Washington D.C., Jul 4, 2016 / 11:22 am
Both the Catholic Church and the tradition of religious freedom can trace their roots in the United States to the earliest days of the founding of Maryland, says a new documentary premiering on EWTN over the Fourth of July Weekend.
Greg Hendrick, producer of the documentary, "Catholic Beginnings: Maryland," told CNA that "many of the roots of Catholicism in America originated in Maryland."
"It's an essential part of U.S. history, not just for Catholics, but for all interested in exploring the grounds on which religious freedom and tolerance were founded."
The eight-part series premiered on EWTN beginning July 3 at 6:30 p.m. EST.
While Maryland was not the first place to have Catholic populations in what would become the U.S. – Spanish colonies and French trading outposts were settled first – the EWTN series focuses on Maryland because of its major role in both American history and Catholic history in the U.S.