[Robertsll]

Many RC's are fond of stating their belief...[the Anglican split] came about so that Henry VIII could get a divorce.

That was the origin of the whole mess in England.

What? You think if the pope gave into Henry VIII's ("defender of the faith") demands, Henry VIII would have still split from the Catholic Church?

[Sans-Culotte]

Maybe not, but it does not change the fact that a lot of Protestant martyrs (like Cranmer) went to their deaths not caring about Henry VIII, his wives, heirs, etc. The Reformation still happened, and was a real thing that grew bigger than Henry VII's marital problems.

I saw a recent documentary that suggested that Henry VII, late in life, was thinking of returning to Catholicism. His last wife was almsot executed for being too Protestant. Had Henry returned to Catholicism, do you think the rest of the Protestants in England would have done so too?

Whatever started the Reformation in England, it eventually had a life and momentum of its own. The constant assertion to say that "it only came about because of the divorce" is merely an attempt to belittle the movement, IMO.