American Catholicism and European Immigrants (1900–1924)

American Catholicism and European Immigrants describes Catholic social settlements, Catholic participation in the postwar “Americanization” drive, and Catholic attitudes toward immigrant restriction. The author concludes that the American Church did relatively little to educate the foreigner or significantly aid in his/her material well-being. When the immigrant was helped by Catholics, it was by Catholics of his/her own nationality. The foreign language schools, the national parish, and the work of foreign priests and religious orders were the most significant forces influencing the Catholic immigrant during the progressive era.