Question of Class? Relations Between Bishops and Lay Leaders in Ireland and Newfoundland, 1783-1807‪.‬

Using Ireland and Newfoundland as examples, this paper tries to demonstrate how class played a significant role in the relations between Catholic bishops and lay leaders in both societies. Sometimes unwillingly perhaps, members of the Catholic hierarchy in both Ireland and Newfoundland tended to be more the followers than the leaders in the political and social evolution of both societies, usually defending the political status quo until circumstances forced them to change course. To understand properly the period in question, we must first briefly examine the two centuries leading up to it as well as some of the similarities and differences between Ireland and Newfoundland. From the outset it must be said that long before the period being studied, both islands were essentially British colonies, but with very different histories. Ireland, due to her geographical proximity to England, had for centuries posed a major threat to Britain's national security, particularly as a potential staging ground for either a Spanish or French invasion. On the other hand, while Newfoundland's cod-based economy was considered valuable to Britain's North American interests, due to its great distance, it represented no such threat.