HENRY VIII

Henry VIII did not go against the Pope and get a divorce. He remained married to Catherine of Aragon, and did not leave the Catholic Church



Henry VIII did not go against the Pope and get a divorce. He remained married to Catherine of Aragon, and did not leave the Catholic Church

Introduction

Before Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon, received a papal bull of Pope agreed that Henry could marry his dead brother (Prince Arthur) wife. When Henry and Catherine were married in June 1509 both were Roman Catholics. Everyone in England - the penalty for heresy (if found guilty of being a non believer) was death. Although Henry is portrayed as a powerful king who ruled the land, as was the tie to Rome and the Catholic faith, which considered it necessary to actually obtain papal permission to marry Catherine. In 1509 would have been inconceivable that anyone would think that would be a break with Rome and the power of the papacy. However, in 25 years, this is exactly what happened. (Peter, 2009)

No one is sure when Henry decided that his marriage to Catherine had to end, simply because the evidence does not exist, which may indicate an exact date. There were rumors in the court of Henry wanting a divorce as soon as 1520, but this was probably nothing more than gossip about the court not only on the basis of fundamental facts. Physicians, either in 1524 or 1525, said Catherine Henry was unlikely to give birth again - so these dates are correct. In 1527, he had become infatuated with Anne Boleyn - so this year can be, when he decided that divorce was necessary. The truth is that historians simply do not know. What can be said is that when Henry decided that his marriage to Catherine must end, not a man who was willing to budge. (David, 2007)

However, the beliefs of the Catholic Church were clear and simple. Only the pope can annul a marriage and the Church believes in the sanctity of marriage and family, this was a fairly rare. In many ways, the royal families of Western Europe is expected to set standards that others must follow. Therefore, Henry's belief that there should be a divorce simply because, as king of England and Wales, who wanted one was not shared by the papacy. (Diarmaid, 1995)

Henry used his knowledge of the Bible to justify his request for annulment of marriage. Henry used the Old Testament (Leviticus chapter 20, verse 16) which stated: "If a man take the woman of his brother, who is an impurity, he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness, they shall be childless."

Henry said his marriage to Catherine had been against the law of God from the beginning, despite the Pope's blessing for it to go ahead in 1509. Was therefore living in sin and that the Pope had to cancel their marriage in order to rectify this. As Defender of the Faith "- a title given to Henry for his ...