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¶ … Catholic Church in the 16th century and explain what factors/Social conditions exacerbated the unrest associated with the Protestant Reformation.
Review sources of information.
There were several political, economic and religious factors that led to the Protestant Reformation. Although it did not take place until the 16th century, it had its beginnings in the 14th century.
What were some of the arguments directed against the Catholic Church in the sixteenth century?
The causes of the great religious revolt of the sixteenth century can be traced back as early as the fourteenth century. First, the doctrine of the Church continued its course in several parts of Europe, wholly uninterruptedly. The unhappy conditions that existed were largely due to civil and profane influences or to the exercise of authority by ecclesiastics in civil spheres. Gradually, in many parts of Europe, political and social conditions hampered the reformatory activities of the Church and the forces of heresy and schism began to take hold and were no longer held in check by the harmonious action of the ecclesiastical and civil authorities.
It is also important to remember that...
Many ecclesiastics were chiefly concerned with their income and how to increase it, gain greater power.
In addition, England was a distant and isolated country and for years had an uncomfortable relationship with the Catholic Church. The adoption of Protestantism was a politically rather then religiously motivated move. The marriage of Henry VIII to his brother's ex-wife, Catherine of Aragon, was considered an act of incest. When Henry finally decides to divorce her because there is no male heir and marry Anne Boleyn, he seeks a papal dispensation. But in order to marry her he needs another papal dispensation and this would contract church law. The Pope refuses; Henry marries Anne Boleyn and is excommunicated form the church by the Pope.
That was probably the key political factor that led to the reformation. But the Catholic Church had other weaknesses: competing popes in Rome, Avignon and other areas; there were questionable rituals and practices such as worshiping the saints, conducting pilgrimages and celebrating mass. Couple that with the corruption and abuse of power…
Sources
Catholic Encycolpedia Online. 2002. http://www.wsu.edu.com."Protestant England." Richard Hooker. 1996
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