Why was Henry’s case for annulment so weak?

• Another Biblical text from the Book of Deuteronomy claimed that a man should marry his brother's wife, if his brother died
• The Leviticus text was talking about a brother who was still alive
• Henry's doubts were groundless since his brother had died 7 years before the marriage of his widow to his brother
• Leviticus claimed that a man who married his brother's wife would be childless as a result
• Henry had a daughter Mary born in 1516
• Catherine of Aragon always claimed that her marriage with Arthur had not been consummated; therefore it was no true marriage
• Henry's arguments assumed that the marriage had been consummated
• Pope Julius II had granted a special 'dispensation' to allow Henry to marry Catherine in 1509
• No pope would accept Henry's argument that he had exceeded his powers in doing this
• Anne Boleyn's special place in the king's affections made it seem that Henry wished to rid himself of Catherine in order to marry a younger and more attractive wife
• Anne was not popular at Court as she was part of one faction, vying for power and influence with the king
• Catherine, by contrast was highly regarded at Court
• Catherine had always been a devoted wife, despite the king's extra marital affairs including one bastard son, Henry Fitzroy and was popular in the country at large