Einhorn and Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise were the most prominent American proponents of this particular movement

8. Ethnicity and Religion »Ethnicity is broadly defined as “the distinctive character and cultural mores of a people, usually with language, region or nation, race, and a sense of identity as key ingredients”; ethnicity has become a primary element in understanding religious forms in America »I.e. One is not simply a Lutheran, but a Finnish Lutheran, etc…; religious identity is characterized and qualified by ethnicity »For Catholics, whose immigrants often shared a common nationality or language or Jews, whose religious identity often translated into a national or ethnic identity, their religious experience is intertwined with issues of ethnic identity