Henry VIII’s break with Rome * Henry VIII made break from Rome, 1533. * Catherine of Aragon was widowed by Henry’s brother, Arthur, then wed to Henry VIII. * Only one of her several children survived infancy- a girl, Mary. * The Bible said marrying his brother’s widow was wrong, so he thought God was punishing him by not letting him have a male heir. * Henry had already fallen for another woman, Anne Boleyn, and wished to marry her for he was sure she would give him a male heir. * The Pope refused to grant him a divorce, the Catholic law decreed that once married, you should not divorce. * Henry got impatient and broke from the Pope’s authority as Head of the Roman Catholic Church. * Made himself Head of the Church of England, then had higher authority than Pope. Made new laws, burned those who disobeyed him. * Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declared Henry’s marriage to Catherine unlawful, granted their divorce. * Good news for Henry, already married Anne in secret and got her pregnant. Marriage was declared legal, Anne was crowned queen. * Three months later Anne gave birth to a girl. Criticisms of the Catholic Church in the 16th century * 1521, Henry VIII titled Fidei Defensor by Pope, loyalty in defending Catholic Church from growing protest movement in Europe, wrote an attack on these ‘Protestants’. * 12 years later he broke from Rome. * 1517, German monk, Martin Luther listed 95 complaints about the Catholic Church. * Annoyed at a friar, John Tetzel, for selling indulgences in his town. * Indulgences are certificates which said your sins were forgiven and do you could be admitted into Heaven. * Luther didn’t believe in buying your way into heaven. * He knew Tetzel was raising money to spend on beautiful buildings in Rome. * Felt he had to protest,