Who did Thomas More oppose?

Who did Thomas More oppose?

• A. Henry VIII's separation from the Catholic Church
• B. Martin Luther's reforms
• C. Erasmus's humanism
• D. The Pope's authority in England

Answer: (A)

Thomas More’s position centers on loyalty to the Catholic Church and the pope over royal authority in religious matters. He believed the pope should govern church matters, not the king. When Henry VIII moved to separate the Church of England from Rome and declare himself supreme head, More refused to recognize that change and opposed the king’s separation. This opposition to Henry VIII’s break with Rome is why the correct answer is the move to reject the king’s separation. The other options don’t fit his stance. More did not oppose Erasmus’s humanism—he was part of the same humanist circle and admired Erasmus. He did not oppose Martin Luther’s reforms in the sense of backing the break from Rome; while he was critical of some reform ideas, his defining opposition in his lifetime was to Henry VIII’s separation from the Catholic Church. He also did not oppose the Pope’s authority in England; he defended it and remained loyal to Rome.

Thomas More’s position centers on loyalty to the Catholic Church and the pope over royal authority in religious matters. He believed the pope should govern church matters, not the king. When Henry VIII moved to separate the Church of England from Rome and declare himself supreme head, More refused to recognize that change and opposed the king’s separation. This opposition to Henry VIII’s break with Rome is why the correct answer is the move to reject the king’s separation.

The other options don’t fit his stance. More did not oppose Erasmus’s humanism—he was part of the same humanist circle and admired Erasmus. He did not oppose Martin Luther’s reforms in the sense of backing the break from Rome; while he was critical of some reform ideas, his defining opposition in his lifetime was to Henry VIII’s separation from the Catholic Church. He also did not oppose the Pope’s authority in England; he defended it and remained loyal to Rome.