CASSANDER, GEORG. - Flemish theologian, born at Pithem (Bruges), according to some on 15 Aug. 1513, and according to others in 1515 or 1518, and died at Cologne on 3 Feb. 1566. Having obtained the degree of magister artium in 1532 at Louvain, he began his teaching at Bruges in 1541. Though a layman, he devoted himself to the study of Holy Scripture and theology, especially controversial theology, with the aim of reconciling Protestants with Catholics. Hoping to win the dissenters back to the Catholic faith, he showed great indulgence toward their doctrines. Nevertheless, all attempts at reconciliation failed, and while he incurred the Church’s just condemnation, he also displeased other Protestants.
His work *De officio pii ac publicae tranquillitatis vere amantis viri in hoc religionis dissidio*, published anonymously at Basel in 1561, was attacked by Calvin, to whom Cassander replied with *Defensio traditionum veteris Ecclesiae et SS. Patrum adversum Calvini criminationes* (s.l. 1562), hiding behind the pseudonym Veranus Modestus Pacimonatus. Some Catholic princes employed him to settle doctrinal religious disputes in their states. Notable above all was the invitation extended to this end by Emperor Ferdinand, who summoned him to Vienna. Unable to go himself, Cassander sent the emperor a *Consultatio de articulis religionis inter catholicos et protestantes*, a work in which his indulgence toward Protestants is most evident. Near death, he retracted all he had said and written that was contrary to the Catholic faith and forbade the publication of the *Consultatio*. Nevertheless, it was published at Cologne in 1577 by his friend Carmelus Wouters.
He wrote other works: *De viris illustribus in sacris Bibliis usque ad regum historiam* (Cologne 1550); *Liturgia de ritu et ordine dominicae coenae celebrandae* (ibid. 1556); *Ordo romanus de officio Missae* (ibid. 1558); *De Baptismo infantium testimonia veterum*; *De Baptismo infantium doctrina catholica, de origine anabaptisticae sectae* (ibid. 1563). The works of Cassander, together with 117 letters, were collected in an edition published at Paris in 1616 (placed on the Index on 2 Dec. 1617).