Liberty’s Lions

They say every age needs some heroes. Men and women who step up and face impossible odds for a good cause. Heroes are those who take action with no concern for their own comfort or well-being. Living in south-central Pennsylvania and growing up in Gettysburg, I am well aware of heroes during the Civil War. Living here also puts me at ground zero for another tumultuous time in United States history. The Revolutionary War shaped our country, as did those who fought in it. Did you know Catholics played a major role in leading up to and during these years fighting for independence? You can learn the stories of a few of them in Dan Leroy’s Liberty’s Lions: The Catholic Revolutionaries Who Established America.

A key point to remember about this period of time and one that Dan points out is the general dislike of Catholics in the colonies leading up to the Revolution. Catholics were generally suppressed. One of the reasons Catholics were looked down upon was a fear that their allegiance to the Pope would result in them siding against the patriotic movement of independence. Things were so bad at one point that a commonly practiced “holiday” known as Pope’s Day was observed. During these “festivities,” an effigy of the pope was paraded through the streets and eventually set on fire. Doesn’t exactly sound like the ideal conditions to practice one’s faith, does it?

Fortunately, calmer and more logical heads prevailed. Such notables such as Benjamin Franklin came to the realization that Catholics might not be all that bad and that their help was needed in the fight for freedom. There may have also been some “we’d rather have them with us rather than against us” mentality as well. Regardless of the reasoning, the anti-Catholic sentiment was greatly reduced, despite still existing.

Dan includes a number of notable Catholics from this time period in the book, many of whom you probably never heard of. This due in large part due to them being hidden from the pages of many modern history books. Readers will encounter Charles Carroll, Father John Carroll, Father Joseph Greaton, Casimir Pulaski, Adrienne de Lafayette, Father Ferdinand Farmer, and more. There is even a chapter exploring the spiritual influence on none other than George Washington himself.

Liberty’s Lions shines a spotlight on Catholics who were influential in turning the tide of revolution.  Their participation in the fight for freedom served two purposes. The first and most obvious was to lay the foundation for the freedoms we enjoy as a nation today. The second was to prove to colonial America that Catholics were needed and deserved a place in the conversation of nation-building. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of Liberty’s Lions and learn how your Catholic ancestors in the faith helped forge a nation.

Listen to my interview with author Dan LeRoy here.

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I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.