Christ's Bride

[StrawberryJam]

Yes, I believe he had some title like “Defender of the Faith” from the Pope.

Remember what happened when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Death entered the world in a big way.

When Heny disobeyed the Pope, all heck broke loose too. Beheaded wives and hundreds of years of religious persecution in England.

**People in high places **can do a lot of damage when they choose wrongly.

Many people were in either high places or had large checkbooks. They did not seem to “choose wrongly” nor did they ever defend the catholic faith in any meaningful way. Yet, they got their annulment.

 

[Hesychios]

Many people were in either high places or had large checkbooks. They did not seem to “choose wrongly” nor did they ever defend the catholic faith in any meaningful way. Yet, they got their annulment.

Unfortunately for Henry the king, his bride of 24 years had a feisty nephew in the person of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (also as Charles I of Spain). The consolidated power of this man in Europe and America made him a force to be feared.

His was a true super power in it’s day. Prior to this he had already defeated an alliance against him which included the Papal States and France, and troops of his Most Catholic Majesty had sacked and pillaged the city of Rome itself, threatening the life of Pope Clement VII (Giulio de’ Medici). The Pope fled to Castel Sant’Angelo (famously escorted by the Swiss Guards), and the Pope was kept for a time as a prisoner of the Holy Roman emperor after he surrendered the castle.

Charles V was not about to allow anything embarassing to happen to his aunt and see the family humiliated. This had to be taken into account by Pope Clement VII, who had learned to respect this man.

Otherwise, yes, annulments for royalty and nobility were pretty common in those days. There was an established procedure in place and everyone knew what to do when the request was made.

 

[ricmat]

Many people were in either high places or had large checkbooks. They did not seem to “choose wrongly” nor did they ever defend the catholic faith in any meaningful way. Yet, they got their annulment.

Annulments are not rewards for defending Catholicism. Annulments are not rewards for anything.

The choosing I was referring to was that after NOT getting his annulment, that he chose to start a new church.

 

[StrawberryJam]

Annulments are not rewards for defending Catholicism. Annulments are not rewards for anything.

The choosing I was referring to was that after NOT getting his annulment, that he chose to start a new church.

Of course. You did make that point, and of course I do not disagree.

I object to the randomness of the annulment process then, and particularly his in specific.