At the outbreak of the Reformation in the sixteenth century, the Catholic Church
A)was still accustomed to influence all aspects of European life despite its recent troubles.
B)had been criticized for centuries for neglecting its primary spiritual mission.
C)was criticized for being preoccupied with wealth and power.
D)was being challenged by humanists newly empowered by the success of the Renaissance.
E)all of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All of the above statements are true. The Catholic Church was still accustomed to wielding significant influence over all aspects of European life, despite its recent troubles such as the Avignon Papacy and the Western Schism. The criticism that the Church had neglected its primary spiritual mission had been mounting for centuries, with figures such as Dante and Petrarch expressing their dissatisfaction with the state of the Church. Additionally, the accumulation of wealth and power by the Church had also come under fire. Finally, humanists who were inspired by the success of the Renaissance were challenging the authority and teachings of the Church.

At the Outbreak of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century