The Religious Chaos of the Late Middle Ages

1. The Religious Chaos of the Late Middle Ages

2. Guiding Questions • 1. What factors contributed to the Great Schism, Babylonian Captivity and the Conciliar Movement? • 2. What were the major threats to church power? • 3. What were the (BIG PICTURE) reactions and results of the religious chaos of this time period?

3. Overview • The Catholic Church Dominated the Social, political and economic trends of the Middle Ages. • Popes continually gained more power and acted like kings instead of religious leaders. • Constant battles for power between Popes and Kings

4. The Division of the Catholic Church • A series of events within the Catholic Church cause chaos and actually effect the common worshipper in the Church. • Most battles between Popes and Kings were mainly political and but often had significant effects on common church goers.

5. Pope Boniface VIII vs. Philip IV the Fair [Fr.] • 1302 “Unam Sanctum” this basically claimed that “all are subject to the Pope”desperate act • This was an attempt to reinforce Papal authority. • This was to prevent Kings from France and England from taking Church money by way of the state taxing the Church. (The Church was the wealthiest institution) • King Philip states that the Kings protect the faith and therefore taxing the Church is justified.

6. Power means Control • King Philip IV of France came down and captured Boniface…… Boniface “conveniently” died soon after being captured. • Philip, with his whole military in Rome, influenced the Cardinals in to appoint a French Pope.

7. The Babylonian Captivity • 1303 – 1377 the Pope moved from Rome to Avignon, France. • This made the institution of the Pope a nationalistic object. POWER shifts to STATES! • Indulgences and Purgatory contributed to reputation of corruption and materialism

8. The Great Schism • 1378: Gregory XI dies  division within the Church. • French Cardinals vote for a French Pope and non-French Cardinals vote for a Pope that lived in Rome. • This continues for several Papal elections… • The two Popes essentially competed against each other.

10. Reactions to the Great Schism • People did not know which Pope to follow??often chose based on politics. • Which Pope spoke for God? How did they know they were following the “right” Pope? • Men, such as John Wycliff [Lollards]and John Hus [eventually burned at the stake], claim that people only need to read the Bible and the church is not needed. • The Great Schism made the Church questionable.

11. CONCILIAR MOVEMENT • Theologians speculate on who should run the church if Pope incompetent… • Council of Bishops. Perhaps?? • Wanted to convert church to kind of a constitutional monarchy • Sought to limit power of the Popes

12. CONCILIAR MOVEMENT • The Council of Pisa, 1409 • Deposed 2 reigning Popes and elect third… • However, first 2 Popes won’t step down so now have 3 Popes! • The Council of Constance, 1414-18 • All Popes were forced to resign. • Pope Martin V was selected and the Great Schism was ended.

13. Religious Chaos • Because of the Chaos within the Catholic Church, the Babylonian Captivity, Great Schism and Conciliar Movement and set the Stage for the Reformation. • These events allow for the Church to be criticized and that there is doubt in the churches infallibility.