Robert Louis Stevenson, author of Treasure Island, describes Molokai before Saint Damian's arrival. “It was a different place when Damien came there and made his big renunciation and slept that first night. under a tree among his rotten brothers: alone with the plague; and hope (with what courage, with what pitiful pangs of terror, God only knows) a life of tending wounds and stumps. (Bunson, 250)This quote shows the impact that Saint Damian had on the island of Molokai and the courage he had to accomplish this difficult task. Saint Damian exemplified many Catholic social teachings during his life on the island of Molokai. Although there was a Catholic influence in Hawaii, there was a greater Protestant and American influence. In 1893, American influence became too strong. The Americans successfully attempted a coup. This removed the Hawaiian monarchy and installed a European-dominated democracy in which previous voting requirements were rolled back and replaced with new requirements that few Hawaiians met. From this new government, the health council was formed. At this time, a leprosy epidemic was underway and to prevent the spread of this terrible disease, the board of health implemented laws that would profoundly change the lives of lepers. All the lepers were exiled to the island of Molokai. To capture the lepers, the police used brutal force, including using dogs to track the lepers. Many Americans in Hawaii were also Protestants. These Protestant Americans implemented laws that persecuted other religious practices. These laws prohibited any religious practice other than Protestantism. This significantly limited the spread of Catholicism. Both...... middle of paper...... The church is growing. Saint Damien also improved the lives of lepers so much that their way of life became that of non-lepers. Robert Louis Stevenson describes Molokai after the death of Saint Damian. “And notice: what I saw and suffered was a colony purged, improved, beautified; the new village built, the hospital and the Bishop-Home perfectly fitted out; the sisters, the doctor and the missionaries, all tireless in their noble tasks. » (Bunson 251)Works CitedBunson, Margaret R. and Matthew E. Bunson. Saint Damian of Molokai: Apostle of the Exiles. Indiana: Our Sunday Visitor, 2009. Print. Sheehan, Arthur and Elizabeth Shehan. Father Damien and the bells. Ignatius Press, 2004. Print.Duggan, STD, Rev. Robert D. Confirmation Filled with the Holy Spirit, they proclaimed Jesus as Lord. Allen, TX: ColorDynamics, 2006. 48-49. Print.