I am begging folks not to get too upset with Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. He’s been having a bit of a rough time with Catholics recently so one must understand his recent outburst against a dead and famous Catholic.
Williams has been overseeing the modern exodus of the Anglican Communion into the Catholic Church which has likely upset him a tad. He even said of them, “I can only say fine, God bless them. I don’t at the moment. “
Nice.
And now after recent scholarship has pointed to William Shakespeare being a Catholic, methinks (a little hoity toity Shakespeare talk for ya’) that Williams has had it up to here with Catholics.
So Williams threw a little bit of ‘tude at the Bard. He pretty much says, yeah Shakespeare was probably Catholic but he was a big fat rich jerky Catholic.
The Telegraph reports:
William Shakespeare was probably a Catholic, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury in an exploration of spirituality and secularism in the Bard’s plays.
Dr Rowan Williams discussed the themes with Simon Russell Beale, the great Shakespearean actor, in one of the most eagerly-anticipated talks of the festival.
Little is known of Shakespeare’s life and there is no direct evidence of his religious affiliation, but Dr Williams said he believed him to be a Catholic. “I don’t think it tells us a great deal, to settle whether he was a Catholic or a Protestant, but for what it’s worth I think he probably had a Catholic background and a lot of Catholic friends and associates.
“How much he believed in it, or what he did about it, I don’t quite know. He wasn’t a very nice man in many ways – it’s always very shocking, that. The late Shakespeare was hoarding grain and buying up property in Stratford – it was not terribly attractive.
“If he was a Christian, he wasn’t a saint.”
I beseech thee to have patience with Williams. But I wonder what other dead Catholics will be insulted next? GK Chesterton? Alec Guinness? Tolkien?
May 31, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Some people got to kick other people when they're down, out, and dead. I'd like to see ol' Bushybeard try it with someone who can fight back!
May 31, 2011 at 4:12 pm
Hahahaha! As a great Catholic t-shirt says, "Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future." I go to church because I know I'm no saint, and if I end up one, that's probably what will get me there.
Also, as for no hard evidence, there is, as I recall, evidence of Shakespeare's father being Catholic. He had some sort of declaration, a particular kind of will or something, hidden in his house, according to Shadowplay by Clare Asquith, which focuses mainly on analysing his work for Catholic themes, etc. (quite good although she stretches beyond her reach for one section). Also, while I have not read it, I have heard good things about the Joseph Pearce book (The Quest for Shakespeare which is mainly historically based.
I guess the Telegraph doesn't care to check for actual scholarship on it?
May 31, 2011 at 5:41 pm
"I guess the Telegraph doesn't care to check for actual scholarship on it?"
What do you think journalists get into the biz for? The work involved?
Research and documentation are for the saps still in university! Journos live high, wide and free, associating with the Glorious and gaining glory for themselves thereby, changing reality out from under your feet by carefully dispensing from their papier-mache Mt Sinai as much of what passes for the truth as they think will persuade you to think or act in ways they think laudable!
Their job has never been about providing the truth to make for a well-informed reading, thinking and voting public. It has always been about crowd control.
June 1, 2011 at 12:29 am
I still think he's a little miffed about his hair.
June 1, 2011 at 3:39 am
Britain and their counterfeit church have been official Catholic-haters for centuries.
Even in this, the 21st century – The Queen's Official Website says it all….
"A Roman Catholic is specifically excluded…"
http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/Successionandprecedence/Succession/Overview.aspx
June 1, 2011 at 4:34 pm
I dunno whether Will was a Catholic, but he wrote some great plays (and one or not-so-great) that appealed to a diverse audience without pandering to them.
That he invested his money, was owner or part-owner of several theatres, and provided employment for actors and artisans is to Shakespeare's credit. The sour-faced man posing as an Archbishop of Canterbury (he's not) has always been employed by a tax-funded government Fisher-Price Play Church, and clearly doesn't understand the concept of thrift as a virtue.
And I do apologize to Fisher-Price, who make good quality toys.