This week in Christian history: First Mother’s Day service, Martin Luther’s books burned, Wisconsin v. Yoder
Luther's books burned in London, England — May 12, 1521
This week marks the anniversary of when the books of Protestant Reformation leader Martin Luther were burned at a gathering in London, England.
The event was organized at the behest of King Henry VIII — at the time a staunch Catholic — and Church officials, most notably Cardinal Thomas Woolsey and Bishop John Fisher.
Fisher, an outspoken critic of Lutheran theology whose work had been translated into both English and Latin, gave a speech before the gathering as part of the proceedings.
Despite the passionate opposition to Luther’s ideas, England would eventually become a Protestant country, with the first steps being taken when Henry VIII broke away from the Catholic Church over the pope’s refusal to grant him a divorce from his wife, Catherine of Aragon.
Fisher himself would eventually be executed for high treason in 1535 for refusing to recognize Henry VIII’s claim as head of the Church of England.
