Dissatisfaction Within The Catholic Church example essay topic

There was a great dissatisfaction with the Catholic Church in the early 16th century. There was not only one reason that brought about the reformation. The dissatisfaction was caused by a number of things, people were not happy with the social control which the church had over them, also there was discontent that foreigners, Italians especially were controlling a lot of German life and wealth which caused unpopularity. At the time people wanted to reduce their financial burden due to the rapid inflation, people saw that a break from Rome would achieve this. At this time there was a decline in papalism and spiritual anxiety, there was also a desire to return to a more satisfying form of religion based on teachings of the gospel. There was a general feeling of unrest at the clergy.

Anti Clericalism, criticism of the abuse within the church and of clergy who led immoral lives was the most crucial factor in causing the dissatisfaction within the Catholic Church. The clergy was most interested in wealth, and led luxurious lives at the expense of the ordinary people. The greatest resentment was the fact that the churchmen overcharged for what they did, and the people had to pay them, otherwise risk damnation. Many priests lived in concubinage and monasticism.

The behavior of the clergy had a greater impact on the lives of ordinary people than that of the papacy. Abuses of the church include simony e.g. Alexander VI; pluralism e.g. Wolsey was Archbishop of York and Bishop of Lincoln. Other abuses include nepotism and absenteeism. Anti clericalism was directed towards the financial exploitation of the people.

Anti clericals opposed the powerful position of the priests and opposed their ignorance and the fact that they often purchased their position. Bishops were unable to do an effective job, and due to indulgences people especially in Germany felt robbed of their money. The papacy of the institution had by the 16th century declined in moral. Though anti papalism originated along time before this century. The decline in papal influence was shown by the Avignon Papacy during 1309-78, when the papacy moved to France due to bankruptcy. Here the papacy was seen as being dominated by France as all popes of this time were French.

Also earlier in England legislation was passed to limit papal power. The Great Schism of 1378-1417 saw a further decline in papal reputation and also resulted in an increase in heresy. Dissatisfaction with the papacy reached its lowest during the Renaissance Papacy. Leaders of the RC Church were seen to be more interested with the cultural and political concerns of Italy. From 1450 they were replacing the old Basilica of St. Peter, in order to pay for this they exploited the selling of spiritual benefits, Indulgences in Germany which was very unwelcome.

There was a huge resentment as huge amounts of money left Germany each year to go to foreigners e.g. annates (tax). Concern was also caused by the small sums of money obtained from newly appointed churchmen and the large sums achieved from the ruling families purchasing senior church positions for their sons. Dissatisfaction was also caused by aristocratic families using the papacy to advance the interest off their family. Causing the unpopularity of the papacy was the alikeness with murder, corruption and sexual license. Most of the popes of the 16th century openly committed the majority of the deadly sins. Leadership of the Catholic Church had declined greatly, the fact that the papacy was morally corrupt and more concerned with political power than religious beliefs caused dissatisfaction.

It did not have the moral authority it did have in earlier centuries. Although, anti papalism did not automatically mean the rejection of the Catholic teachings. Many people felt very keenly the lack of moral guidance from the papacy. The devotion to the beliefs and rituals of the church and much of the criticism of its personnel came about from an underlying spiritual anxiety. The Church was unable to meet the spiritual demands of the people due to its poor intellectual and moral standards. Luther's writings were able to relieve spiritual anxiety and offer an alternative way to salvation.

Discontent with the Church was also caused by Humanists such as Erasmus who said the bible which people knew was based on incomplete texts and poor translation. The spiritual anxiety provided not only the impetus for new ways to reach heaven, but also provided a willing audience for the ideas of Luther. It was men such as Erasmus and Luther who through their attacks on the Catholic Church caused the growing dissatisfaction among the people. The most crucial factor in causing the dissatisfaction with the church, although the papacy was corrupt, was the peoples discontent towards the clergy. When anti papalism, anti clericalism and the Humanists are taken into account Luther becomes popular. Also peoples grievances are finally justified.

It was extremely hard for the Roman Catholic Church to defend itself because it was in the wrong.