On this day in history, 17th December 1538, Pope Paul III announced that Henry VIII had been excommunicated from the Catholic Church:- “Bull against Hen. VIII., renewing the execution of the bull of 30 Aug. read more
When Henry VIII declared himself"the only supreme head on Earth of the Church of England", he also claimed for himself the right to oversee monasteries in this way. Before long, his agents had declared that England's monasteries were guilty of"manifest sin, vicious, carnal and abominable living", and all of them were to be closed down. read more
The excommunication is valid. Henry VIII as far as the Catholic church is concerned died outside of the faith. Morever, his last rites were administered by Thomas Cranmer – also, like Henry, considered a heretic and apostate in the eyes of the Church. read more