Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Joe Escalante ·
May 30, 2011 at 9:45am
Even though conventional wisdom in the Church has long been that William Shakespeare was a Catholic, there hasn't been much direct proof. In any case, it's nice to hear it from the head of the Anglican Church, according to the Telegraph. As most know, it was illegal to be Catholic in England during Shakespeare's time. Since many priests and lay people were martyred over their loyalty to Rome in dark, yet imaginative ways, it's not surprising that the Bard never kept mum about it.
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Jun '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Now if we could only agree on who wrote all those plays we'd be in great shape.
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Perhaps his transgendered mistress.
May '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Put me down for de Vere. He was a Catholic at one point, but later re-verted to Anglicanism.
May '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Is that the Archbishop? He looks demonic.
Nov '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
What's this go to do with the price of rice?
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Thanks for your input Robert. The Church still makes people uncomfortable, I guess that's the point.
Jun '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Through Shakespeare's Eyes - Doug Keck interviews Joseph Pearce - 10-03-2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tit_EcrgX0
May '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Joseph Pearce is a friend. And I am a fan of his books. I loved especially the one on Roy Campbell.
But I can't go with him on this point. To me, it's clear that Shakespeare was not a Calvinist. And not a Lutheran. His works are full of sacramentality. But the high Anglicanism of the day was theologically and liturgically very close to Catholicism.
Also, if I'm right (I haven't read either book--but I had some conversation with him while he was writing his first one) assumes that "the Stratford man" was Shakespeare, and then hunts for biographical data that support the thesis that he was Catholic. But, if we're going to draw conclusions from clues and converging probabilities, then I think the evidence that the Earl of Oxford was the real author far surpasses the evidence that "the Stratford man" was Catholic, or that he was the author of the works.
May '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Whether or not Shakespeare was Catholic should matter only to people who believe an author, rather than readers, determines the meaning of his or her text. Part of the measure of an author's skill is the precision with which he communicates the thoughts, feelings and images he wishes to convey. Openness to interpretation is only respectable when the author intended such subjectivity to exist.
Contemporary readers should not need to be familiar with an author to understand his works. But we who are removed from Shakespeare by many centuries of change and by culture cannot hope to fully understand such literature without the perspectives of history.
I don't know if Shakespeare was Catholic or Protestant. I'm not even sure there was much difference between the two at that time. But it's a good direction of inquiry for anyone interested in a deep understanding of his plays. I have some books on the subject that sit neglected.
As for Joseph Pearce, I thoroughly enjoyed Tolkien: Man and Myth, as well as his articles in First Things.
Mar '11
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Nothing to do with Shakespeare is at it seems - he, or they, were more likely Rosicrucian.
And the Archbishop of Canterbury is a Druid...
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Rowan Williams nearly became a Catholic himself thirty-eight years ago when he and I were students at Wadham College. Had he done so, he would have ended up a Benedictine at Downside Abbey.
Rowan's judgment in political matters may leave much to be desired, but his expertise as a theologian is, however, very impressive, and he is marvelous company.
I have no idea whether Shakespeare was himself a Catholic (though I taught a number of the plays this last term), but there is evidence that at one point his parents were secretly Catholic.
Oct '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Shakespeare may well have been a Catholic, but I don't think it would take much in the way of hard evidence to persuade this Archbishop that it was so. The man is not exactly an Anglican chauvinist.
Oct '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Rev. Atkinson's statement that "Sharia is coming to Britain, it's inevitable," was certainly controversial:
http://iowahawk.typepad.com/iowahawk/2008/02/heere-bigynneth.html
Nov '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
Is this the same Archbishop of Canterbury who is on record for sanctioning Sharia?
The Archbishop of Canterbury was embroiled in a fierce political and religious row last night after he called for aspects of Islamic sharia law to be adopted in Britain.
Dr Rowan Williams said that it "seems inevitable" that elements of the Muslim law, such as divorce proceedings, would be incorporated into British legislation.
His comments were immediately attacked by Downing Street, religious groups and MPs from all sides. The head of the equality watchdog denounced his claims while several high-profile Muslims also criticised Dr Williams.
"The Archbishop's thinking here is muddled and unhelpful," said Trevor Phillips, the chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.
Edited on May 30, 2011 at 6:30pmOct '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
@ Elizabeth Dunn-Yes. See the link in my last post for a satirical response.
Nov '10
Re: Archbishop of Canterbury Concedes: "Shakespeare Was Probably A Catholic."
You and I were posting at the same time! (My question was satirical as well).