Criticism Of The Catholic ChurchBy David Oh, Tazio Galardi, Clayton Thompson, Andrew Kelly, & Lucas Mrs. Lonergan, Catholic Faith, Red 17 May 2013

Indulgences

Intent of indulgences: offer Christians an alternative way of “doing good” to repent their sins.

Power became corrupt in the church. People believed they could sin all the time. Buying indulgences became a mockery of religion. John Tetzel: a Dominican friar & seller of indulgences. Tetzel widely attracted crowds with sales pitches. Declared buying indulgences freed you of all sins.

Martin Luther

Augustinian priest & monk. A scholar. Studied the Bible and

church fathers. Ran a monastery in

Wittenburg, Germany. Lived a strict religious life.

The Protestant Reformation

Began in 1517. Luther sent a letter to Archbishop Albert of Mainz. The Letter contained the famous Ninety-five Theses. Luther’s ideas pertained to the issues of indulgences, sin,

forgiveness, and power to grant them. Luther claimed the indulgences contradicted the idea of

Catholic Theology. Sparked a radical change during the time.

Luther’s Philosophy

Brought up new ideas about papal authority, grace, and the Bible.

Popes had authority, only by human agreement. Luther claimed people are solely saved by Jesus Christ

himself. Luther stated that The Bible was the sole supreme authority

of a person’s life. People began discussing Luther’s ideas about where their

money went, the pope’s authority, and faith.

Failed Attempts to Reconcile With Rome

Pope Leo X. Luther accused of heresy for denying pope’s authority. Support from people in Saxony. Wrote directly to Leo X to deny heresy. Summoned to Rome to answer questions.

On the Bible as the Sole Supreme Authority

Living in Wittenberg, Luther continued writing, preaching, and teaching at the university.

The Bible was the sole supreme authority in a Christian.

However,

This belief stood in contrast with the Catholic position.

Luther Excommunicated

In 1520, the Roman Curia, who were sure of the new emperor's support, produced a document excommunicating Luther that is, putting him out of the church.

So Luther had sixty days to reserve his teaching or be excommunicated.

The official from Rome had a difficult time posting excommunication orders in Luther's case because many Germans stood with Luther.

With only three weeks left before he had to recant or be arrested, Luther was "kidnapped" by his friend Duke Frederick and was hidden in a castle at Wartburg.

Still a Catholic?

Luther still considered himself to be a Catholic.

He believed in the sacraments; Baptism, the Eucharist, and perhaps penance.

Luther believed in Christ's real presence in the Eucharist.

But he denied that the Mass was a sacrifice in the sense popular in his day.

Augsburg Confession

In 1530 Luther’s good friend Philipp Melanchthon. He composed a document for the German national assembly in

Augsburg. It summarized the teaching of those who followed Luther. The document also outlined the reforms proposed by Luther to correct

the abuses in the church.

The Lutheran church emerged.

Luther's impact on politics

Luther took the peasant's side, urging nobles to reform the conditions of German working people.

As a result, the Peasant’s Revolt erupted, lasting from 1523 to 1525.

In the battles, the nobles’ armies slaughtered 130,000 peasants to rebel.

Rulers Choose the Religion for Their Region

Lutheranism grew into a popular movement in northern Germany.

Lutherans agreed to the Peace of Augsburg, which said that local rulers could choose the religion of their domain.

For some rulers, accepting the new religion meant independence from Roman church taxes and from the Holy Roman emperor.