Archpriest Controversy facts for kids
The Archpriest Controversy was a big disagreement that happened among Catholic priests in England around the late 1590s and early 1600s. It started when the Pope appointed a special leader, called an archpriest, to oversee the Catholic missionaries working secretly in England. This debate is also known as the Appellant Controversy because many priests "appealed" against the archpriest's authority.
The English government, led by Queen Elizabeth I, saw this argument as a chance to cause divisions among Catholics. They even supported the priests who were against the archpriest. This period led to many pamphlets being written and shared, explaining different sides of the argument. At its heart, the controversy was about who should lead the Catholic Church in England and how much influence the Jesuits should have. It also touched on whether English Catholics were truly loyal to the Queen.
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Why the Controversy Started
During the time of Queen Elizabeth I, being a Roman Catholic was against the law in England. Catholics faced many challenges and were often punished for their faith. Despite this, Catholic priests, often trained in other European countries like France and Spain, continued to come to England to support Catholic communities.
These priests mainly came from two groups:
- Jesuits: Members of a religious order called the Society of Jesus. They saw England as a new place for missionary work, almost like starting fresh.
- Seminary Priests: These priests were trained in colleges like the English College, Douai in France. Many of them felt they were continuing the long history of the Catholic Church in England.
A main reason for the controversy was these different views. Jesuits were sometimes seen as having political goals, especially supporting Spain, which worried some English Catholics and the government.
Choosing the Archpriest
In 1598, after the death of a key Catholic leader named Cardinal William Allen, Pope Clement VIII decided to appoint an archpriest for England. This new leader would be in charge of all the secular clergy (priests who were not part of a religious order like the Jesuits) in the country.
The Pope chose a priest named George Blackwell to be the archpriest. Blackwell was known to be close to the Jesuits, and his instructions included working closely with them. This choice immediately caused problems because some priests feared it would give the Jesuits too much power over all Catholic activities in England.
Priests Resist Blackwell
Many seminary priests were upset by Blackwell's appointment. They felt their independence was being taken away. A group of them, known as "Appellants," decided to challenge Blackwell's authority.
- Two priests, William Bishop and Robert Charnock, even traveled all the way to Rome to complain to the Pope. However, they were arrested there, and Bishop was told he couldn't return to Rome or England.
- Other Appellants included important figures like Christopher Bagshaw, John Colleton, and William Watson.
The Appellants kept trying to get the Pope to remove Blackwell. Their efforts became much stronger in 1602, especially after French religious scholars supported their arguments. They argued that Blackwell's close ties to the Jesuits were the main problem.
The Pope's Decision
In 1602, Pope Clement VIII finally made a decision to settle the argument. He confirmed that George Blackwell would remain the archpriest. However, he also made some important changes to help the Appellants:
- He ordered that the next three assistants to Blackwell must be chosen from the Appellant group.
- Most importantly, he told Blackwell that he was no longer allowed to consult with the Jesuits. In fact, he was forbidden from doing so.
After this, the relationship between the two groups of priests improved.
Pledge of Loyalty to the Queen
Some of the Appellants tried to make a deal with Queen Elizabeth I. They offered to declare their loyalty to her and ask her to expel the Jesuits from England, in exchange for more religious freedom for Catholics.
Queen Elizabeth saw this as a way to divide the Catholics. She initially welcomed their ideas and even helped them print their pamphlets during the "pamphlet war" (a time when many written arguments were published).
However, when the Pope settled the dispute in 1602, Elizabeth was disappointed. She then issued a public statement accusing the Appellants of disloyalty. She offered them mercy only if they surrendered and signed a "protestation of allegiance" – a document declaring their loyalty to her. Thirteen Appellants, including Bishop and Colleton, publicly signed this pledge, asserting their loyalty to the Queen.
Government Support for Appellants
A big part of the controversy involved a "pamphlet war," where different sides published written arguments. The English government, especially Richard Bancroft, who was the bishop of London, actively helped the Appellants print their pamphlets. They used important printers of the time to spread these ideas.
Bancroft also built relationships with individual Appellant priests. For example, he helped Thomas Bluet travel to Rome to speak with the Pope. He also protected William Watson at his palace and worked with others like Francis Barnaby to write against the Jesuits. This shows how the government tried to use the controversy to its own advantage.
See Also
