Letters

Founding Families

Posted

Thank you for George Weigel’s “Remembering Two Great Bishops”—the first U.S. bishop, John Carroll, and Cardinal Francis George (CNY, Dec. 24). Weigel always enlightens while challenging readers.

It appears Bishop John Carroll’s older brother Daniel was a member of the Continental Congress and one of only two Catholic signers of the U.S. Constitution. Bishop Carroll’s cousin Charles Carroll was the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. At the time he signed the Declaration, it was against the law for a Catholic to hold public office or to vote.

We are indebted to all our “Founding Fathers” (and Families) of the United States including the Carroll Family of Maryland.

Thomas Keating

Dobbs Ferry