Corruption Of The Catholic Church

Corruption of the catholic church BY Chags24 Reformation of the corrupt Church The Catholic Church we know today has been transformed tremendously over thousands of years and, fortunately, for the better. Us twenty-first century Catholics would be so appalled if we went back to the sixteenth century and saw how the Church was. There were numerous problems in the Church, but during this time no one knew any better because that was what they were taught from birth so they didn''t think any different about it. The Church obviously had to much power in the world and used it in ways that greatly contradict Catholicism.

Not every one was oblivious to the corruption in the Church and one of these people was Martin Luther. His main goal was to start a reformation of the Catholic Church, he did this by writing the "95 theses" and after this the Church created something called the Counsel of Trent. The major issue with the Church was how powerful it was getting and how much money they were receiving. They were getting powerful and wealthy for all the wrong reasons. The relationship between the people and church was solely based on money. The Church had many schemes to get peoples money.

They had people elieve that they could get to heaven via the Church. This meaning if you were a big contributor to the Church and donated a fair amount of money than you would be safe on your Judgment day. If your family was wealthy you could buy your son into the Church. Thus satisfying the thought you would go to heaven and be on good terms with the Church. This doesn''t sound like the Catholic Church we know does it? Unfortunately, this is not all of the corruption the Catholic Church had to offer in this time period.

They had many clever tricks to gain power and receive endless money rom oblivious parishioners. One more of these tricks were selling something called indulgences. These were certificates signed by the pope that declared that by buying this your sins will be pardoned. Basically they had you believe you could buy your self into heaven. Later on as this concept expanded you could buy indulgences for other people who have already passed. This releasing them from purgatory or even hell into heaven. Obviously paying the Catholic Church will not gain you salvation or make you go to heaven.

They had numerous more ways of gaining revenue, but I hink I have made the point clear how corrupt the Church was. Some may think how unfair this is and how absurd this sounds in our day of age, but it was accepted by the people of the 1500s because this was the way they understood the Church. No one knew any different, as they were taught this from when they were born. Barely any one would speak against the Church because you would most likely be killed. Luckily some people recognized what was going on and had enough of the Churches power and wealth. One of these people named Martin Luther.

Luther was a German monk and a theology professor who was well educated heses" and put in on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. The "95 theses" listed statements of concern he had on the Church. Mainly Protesting against indulgences as well as the Churches many schemes to receive money and power. This started something huge, the reformation of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church ignored Luther as long as they could, but his teaching spread through Europe very quickly. They asked him to stop his teachings and of course he refused as he is very passionate of stopping the corrupting involved the Catholic Church.

This caused the counter reformation meaning against the reform, but awhile after the Church was basically forced to change. They did this by creating something called The Council of Trent in 1545. This council made many changes in the Catholic Church. Many of which Luther had protested against before. It confirmed the existence of purgatory, and how prayer is key for releasing people from purgatory into heaven. The Council of Trent also confirmed the belief in transubstantiation and all seven sacraments. Lastly they affirmed how scripture is essential as well as religious art.

Ever since The Counsel of Trent the Church has been improving their ways of teaching. We see how well the Catholic Church teaches there beliefs today and it is all because people realized the corruption and revolted against the corruption. A majority of people don''t even know that the Catholic Church was once corrupt because they see the Church today as a well respected organization. We would think the Church would be better back in sixteenth century since it is closer to when Jesus came to Earth. Luckily the Church was reformed because if it wasnt who knows how powerful the Church could be today.