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Article: An invitation to American Catholic history.
- Article from:
- National Review
- Article date:
- September 26, 1986
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1986 National Review, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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An Invitation to American Catholic History
THE LIBERAL Protestant churchman is an interesting amalgam of contradictory sentiments. His moderation and openness are his marks of distinction, and yet they never quite go so far as to cause him to shed his encrustations of good old-fashioned anti-Romanism. Take, for example, W. E. Gladstone, the Liberal Party leader of the late nineteenth century, who established a reputation as an advocate of religious toleration, constantly doing battle in Parliament to extend liberties to oppressed religious minorities--including Roman Catholics--within the British realm. Gladstone's various ministries are replete with land bills, ...