The Roman Catholic Church
The onslaught of death and destruction from war and disease in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries fostered the need for a more personal spiritual guidance. The Roman Catholic Church, facing internal divisions and fiscal abuse, more often than not left its practitioners spiritually destitute and unfulfilled. Its remoteness alone from the day to day lives of its followers, was enough to perpetuate unsatisfaction which was temporairly pacified by the lavish attractions of artistic new cathedrals. With the humiliation of Pope Boniface VIII and growing political disorders in the Papal States, the Papacy began its seventy year exile to Avignon in 1309. With the Papacy now so far removed from the States, petty lords seized the opportunity to defy its authority. The lack of ability to rule over their land damaged the papacies prestige. Why should they obey the Pope when he was situated so far away. Declining Papal prestige was least of their problems. The expense of the move to Avignon was great and the Papal States were unable to supply sufficient funds. Thus began the fiscal abuses of the church, which laid the foundation for corruption. Popes began claiming the income of vacant offices for themselves, while appointing
Dissatisfied with his actions, the College attempted to remove him and elect a new Pope whom returned to Avignon. New forms of Piety began to emerge, although not widespread they lay the foundation for revolutionaries like Wycliffe and Huss to suggest doctrinal reform for the future. Urban remained in Rome in his unwillingness to forfeit his position. Although successful in enlarging the Popes revenues, these monitory abuses came at a cost for the lower clergy. With the church in such a state of distress, the need for a resolution was at the utmost concern. This began the Great Schism of the west. The council was too large and cumbersome. Pope Urban VI best fit this description but he soon began attempts to limit the power of the College. The Church still remained remote and abusive fiscal practices remained along with corruption on all levels. They used the Renaissance as a vehicle for maintaining prestige. Corruption trickled down the ecclesiastical hierarchy into the parish priest. Their resolution was to dispose of the two feuding Popes and to elect another. This effort proved to be far more successful. This was probably because high ecclesiastical offices were now sold for revenue to the highest bidder. Dispensations, that exempt those who could afford it from supervision, delivered a direct blow to the Bishops authority.
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