Chapter 4 - Abuses and Criticisms of the Church

Question 1

Simony

Answer 1

When a priest sells his position to the highest bidder, rather than the one best suited to the job

Question 2

Nepotism

Answer 2

The promotion of family members or friends rather than allocating based on ability

Question 3

Pluralism

Answer 3

Priests holding the right to more than one job

Question 4

Absenteeism

Answer 4

Pluralism led to this, when priests had so many jobs, and therefore they were absent most of the time and were not doing the work

Question 5

Tithe

Answer 5

• One tenth of a family’s income of goods or money would be donated to the parish
• Families that refused were taken to church court

Question 6

Mortuary fees

Answer 6

Payment made to the priest when family members were buried

Question 7

General public’s concerns over anti-clericalsim

Answer 7

• Low level grumbling and individual concerns all over the country
• Detailed concerns articulated by the more educated members e.g. merchants
• Most vocal critics were those involved in trade
• Showed their devotion through religious books as they had access to them and the means by which to buy and sell them

Question 8

The case of Richard Hunne

Answer 8

• Merchant tailor in London or in London
• His baby died and the priest asked for the baby’s christening robe as a mortuary fee
• Hunne refused and became involved in a property dispute with the Priest
• His house was searched and, upon discovering a Lollard bible, he was arrested
• Later found hanged in his cell, it was disputed whether he hanged himself or was murdered
• Coroner confirmed murder
• Hunne was considered a martyr amongst his supporters and his case was brought up in parliament twice

Question 9

Behaviour of the clergy

Answer 9

• Priests and Monks were expected to live up to their vows of chastity, not all did
  
  • Many had affairs and illegitimate children
  • Wolsey himself had two sons
• Church allowed criminal behaviour to go unchecked
  
  • Priests suspected of crimes could claim ‘Benefit of Clergy’ and tried in a Church court, over which they had much more influence
  • Church courts also did not inflict the death penalty
  • Others who worked lower down in the Church could also claim this benefit if they were able to recite key passages
  • Known as ‘neck verses’ as they saved the man’s neck
  • Unfair as most people could not speak Latin
• Catholic historians would argue that the problematic leaders were outliers and that this corruption was not the norm within the Church