Introduction to the Reformation Understand the Reformation as

Introduction to the Reformation • Understand the Reformation as a time of religious division in Europe • Identify the structure of the Church before the Reformation, c. 1500

Pope Cardinal Bishop Priest Lived in Rome Cardinal Bishop Helped the pope with the running of the church Bishop Priest In charge of large areas called dioceses Priest In charge of areas of the diocese called parishes

Abuses in the Church • Before the 1500 s almost everyone in Europe belonged to the Catholic Church. • However, there were problems in the church. Some people were unhappy as they believed the church was too wealthy and too powerful. • The problems in the church were known as abuses. The construction of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome was a symbol of the wealth and power of the church

Nepotism • One of the abuses was nepotism. • This meant appointing relatives to positions in the church. • For example, Pope Alexander VI made his son (!) a cardinal.

Simony • This was the buying and selling of positions in the church. Abbot practising simony (France, 12 th century)

Absenteeism Pluralism Bishops or priests not living Holding one or more office in in their dioceses or parishes. the church e. g. a priest having two or more parishes, a bishop having two or more dioceses.

Sale of indulgences • In the early 1500 s, many people believed that after they died, they would spend time in purgatory before going to heaven. • The church taught that a person could reduce the time they would have to spend in purgatory if they bought an indulgence. • Some people (like Martin Luther) disliked indulgences as they felt the church was allowing people to buy their way to heaven.