Causes And Consequences Of The Roman Catholic Church

For most civilizations, religious figures have had a large influence over the lives of the common people. The Roman Catholic Church was a very influential figure in many civilizations. It can trace its origins to over 2000 years ago. One of the Church’s most influential periods of this time was the Middle Ages. The Roman Catholic Church played a very big role in the lives of the people during that period. For many, it was the center of their life. The three most important impacts of the Church on medieval life were their secular roles concerning laws and their position over the state, the way that the Church unified Europe, and their power over the common people.

Towards the end of the Middle Ages and into the duration of the Renaissance, the Medieval Church’s social and political power dwindled. Centuries prior the Catholic Church gained a surplus of control, largely due to the stability it maintained during the chaotic breakdown of the Western Roman Empire . Yet toward the end of the Middle Ages the Church set in motion factors that would ultimately lead to its downfall as the definitive figure of authority. However, despite political and social controversy surrounding the church, the institutions it established cleared a path for a new way of thinking, shaping society in an enduring way.

The religious movement, a break of religion all over the where the main control of the catholic church broke. The ides of marriage were altered , “by which all that is the husband's is also the wife's” to show separation from the main part of religion (Luther document 4). Where people would not just give in to the christian way , “cannot submit [their] faith either to the Pope or to the Councils... frequently erred and contradicted eachother” because of these contradictions happening between the church's ranks (Luther document 8). The monks became vile , “breaking the vows of the church by having concubines and illegitimate children” their celibacy was now non existent (Bosch document 7). Also The added religions that formed at this time , “[They] ought not, by way of custom, to speak of predestination...they become negligent in the works” which all have changed their ways of how things happen which anger other. While people break the main religion religions produce like wildfire, however the were other thing affected at this period which made life in Europe drastically different, the social and political changes. The social and

After the fall of the Roman Empire, there was no main dominating force in Europe to enforce laws and protection for the people. The Middle Ages had begun and without the Romans, life became centered around survival. The destabilization caused rates of illiteracy, disease, and deaths to rise dramatically and to remedy the average peasants worry, the feudalism system flourished and required work in exchange for the safety of manors. Yet while there was not a overlooking empire to look towards for authority, the Catholic Church served its role to bring all classes together (Document 6). The Middle Ages will be ultimately known as an age of faith because of the prevalence of violence, power of religion, and the Catholic Church’s preservation of knowledge.

When the Roman Empire collapsed, the Catholic Church was the only powerful authority not complete disrupted by the attack by barbarians. In fact, the work of great Popes is what helped their power increase even more. The newly christened barbarians, done by the Pope Gregory the Great, inaugurated a new age in Jesus Christ called Christendom. All culture in Christendom conformed to that of the Church’s, and, with its headquarters in Rome, the powerful “papal monarchs”, as they were called, controlled the machine that was the Catholic Church.

Initially, the people of medieval Western Europe obeyed the church without question, including rulers during the time, who often times actually had less power than the Roman Catholic church. During these times, “Any blow suffered by the church was a direct blow to [a man’s] own morale.”12 As the plague tightened its grasp on the aspects of life, people began to question the church in large. People felt as though the church, best equipped to be in touch with God, had given no warning, and when it was too late pointed out the people's mistakes.13 Additionally, priests, who some would expect to be spared from the plague, were just as touched, if not in more danger when still administering the Last Rites. It was commented that, “The best of the clergy died, the worst survived.”14 Accordingly, those who cared for themselves lived longer during the plague than others who attempted to care for others. “... Parishes remained altogether unserved and beneficed Parsons had turned away from the care of their benefices for fear of death.”15 The priests that did survive were increasingly failing to fulfill their duties, and instead seeking better paid conditions.16 “Paid clerics would serve only if they were paid excessive salaries… priests hurried off to… where they could get more money than in their own benefices…”17 Perhaps in accordance to this, primarily the wealthy retained complete faith in the Roman Catholic Church, while others in Western Europe began searching for alternative gods and new sources of comfort.18 During that search there was a surge of religious fervor comparable to that shown later during the Age of Exploration. By the end of the Black Death, the majority of medieval people of Western Europe were no longer blinded by the supposed immortality of the Roman Catholic Church. Those that saw

