Download Corruption in the Catholic Church

Corruption in the
Catholic Church
Corruption in the
Catholic Church
How much power is too much?
1500 Catholic Church=most powerful
European institution
 Pope = leader of the Catholic Church
 Pope = most powerful man in Europe
 Some church leaders abused their power,
eventually causing a rift in the church

Corruption Leads to the Reformation
Corruption Leads to the Reformation
continued
G. Full of works of art: statues, shrines,
paintings, relics of saints, altars ornamented
with gold and jewels
H. Charged followers tithes (tax-1/10th of income)
I. Couldn’t pay? Faced excommunication (refusal
of sacraments)
J. Heretics (people who spoke out against the
Church) were usually excommunicated or put to
death.
Pope Leo X…
Martin Luther
I don’t know about
this whole Catholic
Church thing…
Wittenberg
95 Theses
Pope Leo X’s feelings about Luther
Get OUT!!!
Luther at Diet of Worms, referring to his writings
“Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the
Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust
either in the pope or in councils alone, since it is
well known that they have often erred and
contradicted themselves), I am bound by the
Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is
captive to the Word of God. I cannot and will
not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor
right to go against conscience. May God help
me. Amen.”
What was the result of corruption in
the Catholic Church?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Catholic Church loses power!
2nd major “schism” in ChristianityProtestant Reformation
Numerous Protestant religions form
Europe is divided by religion
Religious Division of Europe