Lord Baltimore received a charter from Charles I to colonize the new world. The land that was given to Lord Baltimore was between Pennsylvania and Virginia. Ever since the time of Henry VIII, the Catholics in England didn’t fare so well. Lord Baltimore wanted a place where Catholics could go for religious freedom. Lord Baltimore II finally sent colonists in 1634. That was three years before my 9th great grandfather landed in Boston. He was coming to the new world for the same reason, religious freedom. Although my grandfather was a protestant, he wasn’t in the Church of England. The English church didn’t want these French upstarts preaching their brand of Christianity. So many of them left England and went to America. The Catholics in Maryland established themselves. They had more problems with Protestants then they did with the Indians. They made Maryland profitable. They grew tobacco. They didn’t stop Protestants from immigrating into Maryland. Although the government officials were all Catholics, they still had problems with the Protestants. Isn’t it funny that everyone came to America for freedom and many didn’t want to extend it to everyone? Especially where money was involved. There are four location in the United States that are predomitly Catholic. There are south Louisiana, Boston, New York and Maryland. I was raised catholic. They have a strong sense of community and compassion for people. They are willing to help people. Even today there are feeding programs around the world. Today this saying is made into a joke but is very true. When a young man would bring home a girl to meet his parent, his mother would ask who is your mother, are you catholic and can you make a roux. People came for religious freedom, which is in jeopardy today in America. In John 8:36, it says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
http://www.joseph1637.com
joseph1637@juno.com