Background to the Reformation

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Background to the Reformation Middle Ages 1400
1650
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• Europe in Turmoil.

• Christian Church had once been the stable centre
  of European life it now began to falter.

• Relationships between Pope and the Kings of
  Europe changed kings now wanted to control the
  Pope. e.g.

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Papal Theory
God Pope Emperor
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Imperial Theory
God Pope Emperor
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• Selling of indulgences.

• The Black Death 1347

• towns were wiped out
• many Priests died administering to the sick
• shortage of priests
• new priests poorly educated selection was hasty
  and often ill-advised
• hence the quality of priesthood declined.

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• Battles over papacy raged two people claiming
  to be Pope.

• Italy was torn apart by wars and inquisition.

• Problems with clergy

• concubinage
• pluralism
• nepotism.

• Taxation in church modelled on the feudal
  system.

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Causes of the Reformation
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Abuses occurring in the Catholic Church

• Clerical exemptions from civil law.
• Corrupt and uneducated clergy.
• Rivalry between religious orders.

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Spirituality
For some, the Protestant Reformation was a quest
for a new spirituality.
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Money
Taxation to support the papacy and clerics was
excessive and often corrupt.
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Papacy
There were corrupt Popes.
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Power of Kings
Conflict between religious and state leaders.
Kings had the power to appoint the higher clergy
who become the Kings men in Church robes.
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New learning

• Bible was translated into Greek, making it more
  accessible to the people.
• The printing press made it even more accessible,
  reducing the dependence on the clergy for the
  Christian message.