Why was Henry VIII motivated to break from the Catholic Church?

However, Henry formally broke with the Pope and the Roman Church after Pope Clement VII refused to grant him an annulment of his marriage to Katherine of Aragon so that he could wed Anne. His appeal for an annulment was on the grounds that their union contravened the scriptures, citing Leviticus 20.
 

What were the motives of Henry VIII?

Henry VIII was the king of England (1509–47). He broke with the Roman Catholic Church and had Parliament declare him supreme head of the Church of England, starting the English Reformation, because the pope would not annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. He wanted to remarry and produce a male heir.

What was the Henry VIII’s view on the Lutheran Reformation?

Although Henry rejected Martin Luther’s theology of justification by faith alone, he did accept the German reformer’s insistence upon the supremacy of Scripture. After all, the ‘Word of God’ (Leviticus 20.21) had justified the annulment of his first marriage.

How important was religion in Henry VIII’s decision to break from Rome?

Overall, religion was certainly a motivation for Henry VIII’s break with Rome, but it was not as important as the power or money that the break would bring to Henry, and certainly not as important to him as securing the succession.

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