Tony--
Early canon law forbade actors and other denizens of the theatrum
to become Christians unless/until they gave up their profession; hence,
they could not be allowed burial in consecrated ground. I imagine the
rationale--see Augustine, Tertullian, for example--was that since the
activities of the theatrum were in honor of the pagan gods, an active
participant could not also truly be a Christian.
Larry Clopper
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