Religious Denominations Quotes
Official List of groups which were prohibited from religiously criticizing the Catholic Church—the established church of Maryland. One interesting observation is that the Jesuits—a Catholic order were on this list. Catholic orders did not then subject their representatives to the authority of the local bishops and took direction only from the Pope. In the case of the Jesuits at the time, there were many who believed the Jesuits were beyond the de facto control of the Papacy and some Jesuits thought they should be—thus the two designations of Jesuits. This makes clear the fundamental intolerance that was common on many parts of Colonial America, that criticism of and heresy to the Established Church was not to be permitted. To the orthodox Catholics of Maryland, they were as concerned with the potential criticisms of Catholic Jesuits as they were with those of Puritans or Anabaptists. Compare Maryland, a Catholic colony with a huge antipathy towards Puritans, with Massachusetts, a Puritan Colony, and its strong antipathy and intolerance for Catholics. It is almost impossible to imagine a union of the American colonies without a 1st Amendment.
While Pratt thought that his publication would explain Mormonism to the officials of the nation and reduce misunderstandings, the result was the opposite. Many Washington Government officials had heard “rumors” of Mormon polygamy. However, given their own perspective, most did not believe that any civilized people would so engage. But when they saw Pratt’s written documents like this, there was an official admission in writing of what was seen as a monstrous evil. Pratt himself had 7 wives and 45 children—shocking for most non Mormons of the time.
