Protestant Reformation Corruption in the Catholic Church

Protestant Reformation

Corruption in the Catholic Church n During the Renaissance, there was a new focus on human potential; many people began to think for themselves & criticized some corrupt practices of the Intellectuals Catholic Church (Erasmus, More, etc. ) Catholic Church

Corruption in the Catholic Church n Members of the Church (called Clergy) took vows of Chastity— Chastity meaning they would not engage in sexual relationships n BUT…some clergy members broke church law and were married, had families, or had children. Even several popes fathered and raised children

Chastity

Corruption in the Catholic Church n During Feudalism, just as vassals received fiefs from nobles a similar practice was used to name some members of the clergy n Lay Investiture was a practice by which some bishops and priests received their church offices from powerful nobles. Therefore, the nobles were able to control the clergy members

Corruption in the Catholic Church n During Middle Ages, clergy members were among the few who could read & write & were supposed to be well-educated n BUT…many parish priests were illiterate and did not know how to perform religious services. During Renaissance, more people could read & noticed how poorly some clergy members could read

Education

Corruption in the Catholic Church n Several clergy members used their positions in the Church to gain wealth. This wealth led clergy members to lives of luxury n Some clergy members used wealth to buy Renaissance art n The ways clergy members were raising money became the most heavily criticized actions of the Catholic Church

Wealth

Corruption in the Catholic Church n During Middle Ages, clergy had access to land & a good income n Simony was practice of selling church positions to the highest bidder regardless of the buyer’s religious training. This illegal practice was widely used & led to poorly educated clergy members & increased wealth of high church members

Simony

Corruption of the Catholic Church n The most profitable & criticized fundraiser was selling of Indulgences—certificate bought Indulgences from a priest to cancel sins. Indulgences were sold to cleanse deceased family members n This led people to believe that heaven could be attained not by being faithful, but by buying more indulgences

Indulgences

Corruption of the Catholic Church n Great Schism (1378 -1417) further weakened the power of the Church. In 1378, pope Urban VI angered French clergy, who elected a new pope, Clement VII. n As a result, Catholics had 2 popes. Which one was legitimate? Each pope excommunicated the other. Led to confusion & criticism

Great Schism

Corruption of the Catholic Church n All of these corrupt practices were examined by intellectuals during the Renaissance leading to the Protestant Reformation: Protest Reform –Protest—Identify Problems with Protest Church –Reform—Offer Solutions to Reform these Problems

n Rank the major problems from the one you feel was the most influential to the least. n Write a summary describing why you feel the first and the last are in that position.

Protestant Reformation Early Responses to Catholic Corruption

Role of the Renaissance n During Renaissance more people began to read & value education; New artistic styles, literature, science led people to question & criticize other aspects of life (including religion) n During the Northern Renaissance, ideas spread from Italy to northern Europe

Printing Press n Invented by Johannes Gutenberg in 1456 in Germany; used movable metal type to reproduce documents n Made books quick to produce and inexpensive n Humanist texts and ideas spread rapidly throughout Europe

Role of the Renaissance n As Renaissance ideas spread to northern Europe (especially in Germany), people began to use Humanist ideas to criticize the Catholic Church –Christian Humanists called for an end to Church corruption and wanted to see an increase in the importance of individuals in religion

3 Early Humanists Call for Church Reform: n. John Wycliffe n. John Huss n. Desiderius Erasmus

John Wycliffe n Taught religion at the University of Oxford in England from 13601382; promoted his new ideas: –Jesus Christ was the true head of the Catholic Church, not Pope –Upset by wealth of some clergy; should not own land or wealth –Bible was most important source of authority; people did not need church to get into heaven

John Wycliffe –Upset that English people could not understand the Bible because it was written in Latin— so he translated the Bible into English

John Wycliffe n How did the Church respond? : respond? –Catholic bishop charged Wycliffe with heresy and convicted him to death by fire; but English supporters rioted & forced bishop to free him

John Huss n Head of Prague University in Bohemia; influenced by Wycliffe: –Clergy should not have wealth –Opposed indulgences & simony –Because Bible & church services were in Latin, people could be manipulated by corrupt church; wanted Bible & services conducted in vernacular (the local language, like German)

John Huss n How did the Church respond? : respond? –Tried and convicted of heresy; was excommunicated & burned at the stake in 1415

Desiderius Erasmus n Became a priest, but quit to become a writer, teacher, scholar during the Renaissance; traveled throughout Europe sharing ideas: –Wanted Bible available in vernacular –Some of church’s practices were unnecessary; but church had an important place in peoples’ lives & disagreed many criticisms of church

Desiderius Erasmus n How did the Church respond? : respond? –Erasmus was never attacked by Catholic leaders & stayed in the Church until he died

Who Did It? Review