As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a 1790 exchange between Bishop John Carroll and President George Washington is gaining renewed attention for its foundational implications regarding religious liberty and citizenship. The correspondence, preserved at the Library of Congress, addressed whether Catholics, historically viewed with suspicion, could be considered full and equal citizens in the new republic.
In March 1790, John Carroll, newly consecrated as the first Catholic bishop in the United States, along with other prominent Catholic leaders, sent an address to President Washington. They sought reassurance that Catholics would be integrated into the fabric of the new nation. At the time, many English and colonial populations harbored mistrust towards Catholics, viewing them as potentially disloyal to their countrymen and owing allegiance to Rome. These sentiments led to significant restrictions, including barring Catholics from holding office, preventing them from voting, and prohibiting the open practice of their faith in some colonies.
Carroll's letter highlighted the contributions of Catholics to the Revolutionary War, stating, "Whilst our country preserves her freedom and independence, we shall have a well-founded title to claim from her justice equal rights of citizenship as the price of our blood spilt under your eyes and of our common exertions for her defense." This appeal served as a reminder to Washington that Catholics had fought alongside him for independence.
Michael Breidenbach, dean of the Honors College at Ave Maria University, noted that this exchange underscores the often-overlooked Catholic contributions to the American founding. "As America approaches its 250th anniversary, there is a heated debate about whether the nation's foundation had Protestant, secular or other roots," Breidenbach said. "Often missing from these conversations are the Catholic contributions to the American founding."
Washington's reply affirmed their place as full citizens. He acknowledged the "patriotic part" Catholics played during the Revolution and stated they were already "realizing, instead of anticipating, the benefits of the general Government." Dr. Kevin Butterfield, acting chief of the Library of Congress Manuscript Division, summarized Washington's message as: "As long as you demean yourself as a good citizen and follow the laws, it doesn't matter what your religious beliefs are. You're fully a part of the nation."
This exchange also reflects Washington's broader vision for the country. He consistently advocated for religious freedom, mirroring his similar correspondence with other minority religious communities, such as the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island. Washington's stance was not one of mere "toleration," which implies granted permission, but of asserting that all good citizens possess the same rights irrespective of their religious beliefs.
Even before the ratification of the First Amendment, Article VI of the Constitution, which Washington had presided over during the Constitutional Convention, prohibited religious tests for federal office. This principle guided the new federal government from its inception, establishing an experiment in religious freedom at the national level.
The original correspondence is housed within the George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, comprising approximately 77,000 items. While digitized versions are accessible for research, the original manuscript is rarely displayed to ensure its preservation. Historians, like Catherine O'Donnell of Arizona State University, believe the exchange offers valuable insights into the founding era, revealing both the ideals of religious liberty and the prejudices that existed. The public dialogue exemplified by Carroll's letter and Washington's response, O'Donnell suggested, is crucial for integrating ideals into the community's sense of identity rather than leaving them as theoretical rights.