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Show Gngland and - the Papacy., j i Real Cause of Henry's Revolt Decay of Religion Through i Political Ambition Henry's Marriages. f (Written for The Internioutitain Catholic.) The attitude not only of Henry VIII at the commencement of his reign, but of all English Catholics toward the Church at the time, was not hostile. This is evident from the book written by Henry in defense of Catholic teaching teach-ing and the supremacy of the Pope. At that period, owing to political ambitions ambi-tions and court intrigues. European rulers rul-ers ambitions to extend their power and advance their cause, made appeals to the holy see.. Henry YIU. espoused the cause of the Church, and had Clement VII been able to detect any irregularity irregular-ity in the dispensation granted by Julius II to Arthur's widow (Kather-ine), (Kather-ine), so that Henry would be fre to marry her, the tide of events might be entirely changed. In the first instance, an impediment, both civil and ecclesiastical, existed to a matrimonial union between Henry and his deceased brother's wife, the same as existing at present. Application Applica-tion for dispensation was made to the holy see, and Julius II granted same. With the dispensation, Henry's mar- The dogmatic teaching of the Church from the beginning was, as it still is, that a marriage, validly contracted, could not be broken, and in the case of Henry, Clement VII had no power I to dissolve his marriage. "What God : hath joined together let no man put I asunder." Viewing Henry VIII in the light of his own writings, where he uses the strongest language in favor of the papacy, the question which naturally occurs is, was he sincere when he questioned ques-tioned the authority and jurisdiction of Julius II, who gave him a dispensation dispensa-tion to marry hi-3 brother's wife? To judge impartially one must go back to the time of the reformation, study the sentiments of that age and the feelings that existed. The religious feelings were at a very low ebb. The authority anS Jurisdiction of the pope were set at mhight by many temporal rulers, princes and nobility who hardly believed in God. Charles V ruled in Spain, and Francis I in France. The former was willing to uphold the pope, whom he wished as an ally, w hilst the latter's support was only as against Charles. His spiritual authority wa not considered, and hence grave disputes dis-putes had arisen as to the effect of the dispensation granted to Henry, without which his marriage to Katherine would be invalid before the civil authorities, au-thorities, and as a consequence the lppifimnev nf bis riniiffht.pr l:irv would be questioned. On the subject of Mary's legitimacy, the French ambassador had expressed his doubts. These doubts were the forerunners of intricacies leading up to the right of succession to the English throne. The effects of the dispute could easily be learned from that of York and Lancaster yet scarcely settled. Facts to be here considered are: First Henry was superior to all the European monarchs in scholarly attainments. at-tainments. Second Intellectually, and as a profound pro-found theologian, he had no equal in his kingdom. Third He was an ardent defender of the papal authority. Fourth He knew that the impediment, impedi-ment, known as that of affinity, was an ecclesiastical ordinance; also, that as a civil impediment, the state was simply following a Church ordinance. Fifth That the pope, as head of the Church, could dispense from its own rules and regulations, just as the state could dispense from or annul its own laws. I I Sixth Henry was aware that. prio! f to his marriage, the rquit!te dlspensa- tion was obtained from Julius II. and I i that his marriage was both legal and 1 valid. I j Conclusion !iixt. at best Henry's f sincerity in- questioning the power of I the pope to grant the dispensation, and I his freedom to marry Anne Bolyn. whose beauty and ready wit had fasci- I nited him, is more than doubtful, and f j his affected scruples of living with1 I Katherine. who had lost the charms of I youth and grown infirm, were mero "1 I pretensions. I I Second Henry never denied the I Catholic faith, professing, after hil I apostacy. to believe in the Catholio I Church, though he refused to obey tho pope, or comply with his decision re garding his second marriage. I Third Whilst realizing the necessity f of the papacy and ably defending the I universal authority of the pope, Henry ' failed to sep the origin of that power. ' namely, that the pope held his author- , ity by divine right. Fourth 1 K. refnto,! flit, i.lrn n,.,i m i papal power was usurped, and though recognizing him as head of the churc h, he maintained he was such only by I human riffht. and that the pope's au- I thority, when opposed by a ruling mon- 1 arch in his own territory, was null. j For this stand taken by Henry, that i J is. in repudiating the papal suprem- I acy. there is no explanation, except to I justify, in some manner, his second I marriage. Instigated by the same mo- f fives, his daughter Elizabeth sane- tinned the enactment of the terrible j ! penal laws to destroy the Catholic f Church, whose visible head had pro- ! nounced her to be illegitimate. This . she herself avowed to the French en- S voy, Lausac. to whom she said. "That the circumstances" (meaning her il- legitimacy) "had created a breach with, j the pope, and that the English parlia- ment and people having resolved tn j make a new Church for themselves, " j she was obliged to assume and exer- .1 cise the office of supreme governess of it." . . i Speaking of Elizabeth's new role as ; supreme governess. Dr. Lee. an An- glican writer, said: "The queen did m?t I in the least believe, though officially s . she was bound to do so. in her so- , called supremacy." Macaulay, in hl j essays, commenting on the whola ! farce; has said: "The chief actors in thtt reform movement, regarded the whole thing as a mere political job." t The English people, realizing that the s . Christian faith and tradition of their ' j forefathers was about to be lost, and substituted by a new religion, did not f agree unanimously on "resolving to make a new religion for themselves." ! Parliament did, through the influence i ; and threats of the queen, pass the Act i of Uniformity in apostacy, only by a j majority of three votes. Of the act, t when debated in the house of lorWs, . I Archbishop Heath, the primate, said i that . "by relinquishing and forsaking : the see of Rome, we must forsake and .j flee from these four things: First Alt . general councils: second, all canonical I and ecclesiastical laws of the Church of Christ: third, the Judgment of all other Christian princes; fourth, and ; ' we must forsake and flee from the uni- , ty of the Christian Church; and by 5 leaping out of Peter's ship, hazard ourselves our-selves to be overwhelmed and drowned in the waters of schisms, sects and di- ' : visions." . J The act. nevertheless, passed by the f small majority above given. Was the primate's prediction verified? (To be Continued.) |