Effectiveness of the restoration of Catholicism (2)

Question 1

What is the traditional argument regarding Pole’s restoration of Catholicism?

Answer 1

• he underestimated the extent to which the laity needed to be re-energised and reminded of the key Catholic doctrines
• Pole refused offer of Ignatius Loyola to send Jesuits to England
• missed opportunity to use printing press as Protestants had

Question 2

Rather than restore the Church as it existed at Henry’s death - one argument says that actually Cardinal Pole (as AB of Canterbury) and other Catholic bishops were trying to reflect the new ideas generated under Edward. What evidence is there for this?

Answer 2

• Bonner (Catholic Bishop)
• issued ‘A Profitable and Necessary Doctrine’ - reworking of King’s Book - 14 homilies included to reinforce the Catholic doctrine ie. transubstantiation etc
• widely circulated (10,000 copies)
• production of Catholic Primers (ie. religion approved for laity use) shows that they weren’t just returning to Rome as before

Question 3

What shows that the laity wanted instruction in the Catholic faith?

Answer 3

• demand for Catholic Primers (explains the basics of belief)
• 35 editions of the Sarum Primer during Mary’s reign
• outweighed demand for similar Protestant texts in Edward’s reign

Question 4

Evidence that Mary wished to reform, not just return?

Answer 4

• attempt to establish distinctive identity through academics (esp. at Uni of Oxford) to create reformed Catholicism
• much based on Humanism:
• insistence on Scripture
• need for educated clergy
• development of inner piety
• traditional emphasis on pilgrimages, saints, power of priesthood missing from academic writings

Question 5

Who might have influenced Mary’s reformist views?

Answer 5

• step-mother Catherine Parr

Question 6

How did the production of books in England compare with that of abroad?

Answer 6

• presses were still very active in producing books such as ‘A Report that the Anti-Christ has come’

Question 7

After Pope Julius’ death in 1555, what was the problem?

Answer 7

• Pope Paul was elected and he hated Pole and Habsburgs
• made relationship between Crown and Pope impossible
• stripped Pole of title as legate and recalled him to Rome
• Pole refused and continued as AB of Canterbury
• without Pope’s support - Pole couldn’t install bishops - meaning 1558: 7 diocese vacant (bishops were crucial for leading liturgy back to Catholicism)