The Development of Interpretive Method in the Tradition of American Catholic Church-State Theory

American Catholic church-state theory is rich soil for analysis which seeks to identify the character and development of Catholic thought in America. This thesis was provoked by my interest in unveiling the extent to which American Catholic theorizing on church and state constituted a decisive part of the American Catholic theological tradition. Scholars of American Catholic history have been engaged in a process of identifying this intellectual tradition for a number of years. In general, the work of Patrick Carey, James Hennesey, Gerald Fogarty, and Philip Gleason has contributed substantially to the recognition and understanding of both the uniqueness of American Catholic theology and its continuity within the tradition. In specific regard to the place of church-state theory in the fabric of American Catholicism, Patrick Carey\u27s analysis of the life and thought of John England (1786-1842) and the work of Elwyn Smith in establishing the American Catholic treatment of religious liberty have added insight to the field. Joseph Chinnici, John Tracy Ellis, and Thomas O\u27Brien Hanley have also given a reliable account of how church-state thought has been integral to Catholicism in the United States..