Critics of the Church Flashcards
Explain why the Church was being criticised in the 1520s and 1530s. [10]
(Framing the answer) The Church was being criticised by a number of different groups for a variety of sources including Europe and from within England itself.
Some of the earliest critics were the LOLLARDS and the Humanists. The Lollards, believed that having faith did not mean you had to submit to the church they way people did, for example, they did not believe the sacraments were necessary and that people should be allowed to read the Bible in English. The English Humanists, believed individuals could choose a virtuous life and that they did not have to rely on the Church to live a virtuous life.
A vocal group of critics were the PROTESTANTS of Europe, the most influential was Martin Luther & Zwingli. They criticised the RC church for its beliefs - for example they said purgatory did not exist it was just a way to keep ordinary people obedient. Also, they challenged the idea that people had to listen to ther church leaders to get to heaven - they felt this could be achieved by studying the bible and that would mean having the Bible in the language of the people. Also, they felt that selling relics and indulgences was morally wrong.
There were also criticisms from laymen and clerics in from within England. Laymen like SIMON FISH were highly critical of the enormous wealth of the Church and the power it had over people’s lives. Clerics like WILLIAM TYNDALE also felt the church and especially the role of the clergy had to be reformed. Their main criticism, like the European critics, was that you could not ‘buy’ your way into heaven, which is what the RC church was ‘preaching’. They also criticised PLURALISM, the poor MORALS of many clergy and the power and influence of the CHURCH COURTS.
Explain why some people wanted religious reform in the 1520s and 1530s. [10]
(Framing the answer) Some people wanted religious reforms because they believed that the existing practices of the Church were wrong and needed changing.
For example, many felt that the church had too much power and wealth and that many of its leaders behaved more like Princes than clerics. One man who stood for this excess was Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor. Some people questioned how he could be both the Archbishop of York and the King’s Lord Chancellor. This PLURALISM was widespread - over half the clergy of Canterbury held more than one post and this meant that some parishes were not being well served. The church would be improved if this practice stopped.
In addition, many believed that the Church needed reform because churchmen di do not practice what they preached. Priests were meant to be CELIBATE, but there was widespread abuse of this with one famous example of a brothel being established for priests in the parish of St Hohn Zachary (London)!
Furthermore, some did not see why the Church should have their own courts in which the clergy could escape justice by claiming ‘benefit of the clergy’.
Lastly, there was the simple issue of reform being needed because critics like the Lollards and the Protestants of Europe felt ordinary people should be able to read the Bible in their own language and that they could get to heaven without having to submit to the practices of the Catholic Church.
