TRS 725 American Church History
This is a history of American Catholicism. During the colonial period, American meant "of the Americas," the interconnected colonies on the edge of European empires. The independent United States grew out of three colonial systems and inherited Catholic faithful who had to work out for themselves what it meant to be both Catholic and American. This course will introduce students to the experiences of American Catholics and the corresponding transformations of the institutional American Catholic Church across the centuries. Themes related to the laity, vowed religious, clergy, and models of leadership are integrated into the historical narrative. Students will also have the opportunity to research and write on topics of
their choice.