Final Answer:
I. THE BELIEFS AND AUTHORITY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
A.
1. Without a common government in Europe, the Catholic
Church became an important
political and spiritual authority
2. On the manor, priests were
powerful figures because the controlled peoples’ access to Heaven by delivering the sacraments and
forgiving sins
B. CHURCH PRACTICES:
1. The Catholic Church taught that people could gain access to Heaven (called
salvation) by having
faith in God and doing
good works for others
2. The Church taught that Christians could gain more of
grace through a series of
rituals called the Holy Sacraments
a. The
seven sacraments included Baptism, Confirmation, Communion, Confession, Marriage, Ordaining of Priests, and Last Rites for the Dying
C. CHURCH CORRUPTION:
During the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church was also growing
corrupt
1. Definition of CORRUPTION: dishonest and
immoral behavior, especially
abuse of power by those in power
a. For example, clergy members took vows of
celibacy to abstain from sex… yet some Church leaders had
mistresses and fathered children
b. Priests were required to go through rigorous
training in a monastery… but some Church positions were sold to the highest bidder; this corrupt practice is called
simony
c. Sometimes, feudal lords would use their
influence to have friends or children named as priests, a practice called
nepotism
d. As a result, some clergy members were
unqualified or
ignorant
e. One of the most corrupt Church practices was the
sale of
indulgences (“indulgence” is reducing the penalty for a sin)
i. At first, indulgences were given out by the Church when people did
good deeds
ii. A person did a good work, then penalties for his or her
sins were
reduced or forgiven
iii. But rather than requiring the performing of good deeds, Church leaders began
selling indulgences for money
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of protestant reformation worksheet.
