Explain Why There Was Criticism of the Clergy Around 1529:
Explain why there was criticism of the clergy around 1529:
There was criticism of the personnel of the church both high and low, from village priests to roman cardinals; criticism of lifestyles; criticism of the clergy seen as not fully committed to or measure up to Christian ideals. All of these strands of criticism were of long standing in England and elsewhere in Europe. Anti-clericalism and antipapalism had little real threat to the English church in the 1520’s. Erastainism usually operated to uphold the church and its powers, but in the late 1520’s because of the peculiar set of circumstances, it would be the main force that brought about the reformation.
An example of critisism against the clergy was brought about by Colet in his sermon of 1511. He was a humanist scholar and dean st Paul’s church who preached a sermon which attacked the major problems and abuses within the church. He claimed that too many of the clergy who served the church was unduly ambitious. He described the clergy as, “greedy and covetous, who took much interest in worldly affairs.” In this time the duty of a clergyman was to serve go and so all their interests should morally be to this the affair of God although as Colet states this was not always the case. Many of the clergy also had affairs politically such as Wolsey who was Henry 8th Lord Chancellor and so, “controlled the legal system.” (Thornes) He also had other duties, for instance he has archbishop of York as well as being the archdiocese of Canterbury which was called pluralism and was criticised by the people of England. Pluralism is the holding by a single person of more than one ecclesiastical benefice or office this meant that the clergy were neglecting their duties as it was impossible to for fill all their roles without overlooking important factors of being a clergyman. This could consequently lead to what was known as absenteeism which was the usual failure to appear or neglect ones duty. When this occurred
There was criticism of the personnel of the church both high and low, from village priests to roman cardinals; criticism of lifestyles; criticism of the clergy seen as not fully committed to or measure up to Christian ideals. All of these strands of criticism were of long standing in England and elsewhere in Europe. Anti-clericalism and antipapalism had little real threat to the English church in the 1520’s. Erastainism usually operated to uphold the church and its powers, but in the late 1520’s because of the peculiar set of circumstances, it would be the main force that brought about the reformation.
An example of critisism against the clergy was brought about by Colet in his sermon of 1511. He was a humanist scholar and dean st Paul’s church who preached a sermon which attacked the major problems and abuses within the church. He claimed that too many of the clergy who served the church was unduly ambitious. He described the clergy as, “greedy and covetous, who took much interest in worldly affairs.” In this time the duty of a clergyman was to serve go and so all their interests should morally be to this the affair of God although as Colet states this was not always the case. Many of the clergy also had affairs politically such as Wolsey who was Henry 8th Lord Chancellor and so, “controlled the legal system.” (Thornes) He also had other duties, for instance he has archbishop of York as well as being the archdiocese of Canterbury which was called pluralism and was criticised by the people of England. Pluralism is the holding by a single person of more than one ecclesiastical benefice or office this meant that the clergy were neglecting their duties as it was impossible to for fill all their roles without overlooking important factors of being a clergyman. This could consequently lead to what was known as absenteeism which was the usual failure to appear or neglect ones duty. When this occurred