Henry Viii-Catholicism Under Henry VIII
Catholicism under Henry VIII
During and throughout the reign of Henry Tudor there were numerous changes that took place in regards of religion itself and as a result of this, religious divisions (which still resonate today) inevitably took hold in England. Initially and arguably so Henry was staunchly Catholic from the get go and on the outside certainly portrayed this in the beginning of his reign, however he also repeatedly made decisions which more than hinted at a lean towards Protestantism. At a time when radical religious ideas were spreading, England was displaying an eager aura for change but the changes that followed were not in fact the result of Henrys shifting beliefs. More so, they were a result of his seemingly growing obsession …show more content…
In the same year a return to conservatism was outlined by the Act of Six Articles. This was, to put it most simply, a direct reinforcement of Catholic doctrine as the basis of faith for the English church. For example, the first article encourages transubstantiation and the third states, "that priests after the order or Priesthood received, as afore, may not marry, by the law of God ". Both of these were extremely catholically orientated and indeed it was highlighted in the Six Articles that refusal to adopt the articles would result in a charge of heresy, resulting in one's execution by hanging. Some would argue that this action was supported more by Henry's wife, Catherine Howard, who was a member of the conservative and Catholic Norfolk faction at court. Yet, Henry must have accepted this to some extent in order for this legislation to pass. This was all too similar to the contradiction of the past through the Ten Articles of 1536. Despite the continuing dissolution of the monasteries, Henry appeared to make an ambiguous move that both supported and opposed Catholicism. Within the Ten Articles there were three sacraments and judging by the fact that traditionally there are seven, one would assume a reform from conventional Catholic doctrine. However, the three sacraments that were quoted were intrinsically Catholic, such as transubstantiation and prayers for the
During and throughout the reign of Henry Tudor there were numerous changes that took place in regards of religion itself and as a result of this, religious divisions (which still resonate today) inevitably took hold in England. Initially and arguably so Henry was staunchly Catholic from the get go and on the outside certainly portrayed this in the beginning of his reign, however he also repeatedly made decisions which more than hinted at a lean towards Protestantism. At a time when radical religious ideas were spreading, England was displaying an eager aura for change but the changes that followed were not in fact the result of Henrys shifting beliefs. More so, they were a result of his seemingly growing obsession …show more content…
In the same year a return to conservatism was outlined by the Act of Six Articles. This was, to put it most simply, a direct reinforcement of Catholic doctrine as the basis of faith for the English church. For example, the first article encourages transubstantiation and the third states, "that priests after the order or Priesthood received, as afore, may not marry, by the law of God ". Both of these were extremely catholically orientated and indeed it was highlighted in the Six Articles that refusal to adopt the articles would result in a charge of heresy, resulting in one's execution by hanging. Some would argue that this action was supported more by Henry's wife, Catherine Howard, who was a member of the conservative and Catholic Norfolk faction at court. Yet, Henry must have accepted this to some extent in order for this legislation to pass. This was all too similar to the contradiction of the past through the Ten Articles of 1536. Despite the continuing dissolution of the monasteries, Henry appeared to make an ambiguous move that both supported and opposed Catholicism. Within the Ten Articles there were three sacraments and judging by the fact that traditionally there are seven, one would assume a reform from conventional Catholic doctrine. However, the three sacraments that were quoted were intrinsically Catholic, such as transubstantiation and prayers for the