The Reformation

Christians who protested abuses within the Roman Catholic Church led by Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin.

National pride. Kings questioned whether they had to follow the leadership of a distant Pope in Italy.

The invention of the printing press.

Officially launched by the Council of Trent which attempted to stop the spread of Protestantism by ending the abuses within the Church. It re-established its authority and renewed the Inquisition - an order of church officials to rid the church of heretics, Jews and Muslims.

The Jesuits were a group of Catholics who under the leadershup of Ignatius Loyola, led the warfare between Catholics and Protestants throughout the first half of the 17th century.

Simony: Catholic Church officials sold positions to the highest bidders who used these positions for their own personal gains.
Immorality: Many church leaders violated the law of celibacy and neglected their religious duties for more worldly activities.

Sales of Indulgences: Church leaders sold indulgences as pardons, supposedly to reduce the punishment in the afterlife for certain sins. The sale of indulgences was often used as a way to raise money to fund certain church activities.

Clerical Ignorance: The Black Death had wiped out 1/3 of the population, as well as many members of the clergy. The Church was forced to recruit many priests who weren't intelligent or literate enough to be good at their job or deal with Luther's challenge.

People lost respect for the Church because of the Babylonian Captivity as well as the luxry and extravagance in Avignon that hurt the presitige of the Pope.

There were two popes who claimed to be the real Pope and the embarrasment of two popes excommunicating each other didnt help the Church at all. Different countries in Europe recognized different popes - which even further hurt the Papal Prestige.

Many secular leaders resented the interference of clergy in state affairs and wanted to reduce the Church's influence. National-minded rulers considered the pope to be a foregin ruler.

People disliked Church taxes such as Peter's Pence (a yearly tax on all Christians) and the fact that a good portion was being sent to Rome. Also, many of the kings wanted to take control of Church lands.

The Renaissance had weakened the respect for authority had encouraged some people to question the Church's teachings in science, history and religious dogma.

Was a German Augustinian friar who was troubled by the question of his own salvation and felt that he was not worthy of it. (Survivng a thunderstorm.) He believed that salvation was through faith, not by good works. When he went to Rome, he was shocked by the immoral behavior of the Catholic clergy.

Salvation through safe alone. Religious authority rested with the Bible, not the Pope. Monastic or religious life is not better than the secular life. Marriage of clergy should be permitted. Did not believe in transubstantiation.