The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

.estates,""27CTHE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.indebted for their residence in the colony. An Actconcerning religion, forbade liberty of conscience tobe extended to Popery/ Prelacy, or licentiousnessof opinion.lWhat shall I say of the prominent part that wastaken by distinguished representatives of the Catholic Church in the cause of our American Independence? What shall I say of Charles Carroll ofCarrollton, who, at the risk of sacrificing his richsigned the Declaration of Independence ; ofRev. John Carroll, afterwards the firstArchbishopof Baltimore, who, with his cousin Charles Carrolland Benjamin Franklin, was sent by Congress toCanada to secure the co-operation of the people ofthat province in the struggle for liberty ;of Kosciusko,Lafayette, Pulaski, and Barry, and a hostof other Catholic heroes who labored so effectuallyin the same glorious cause? American patriots,without number the Church has nursed in herbosom ;a traitor, never.The father of his country was not unmindful ofthese services. Shortly after his election to thePresidency, replying 2 to an address of his Catholicfellow-citizens, he uses the following language:presume that your fellow-citizens will not forgot thepatriotic part which you took in the accomplishmentof their revolution, and the establishment of theirgovernment; or the important assistance they re*l Bancroft s History of the U. 8., Vol. 1., ch. vii. Vide Bacon s Laws.2 The original of Washington s reply is still preserved in the Archives 4the Baltimore Cathedral.I