Linda It is not established that Thomas Hoffpauer was catholic. Their children were baptized catholic because it was the law & required for inheritance purposes. Most protestant emigrants to Louisiana & other catholic countries baptized their children to avoid the hassle and persecution. One can tell if they were truly catholic if the next generation baptized their children catholic which very few Hoffpauirs did. Of course after Louisiana was purchased by The United States there was no longer a state religion. This also occured in Spanish Florida & Natchez prior to the British takeover. Reading some of the old letters & papers paints a interesting picture of what the protestants faced when trying to have their own services. Some fort commandants were more restrictive than others. Often people were arrested or forced to leave the country. Of course in the New England area the same worked in reverse with persecution of catholics. Felton Felton