Catholics in the Public Square: A Study in Conflict and Influence

Catholics and the American Experiment

By Bradley J. Birzer, Ph.D. · Published by TAN Books

Course Trailer

Overview

What role has Catholicism played in shaping the United States? How did Catholics navigate a culture often marked by suspicion, prejudice, and political hostility toward the Faith? And what lessons can modern Catholics learn from the successes and struggles of those who came before them?

In Catholics and the American Experiment, historian Bradley J. Birzer explores the complex relationship between the Catholic Church and American political life. From anti-Catholic sentiment in the colonies to the influence of Catholic Founding Father Charles Carroll, from the Second Great Awakening to modern political and cultural conflicts, this course traces the enduring impact of Catholic thought on the American republic.

Drawing from history, political philosophy, and Catholic social thought, Dr. Birzer demonstrates that religion was never intended to be excluded from public life. Instead, faith has long served as a source of moral vision, cultural cohesion, and civic responsibility. Through this course, students gain a deeper understanding of the Catholic contribution to American history and the challenges facing faithful Catholics in the modern age.

• Meet America’s Catholic Founders: Learn about Charles Carroll and the Catholic contribution to the American founding.
• Understand Religious Liberty: Explore how faith shaped early American political thought.
• Examine Church-State Relations: Trace the historical tensions between Catholicism and American public life.
• Analyze Modern Challenges: Consider the influence of ideology, nationalism, and secularism.
• Strengthen Civic Understanding: Learn how Catholic principles can inform public engagement today.

Course Curriculum

1. Settling North America: Anti-Catholicism in the New World
2. The Colonies: Islands of Intolerance in a Sea of Tolerance
3. Charles Carroll: First Citizen and Catholic Founding Father
4. The Second Great Awakening and Religious Democracy
5. Alexis de Tocqueville’s America
6. Progressivism, Nationalism, and the “Greater Good”
7. The Moral Imagination: Rescuing the Modern Mind
8. The Twentieth Century: Ideology, Horrors, and Heroism

Lecture Sample

From the Course

“Faith and politics were never meant to be isolated from one another. The Founding Fathers understood that religion played a vital role in sustaining liberty and virtue.”

Meet Your Professor

Dr. Bradley J. Birzer earned his doctorate from Indiana University and serves as the Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies and Professor of History at Hillsdale College. Throughout his academic career, he has taught at St. Francis College, Carroll College, and the University of Texas at San Antonio. In 2002–2003, Hillsdale students named him Professor of the Year.

Professor Birzer is the author of numerous works, including Sanctifying the World: The Augustinian Life and Mind of Christopher Dawson and American Cicero: The Life of Charles Carroll. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Academic Advisors for the Center for the American Republic, a senior fellow with the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, and a contributor to The Imaginative Conservative. In 2010, C-SPAN recognized him as one of the leading professors of American history in the United States.

Intended Audience

This course is ideal for Catholics interested in American history, politics, Church history, Catholic social teaching, constitutional studies, and civic engagement. It is especially valuable for homeschool families, students, educators, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Catholic contribution to the American experiment.

FAQs

Does this course focus on politics or history?
Both. The course examines American political development through the lens of Catholic history, culture, and thought.

Who was Charles Carroll?
Charles Carroll was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence and one of the most influential Catholic figures in early American history.

Is this course relevant to current events?
Yes. While rooted in history, the course provides important context for contemporary debates involving religion, politics, religious liberty, and public morality.