Martin Luther's Views Of The Catholic Church

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Throughout the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church was undergoing much criticism and disappointment. Many citizens of Europe were starting to lose their faith and respect in the church. A man named Martin Luther formed a group of people that believed that the Church had drifted far from its original teachings. They also believed that the Church was turning into a money hungry community. The Church and its officials had started to participate in activities that were not in agreement with the Church’s original teachings. Luther decided to take charge. In 1517, Luther posted ninety-five problems with the Church up on the doors of Wittenberg Cathedral. These are more commonly known as the Ninety-five Theses. This set off the beginning of the Protestant Luther only acknowledged three sacraments: baptism, Eucharist and penance. “At times he spoke of three, but the third-repentance-he effectively included as a part of baptism. Thus he could say, ‘Hence it follows that there are, strictly speaking, only two Sacraments in the Church of God: Baptism and the Bread… For the sacrament of penance is nothing but a way and a return to Baptism’”(Craycraft). Luther speaking out against the sacred sacraments clearly infuriated the Pope. Pope Leo declared that Luther had to take back everything that he had said and admit to heresy within two months of receiving the decree. “Luther 's Protestant views were condemned as heretical by Pope Leo X in the bull Exsurge Domine in 1520. Consequently Luther was summoned to either renounce or reaffirm them at the Diet of Worms on 17 April 1521” (Greatsite). Luther was then put on trial after refusing to However, things were beginning crumble in the hands of the Catholic Church. Priests and other church members started to marry; and German was now the language in mass. Luther knew that a revolt was bound to happen, and it would not be good for his movement (Christianity Today). Luther started to lose support and now was partial to forms of Reformation other than his own. However, there was not much he could do. “As a declared heretic and public outlaw, Luther was forced to stay out of the political and religious struggle over the enforcement of the Edict of Worms. Sympathetic rulers and city councils became the protagonists for Luther’s cause and the cause of reform”

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