The periods during the Reformation, Industrial Revolution, and the World at War all experienced religious and church conflicts. During the Renaissance and Reformation (1330 – 1650), the fundamental practices of the church came under fire. The church at this time was the largest and most political body. The pope, himself, was the most recognizable political figure. It was due to this authority that the church and its pope were more interested in political issues and less with the spiritual needs of the people (McGraw-Hill, p. 76). Many of the Roman Catholic Church’s high priests had bought their way into position and had very little religious experience. Often the only members of the community that were literate were the clergy thus

The influenza of the church and economic factors in the 900s and 1000s indicate that there was a slow revival in the culture and economy of Europe. The church wanted people to live in harmony and peace. For this, the church gave the hint to the people living in the European states during the period of 900s and 1000s to be stable, useful, peaceful, productive, and respectful to other cultures and ethnicities. To do this properly and on time, the church had the authority and prestige because Christianity reached all over the European living areas. In addition to this, the church organized some public services, such as “defense, charity, and civic maintenance.” The main concerns of the Church were violence that negatively affected on economic

Events that led to the degradation of the papacy and wider Church and therefore brought about the reform movement.

During the 14 and 1500’s, the Catholic Church was the major powerhouse on the world stage. The church became the largest land owner, giving them massive amounts of economical power. With limitless amounts of power for the church, they were even more powerful than the king himself; they had their own taxes, laws, and they even could excommunicate the king if they chose to do so. The church made royal officials fear it while also gaining the support of the people, sometimes unwilling support was given. Indulgences were purchased in the hopes that their loved ones would be saved from Purgatory or even Hell. The church’s goal used to be helping all people and preaching the word of God, but now the church was corrupt and blinded by power and money, only one man could initiate the change needed, Martin Luther.

At the end of the fifteen century, the Church was in serious need of reformation. The need was due to war, intrigue, bribery, and licentiousness, these popes sought to restore and even to outdo the glorious ancient Rome. As results, while most people still believed in the supreme authority of the Roman, many founded it difficult to reconcile their faith in the papacy

The Black Death (or Black Plague) was an epidemic that ravaged Europe in the fourteenth century leading to a vast change in economy, social ranks, and the church structure. The cause of so many people dying devastated the labor production causing shortage, also resulting in the less fortunate being able to claim land and animals. The church was weakened by the black death because; many of the clergy died, therefore, many uneducated people joined the church.

The period between 1300 and 1450 encompasses one of the most lamentable eras in European history – dominated by famine, war, plague, and death. During this period, the Roman Catholic Church was arguably the single most powerful institution, with Christianity being referred to as the “matrix of medieval life”. The Roman Catholic Church’s teachings and ceremonies underpinned beliefs surrounding morality, the meaning of life and the afterlife. Failure to follow the orthodoxy of the Catholic Church was deemed heretical, and resulted in the accused being subjected to an inquisition.

“Yet do not miss the moral, my good men. For Saint Paul says that all that’s written well Is written down some useful truth to tell.” (canterbury tales) Throughout the middle ages the church became more and more corrupt through four most leading issues. One betrays the main problems that caused the church to become corrupt. Two very significant perpetrators within the church that was a part of causing the downfall. Three many evil practices that led to corruptness in the people furthermore making the church itself become a sinnful place. Lastly, number four, Strong protestors, being the problems in and of themselves in the wrong they protested about. This resulted in problems: the black plague, perpetrators: those who were corrupt each in

It is not surprising that after the break-away that followed the reformation movement, the Roman Catholic Church never fully recovered it preeminent position as the fulcrum of state authority in Europe.