Wednesday, 11 March 2009

What were the key Catholic steps during Henry's reign?

Key Catholic steps:

1539 - Act of Six Articles. This marked the beginning of the reactionary period, which would last until the end of Henry's reign. The Six Articles re-affirmed six points of Catholic doctrine, and imposed severe penalties on those who would not accept these steps:
  • Transubstantiation - those denying this Catholic practice would be burnt.
  • Communion
  • Priests could not marry
  • Chastity for monks and nuns
  • Private masses allowed (previously they had been forbidden)
  • Confession

Protestant reformers referred to the Act as a 'whip with six strings'.

1543 - Act for the Advancement of True Religion. This restricted the reading of the Bible to clerics and noblemen only. It also prohibited Protestant literature.

1543 - The King's Book was published. This defended the Catholic practice of transubstantiation and re-affirmed the Six Articles.

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