Foundation of Catholicism in America

In 1633, ships carrying Jesuit priests set sail from England to establish a Catholic colony in Maryland, marking the inception of the Roman Catholic Church in America. Upon arrival, the priests quickly began the colonization process, acquiring land and initiating tobacco plantations that relied heavily on enslaved labor from West Africa. This early Catholic establishment not only contributed to the growth of the Church but also participated in the troubling institution of slavery, as priests themselves engaged in slave sales and ownership. The duality of their mission to save souls while simultaneously exploiting human beings highlights the complex moral landscape of early American Catholicism.