Corruption of the Medieval Church Flashcards
When was the time between which the Catholic Church was a political powerhouse?
12-1500’s
What was the catholic church like in 13-1500’s? (3)
- political powerhouse
- amassing wealth within a poor society living through the feudal system
- devastation of the black plague
What 3 conflicts that influenced the corruption?
Religious conflict (Papal Schism) Political conflict (Popes having power) Black Plague
Religious conflict
The Papal Schism in 1378-1472, such as Pope Clement V moved the headquarters of Church from Rome to Avignon in southern France. Until Pope Gregory moved the papacy back to Rome in 1377, after he died the French cardinals didn’t like the Pope in Rome, so they elected a new different pope in Avignon,
Political conflict (4)
• The Catholic Church was a legal and political powerhouse- controlled people and rulers
• Had control of kings and rulers/lands- needed wealth to maintain power and had threatened monarchs with excommunication in order to remain in power.
• Was wealthy in a society that was generally poor- feudal system
- had support of kings and political leaders
Black Plague (3)
Church lacked spirituality and care for believers and were build on the fear and superstitions of people.
Black plague was thought to be a punishment form God and people were fearful and desperate for salvation
Church took advantage of fear and superstition and exploited the poor by claiming the only path to salvation was indulgences, amassing of great wealth within the Church.
What are 2 forms of corruption?
Indulgences
Irregularities in religious services
State 59 of the 95 Theses.
“the poor of the church were the treasures of the church, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.”
What are indulgences?
pieces of paper which were said to absolve one’s sins and reduce their time in purgatory
How did the church take advantage of indulgences?
As the black plague created fear and superstition and the Church took advantage of this fear and superstition and exploited the poor by claiming to be the only path to salvation and sold indulgences, tending to the amassing of great wealth within the church.
How were irregularities in religious services caused?
4
- most clergy members were illiterate or poorly trained and didn’t know how to properly perform religious services. This was due to the lack of knowledge of theology and religious practices and rituals.
- clergy were living in luxury and sold pilgrimages and relics in greed breaking vow of poverty.
- Death consumed many of clergy and they needed newly ordained members to raise numbers, illiterate and not educated in liturgy leading in many irregularities in Church practises and vows of chastity were broken.
- Simony
selling of Church positions
How were irregularities in religious services caused?
luxury
- clergy were living in luxury and sold pilgrimages and relics in greed breaking vow of poverty. Death consumed many of clergy and they needed newly ordained members to raise numbers, illiterate and not educated in liturgy leading in many irregularities in Church practises and vows of chastity were broken.
How were irregularities in religious services caused?
illiterate
- ## most clergy members were illiterate or poorly trained and didn’t know how to properly perform religious services. This was due to the lack of knowledge of theology and religious practices and rituals.
What are two examples of interplay of the issue of the corruption of the Church?
Martin Luther and the Council of Trent
Who is Martin Luther?
Martin Luther was a Catholic monk ordained in Wittenberg in Germany.
How did Martin Luther raise the issue of the corruption
in 1510 he visited Rome and was appalled by the corruption he saw, raising the issue of the corruption criticising the corrupt practises and certain beliefs of the Church in his 95 Theses
What did he do with his 95 These?
Then in October 1517, he published his 95 Theses nailing them on the Church doors, attacking papal abuses and the sale of indulgences, questioning the Pope about the true path to salvation.
5 of the 95 Theses,
He states this in 5 of the 95 Theses, “The Pope has no power to let people off the punishments they must pay for their sins. He can only do so for penalties he or the Church has imposed.”
