Roman Catholic Church In New France

Words: 954
Pages: 4

The Roman Catholic Church in New France played a very important role in colonial life. Almost all of the people who settled in New France were themselves Roman Catholic. This was due to a royal decree that prohibited any non-Catholics from settling in the colonies. The Churches initial role in New France centered on missionary work while the trade companies focused on the fur trade. When New France became a Royal Colony, the prominence of the Church increased due in no small part to the structure of the Colonial government. The Sovereign Council of which the Catholic Bishop was one of the three most important members led the colonial government. This prominent place in the government meant that the church played a direct role in the decision making process in the colonies.
The Churches influence and work was not limited to a mere governmental role; instead, the Church touched almost every part of colonial life in New France. Through the work of the nuns, the Church cared for the sick, as well as the elderly, orphans, and the infirm. The Church was the
…show more content…
From the earliest days of New France Jesuits made there way throughout the land striving to convert the Natives. In addition to converting them to Christianity, they also sought to rid them of their “primitive” ways and instead, embrace a European way of life. Success in this area led to closer bonds with Native Americans and served to make Christian brothers and sisters out of potential enemies. Greer recounts Peter Kalm’s account of the Huron of Lorette village: “ When the Jesuits who are now with them arrived among them they lived in their usual huts… They have since laid aside this custom and built all their houses after the French fashion. ” Kalm goes onto describe how the Huron have even changed the crops they grow in an effort to align with their French