I'm curious to know if there were many reasons behind Henry's breaking away from Catholicism.
2006-06-30 20:50:37 · 9 answers · asked by ~walking_on_a_dream~ 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Besides jurisdictional issues (ie who can grant the annulment) Henry VIII had no theological issues with the Catholic Church. Previously to the split, he had written tracts to explain the Catholic Faith, was declared a "Defender of the Faith" by the Pope and argued against Luther. It was under Queen Elizabeth that the Church of England was officially Protestantism, the Faith changed, and apostles lost.
In Anglicanism, there really are two churches, the High Church or Catho-Anglicans which are the remains of those still loyal to Rome and the Low Church or the Protestant Anglicans who are very Protestant and Liberal in their theology.
2006-07-05 12:47:41 · answer #1 · answered by Liet Kynes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He didn't. He was Roman Catholic, but, excommunicated. He wanted to annul his illegal marriage (not divorce; there was no divorce in those days). As the Queen's relative was holding the Pope hostage at the time, for his own safety, the Pope kept delaying. Now, English kings had always been Head of the Church, and appointed bishops jointly with the Pope. Henry ended the role of the Pope in appointing bishops. He appointed an archbishop of Canterbury, who granted the annulment. This angered the Pope, who excommunicated Henry. But, the Church itself really did not change. Henry resisted the Reform movement - in fact, his anti-Reform work had earned him the title "Defender of the Faith" from an earlier Pope. Henry did not want to form a new church at all. He was Roman Catholic! He did eventually allow some small reforms to the Church in England, e.g., priests being able to marry (they had for 1000 of the 1500 years of Christian history by then; Henry just restored this), and for the people to hear Bible readings in English. He did some other political things (dissolution of the Monasteries, and stopping the "Peter's Pence" tax), but, theologically, the Church was not changed - noting new was started. The Church in England became the Church of England, and took the term Anglican - or "Ecclesiae Anglicana," a term that had already been in use for at least 300 years. It was actually under Elizabeth I that the new church truly emerged - causing her to be excommunicated too! So, he did not really break away as many assume. He changed one small thing, and was excommunicated. The Church itself really didn't break away. In fact, it was Roman Catholics who had to create something new in England when Elizabeth ascended to the throne.
2016-03-26 23:50:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because he wanted to divorce his wife and the church wouldn't let him. He then stared the Church of England - the Anglican Church
I myself have never been a big fan of catholicism and cant blame him for breaking from the church - bunch of papal bullies (Spanish Inquistion etc)
2006-06-30 21:07:16 · answer #3 · answered by l l 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Henry the VIII broke away from the Cathlic Church because they wouldn't grant him a divorce. So he broke away and created his own church
2006-06-30 21:09:05 · answer #4 · answered by duck 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He wanted to be the papal head of his church for revenue reasons (as well as getting around the prohibition on divorce). I think to some degree he felt that he should be able to do whatever he wanted to - and he didn't need no Italian religious man to tell him different. Look him up in Wikipedia - that should give you a much better idea.
2006-06-30 20:55:34 · answer #5 · answered by rilee98 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main reason was he wanted to get a divorce which the Catholic church would not grant so he just left, got the divorce, and remarried, many times.
2006-06-30 20:53:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To add on to what others say. Not only did he divorce his wives, he also accused at least one of treason and had her beheaded. All this because he wanted a son to take his place as king one day. He ended up with 2 daughters I think.
2006-06-30 20:56:49 · answer #7 · answered by my_alias_id 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he wanted to be able to divorce his wife and marry other women, but the Catholic church didn't condone divorce then. he was basically a jerk who killed off about 7 wives every time he wanted a new one because he thought it was their fault they couldn't produce boy any children... but now science shows it was probably his fault *giggles*
2006-06-30 20:54:44 · answer #8 · answered by ♥ it's katie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he wanted to leave his wife and marry another woman
2006-06-30 20:52:54 · answer #9 · answered by trailsman1961 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