Religion, Politics, and Theatre
The role of Jesuits in Equivocation
By Ian Chant |
Playwright Bill Cain who is also a Jesuit priest. |
In William Shakespeare’s England, religious strife was the order of the day. At the time
of Equivocation (1606), The Church of England had split with the Vatican. Protestants were
in power, and Catholics were barred from taking public office or office within the
church.
Equivocation
To equivocate means to make a statement that technically is not false, but that cleverly avoids spelling
out the truth. The term was first used in 1595 when it was illegal to be a priest in England. To avoid
lying if arrested, priests answered questions so that their words could be taken in two ways, only one of
which was true. |
Frustrated by years of religious oppression, a group of English Catholics attempted the
Gunpowder Plot of 1605 to kill King James and most of the Protestant aristocracy by blowing
up the Houses of Parliament on November 5, 1605.
In Equivocation, King James wants Shakespeare to write a play about the Gunpowder Plot.
But as Shakespeare begins to dig into what really happened, he uncovers some surprising
truths, including the role of Jesuit priests. In the play, Father Henry Garnet is a Jesuit
priest arrested on charges that he knew about the Gunpowder Plot, but did nothing to stop
it. History as well as Equivocation notes him for writing a pamphlet called A Treatise of
Equivocation, which counseled priests in the art of equivocating.
The history of the Jesuits and the trials that they endured in defense of their faith is
a topic particularly poignant for playwright Bill Cain, who is a Jesuit priest himself.
We spoke with local theatre artist and artistic director for the theatre company Deus X
Machina, Father Jack Bentz. Bentz, like Cain, brings his skills as a dramatist and storyteller
to his duties as a Jesuit priest, continuing a tradition of humanism, education, and
appreciation for the arts that the Jesuits and trace back to their formation during the
Renaissance.
The Society of Jesus, better known as The Jesuits, are a religious order within the Catholic
church, representing one swath of the broader spectrum of Christianity present within the
church. “Christians are going along, and someone may have a rich experience with God, and out
of that, they are inspired to follow the gospels in a particular way,” explained Bentz.
Early Jesuits were active in many aspects of life in the Catholic Church at the time of
their formation. Many Jesuits found their calling in missionary work, traveling throughout Europe
and Asia. Still others stayed closer to home, tending to the spiritual needs of the church,
which at the time were many. “The church was in need of reform,” said Bentz. “It was a complete
mess, and the Jesuits did a lot of work with the reforms.”
As these reforms were occurring in Europe, England was going through its own redefinition of
what Christianity was. “It was a long process,” said Bentz, and one that had as much to do with
politics as religion. In the early 16th century, Henry VIII was excommunicated from the Catholic
Church after annulling his first marriage. This schism grew into a political power struggle that
would rage for decades as Henry dissolved monasteries throughout England, removed the Church of
England from the authority of the Pope, and was ultimately made Supreme head of the Church of
England.
But though Catholicism found itself under fire in England, it was far from wiped out. After
the dissolution of the monasteries, its adherents and practices were forced underground. English
Catholics were required to publicly swear oaths of allegiance to the Church of England. Those who
refused to take these oaths were often tortured and executed. Amid the turmoil and persecution of
the time, Jesuit priests were among the only Catholic clergy to remain in England, delivering
masses and striving to maintain a presence for the Church even at the risk of their own lives.
“After all Catholic clergy had been expelled from England, the Jesuits continued to try and
serve the Catholic family there,” said Bentz.
For their troubles, Jesuit priests such as John Ballard, Edmund Campion and Equivocation’s
Henry Garnet found themselves charged with crimes against the state and implicated in plots to
overthrow the crown. It is against the backdrop of this decades-long religious struggle, during
which many Jesuits were executed, that the action of Equivocation takes place. The situation is
one that is especially personal to playwright Bill Cain, who brings a finely honed understanding
of the history of his order to the stage in Equivocation.
Today, the Jesuits are probably best known for their contributions to education throughout
the years (Seattle University was founded by Jesuits). “Our foundational desire was to help
souls, which is pretty broad,” said Bentz. “It became clear that there was a huge need for
education, and we continued doing that.” Jesuit educational institutions have become known
worldwide for the quality of the religious and secular education they provide, as well as the
emphasis they place on integrating faith and education.
For Father Bentz, it is simply the opportunity to serve God and the church in a variety
of ways that drew him to become a Jesuit. “The Jesuits understand that God creates the world
and creates all of us with our talents and desires,” said Bentz. “The reason I joined the
Jesuits is because it gives me a wider scope.”
