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The Church
Sec 3
The Church Hierarchy

The Medieval Church had broad
political power.

It filled a leadership role in Europe.
• Kings were weak.
• Its power was felt all across Europe.
• Was a economic power, owning the most
land by the end of the Dark Ages.
Hierarchy
The Parish Priest
 The Church was organized according
to strict hierarchy of rank.


Parish Priest held the lowest rank.
• He was one of the most important
because he administered five of the
seven sacraments.
• He was responsible for the religious
instruction of community.
Hierarchy

Bishop
He manages a group of parishes.
 The Cathedral is where the bishops
office was held.
 King or powerful nobles usually
controlled the selection of the bishop.
 Many bishops were feudal lords or
vassals.

Church Leadership

A group of several dioceses, called an
archdiocese.


Managed by an archbishop. Had
power over bishops in that area.
Pope was the supreme leader of the
church.

He was advised by a curia --- it
member were cardinals.
The Church and Medieval
life



In the papal state the Pope was both the
political and spiritual leader.
This power was also directed to monarchs.
The had its own code of law called canon
laws.

This included excommunicating a person.
• Cut off from the church. Most severed
punishment
The Church and Medieval
life



The church did not allow anyone to question
the principals of the church.
People who spoke out against the church
were considered Heretics--- unbelievers
The Church also collected a tax called a
tithe, typically one tenth of a person income.

The church becomes the wealthiest
institution in Europe.
Problems with the Church

The great wealth of the church lead to the
problem of lay investiture – practice of
nobles appointing friends to positions of
bishops or abbots.


Great was for a person to become wealthy.
Many church reformers tried to make
changes .


Searched out heretics and teaching that
opposed church doctrine. This search is
known as the Inquisition.
Most were burnt at the stake