Catholic Church Bans Fasting for Pregnant Women

I've read somewhere that Catherine of Aragon would often engage in religious fasting while pregnant, which may have contributed to her miscarriages and sickly children and consequently the whole "I need a son" situation on her husband Henry VIII's part.

So, what if the Catholic Church had forbidden religious fasting by pregnant women, citing the risk to their unborn children?

(This assumes a certain degree of knowledge on their part that might not have existed at the time.)

Not sure what possible effects it would have beyond (possibly) giving Henry VIII a male heir and thus preventing the break with the Catholic Church from occurring as it did.
 
I've read somewhere that Catherine of Aragon would often engage in religious fasting while pregnant, which may have contributed to her miscarriages and sickly children and consequently the whole "I need a son" situation on her husband Henry VIII's part.

So, what if the Catholic Church had forbidden religious fasting by pregnant women, citing the risk to their unborn children?

(This assumes a certain degree of knowledge on their part that might not have existed at the time.)

Not sure what possible effects it would have beyond (possibly) giving Henry VIII a male heir and thus preventing the break with the Catholic Church from occurring as it did.

Uhm.
It did it.
Fast was required only to healthy people. (nowadays, not even to them :D).
Catherine fasting while pregnant was due to her own bigoutry and to some wrong medical notions (also if you have an idea of pregnant nausea ... :D)
 
Uhm.
It did it.
Fast was required only to healthy people. (nowadays, not even to them :D).
Catherine fasting while pregnant was due to her own bigoutry and to some wrong medical notions (also if you have an idea of pregnant nausea ... :D)

I did not know that.

I don't think "bigoutry" (sic) is the right word--perhaps "zeal" is better?

How about the Church coming down on people fasting when they shouldn't, perhaps accusing them of coming too close to suicide (if sick) or abortion (if pregnant)?
 
I did not know that.

I don't think "bigoutry" (sic) is the right word--perhaps "zeal" is better?

How about the Church coming down on people fasting when they shouldn't, perhaps accusing them of coming too close to suicide (if sick) or abortion (if pregnant)?

They could convert to Islam, where you can't fast if you're pregnant. You have to make up the time later, though. Also, when you're ill or traveling. A lot of Muslims are unaware of the traveling thing.
 
Pasha, is it relevant?

The question is in the setting of the Roman Catholic Church.

If Katharine of Aragon had been told that fasting whilst pregnant endangered her immortal soul, maybe she would have listened. Bearing in mind that Henry fathered two daughters and a son, it isn't certain that he would have produced an heir with Katharine before she went through the change. That may still leave us with Broody Mary and the risk of a Spanish takeover of England - no Elizabeth, you see.
 
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