The question about Virginia catholics has its larger context in the story of the English reformation: plenty of English men and women chose not to adopt protestantism when Henry VIII broke with the Pope - they were called 'recusants' - some people of conscience surrendered their lives rather than abjure their faith - several monarchs were closeted (e.g., James I?) or open (e.g., James II) catholics - it is the issue that drives the exclusion crisis in the late 1600s and triggers the revolution of 1688-89 and brings in the protestant William of Orange followed by the protestant Hanoverians - and in politics the question was one of allegiance in an age of monarchy with its contention that political stability demanded one faith and one king.
(Hence the Test Act and taking of communion as pre-requisites for holding office in England AND Virginia - the idea being that if you could swear allegiance to the king and take communion in an Anglican church, you could not simultaneously be loyal to the pope - so you were, in essence, vouched safe for participation in public office, parliament, whatever.)
There were, as noted, catholic-leaning Virginians (and at least one Spanish spy) at Jamestown, and their were Jesuits in mission to the Ameri-Indians on the Chesapeake in the 1580s.  Like all aspects of early Virginia religious history, there is much research to be done (and much sound existing scholarship that awaits rediscovery) - but the real context for this, no less than for VIrginia's early neighbors to the North, is the broad aftermath of the Reformation, about which there is a VAST literature.  An easier way into the English reformation as background to early Virginia might be via the old BBC series on Henry VIII and Elizabeth R.



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