Journey through the period following the Protestant Reformation, focusing on the development of religious liberty in America. Learn how the Pilgrim Fathers, seeking freedom of conscience, established colonies based on solemn covenants, yet initially struggled with the same intolerance they fled. Discover Roger Williams’s pivotal role in founding Rhode Island on the principle of complete religious freedom, a principle later enshrined in the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. Contrast these American ideals with the historical stance of the Papacy, which deemed liberty of conscience a “pestilential error.” Reflect on the significance of these founding principles and their relevance for today.