[Mach9]

Thomas More was never a priest.

[stanne]

That’s right, Thomas More was never a priest.

Facts do not get in the way of most comments about the Church here on FR.

If as much untruth were stated about politics and American and World history here, it would be a completely unreliable forum.

The Church, however, is fair game.

Now watch the flames.

[Vigilanteman]

Correct. But Henry VIII viewed him as akin to clergy, even though More made it clear when he took the job that he would have nothing to do with Henry's divorce, one way or the other.

Remember that the reason that Wolsey was deposed (and the job open for More) was Wolsey's failure to get a Papal blessing on Henry's divorce from Catherine.

And the reason that Sir Thomas More was beheaded was based on false testimony that he had opposed the divorce.

So short answer is that Henry, in the few short years More was in office, considered him clergy in the English version of the Catholic Church. The formal split did not come until years later. And Rome, of course, accepted More's appointment of clergy despite his marital status in the interim.