Catholicism in England

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Would Catholicism still predominate in England today if it were not for the actions of King Henry VIII or would have the reformation happened anyway? I just wonder how many potential Roman Catholics (and priests) were lost to the faith over the centuries due to the decisions and actions of one man? Possibly millions??
 
I think it’s important to note that much of the substantive aspects of the Reformation (issues of grace, the Scriptures, the eucharist, etc.) occurred after the death of Henry VIII.

Apart from papal supremacy, Henry VIII was a theologically orthodox Catholic, and this was reflected in the generally non-reformed character of the Church of England during his reign. Most of the theological departures from Catholicism occurred during the reigns of his son Edward and daughter Elizabeth.
 
I think the main reasons that led the Northern European countries (like England) to exit from Catholic Church are more connected with political ones, so I think it was quite doomed that England let it.
 
There are two separate questions involved here. One is Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon. If Pope Clement VII had granted the annulment that Henry requested, the immediate issue that triggered the Anglican schism would have been avoided. The other question is whether, in that case, England would have remained Catholic over the long term. It’s obviously impossible to answer the question with any certainty, but I think there’s a good chance that Lutheranism, in one form or another, would have prevailed in the end, just as it did in most of Germany and in Scandinavia.
 
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Decree of nullity. Which is, technically, neither a divorce nor an annulment.

I think that, had Hank sired a healthy and legitimate rugby team of sons with Katherine, at some point the intertwined theological/political system prior to the 16th century would have been changed.

Nascent nationalism was on the way.
 
The fun thing about re-writing history is that everyone is right.

My re-write is: Scotland becomes protestant. War with England. Ireland remains Catholic. Protestants expelled. Joins war on England’s side. Spanish intervene, conquering southern England. England reduced by half. Portugal attacks Spanish fleet in England’s ports, destroying it. Large numbers of English refugees flee to the Americas. There being no President Trump to keep them out, they settle eventually developing into the Kingdom of America. The Spanish occupation forces remain in place in England. Spanish replaces English as the dominant language in most of England. Eventually the languages merge as happened earlier with English and French. The new language is mutually unintelligible with the English spoken in North America, The new England is strongly supported by the Papacy but a major rift occurs over a decision but the English King to insist on the use of the new vernacular in the Mass and the printing of the Bible in Hispanglish. This leads to schism and the establishment of an English Church. At the behest of the Pope the French invade and reestablish Catholic dominance. Scotland invades. The 25-year war ends only when Ireland in turn invades, establishing Irish dominance. The Irish language slowly replaces Hispanglish. An attempt to invade the Kingdom of America fails in part but succeeds in establishing Irish dominance in Florida and Texas. These areas become the foundation of the great Catholic Irish empire which achieves world domination by the year 1850.
 
His son, not so much. The Protectors did that. And Elizabeth walked a via media.
 
It is interesting to consider how history may have changed had a particular event never happened. However, the event happened, it had its repercussions and the rest is mere speculation.

I think that it is important to recognise that the Protestant Revolution coincided with increasing nationalism. Individual nations were very keen on securing their sovereignty and independence from outside interference. It was not just a rejection of Catholic theology as it was of papal authority.

I suspect that if Henry VIII had been granted his annulment from Catherine of Aragon the Protestant reformation may have still taken hold in England. It has to be remembered that Henry broke with Rome to make himself head of the Church in England so he could grant his own annulment. He did not break with the Catholic faith or Catholic theology. He did not change the liturgy or introduce the vernacular. He closed the monasteries because he needed their wealth. He did not creat the Church of England.

His son Edward VI was manipulated by Protestants and his daughter Elizabeth I favoured Protestantism. It was also a time when Parliament was resisting the divine right of kings. So, I think the Protestant Reformation would have happened in England even if Henry VIII had remained married to Catherine of Aragon and faithful to the pope.
 
The closest I’ve seen to that is Harry Harrison’s Stars and Stripes trilogy . . .

Which is more interesting for its reasonably plausible descriptions of rapidly advancing military technology in US hands after the Civil War than for the underlying plots (although the historical twists in the first one are somewhat intriguing)
 
The thing to remember is that after Henry VIII split from the Catholic Church, he kept all the dogmas and rituals. It was gradually over time that the Church of England became a protestant church.
 
Perhaps true but the changes that followed could only have occurred in an independent church separate from Rome.
 
On reflection and on a smaller scale, this reminds me of Turtledove’s RULED BRITANNIA.

I think it would make a better book. Get on with writing it.
 
It is predominate. Catholicism is the most widely practiced religion in the UK (and in England) today. Historical realities are unfortunate but they didn’t keep the Church away forever.

It would have been nice if the country never formally broke off in the past but countries like France or Spain still weren’t spared from major waves of anti-clericalism despite remaining mostly Catholic.
 
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