Purgatory was meant to cleanse the soul before heaven, however in this time frame their leaders were more focused on corruptive power verses spiritual leadership. Monetary or labor donation was greatly enforced. The church was abusing their authority of church power. The English Reformation; when king henry the 8th wanted to divorce Catherine (only because she had a girl; Henry was desperate for a son. So much so he married 6 times!! ) of Aragon for this lady Anne Boleyn; (his Marriage with Catherine of Aragon finally produced his Son: Edward). but the pope wouldn’t grant divorce. King Henry actually hated Protestantism and even wrote the Defense of Seven Sacraments. But he just made the Church of England and granted himself a divorce. Act of Supremacy-made him the head of the English church. Henry VIII's break with Rome was an act of state, promptly primarily by political motives, but many of those who supported Henry were appalled at the abuses rife in the Catholic Church and at the corruption of the Papacy. Some of these went further and sympathized with the growing Protestant movement. The term Reformation refers in general to the major religious …show more content…
Affected the lives of many Europeans in the 16th and 17th centuries. Trials were held in England, Scotland, Switzerland, Germany, some parts of France and the Low Countries, and even New England in America. Viewed as both sinister and dangerous when the medieval church began to connect witches to the activities of the devil. Tens of thousands of people were prosecuted throughout Europe on charges of witchcraft. The fear of witches as well as the fear of being accused of witchcraft escalated to frightening proportions (Old women). Religious Wars caused hysteria over witchcraft to decline. Following the trials and executions, many involved, like Judge Samuel Sewall, publicly confessed error and guilt. The General Court ordered a day of fasting and soul-searching for the