CASSANDER, GEORG. – Flemish theologian, born at Pitthem (Bruges), according to some on 15 August 1513, and according to others in 1515 or 1518, and died at Cologne on 3 February 1566. Having obtained the degree of magister artium at Leuven in 1532, he began teaching at Bruges in 1541. Although a layman, he devoted himself to the study of Sacred Scripture and theology, especially controversial theology, with the aim of reconciling Protestants with Catholics. In the hope of winning the dissidents to the Catholic faith, he showed himself very indulgent toward their doctrines. Nevertheless, every attempt at reconciliation failed, and he incurred the Church’s justified condemnation while displeasing the 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 C. replied with the Defensio traditionum veteris Ecclesiae et SS. Patrum adversum Calvini eriminutiones (s. l. 1562), concealing himself behind the pseudonym Veranus Modestus Pacimonianus. Several Catholic princes made use of him to settle religious doctrinal disputes in their states. Particularly noteworthy was the invitation extended to him for this purpose by Emperor Ferdinand to go to Vienna. Since C. was unable to go there, he sent the emperor a Consultatio de articulis religionis inter catholicos et protestantes, a work in which his indulgence toward the Protestants is especially evident. Shortly before his death, he retracted whatever he had said and written that was contrary to the Catholic faith and forbade the Consultatio to be printed. Nevertheless, it was published at Cologne in 1577 by his friend Carmelo Wouters.
He wrote other works: De viris illustribus in sacris Bibliis usque ad regum historiam (Cologne 1550); Liturgia de vitu et ordine dominicae coenae celebrandae (there 1556); Ordo romanus de officio Missae (there 1558); De Baptismo infantium testimonia veterum; De Baptismo infantium doctrina catholica, de origine anabaptiticae sectae (there 1563). C.’s works, together with 117 letters, were collected in a collection published at Paris in 1616 (placed on the Index on 2 December 1617).