How was the church corrupt in the Middle Ages?

Question

How was the church corrupt in the Middle Ages?

pleasee help!!! looking for best answer ;)!!!

Additional Details

ok--- how is the church corrupt?
but in the middle ages what was it that made it corrupt?

The catholic church

Answer 1

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When Emperor Constantine became Christian he made Christianity the official relgion of the empire. This was a bad move - I've heard it described as the "Curse of Constantine" - because the church then became a social and political stepping stone for people who weren't really interested in what the original church stood for. However, they wanted the "status" that came with the job.

The tradition of finding a second son a place in the church (generally as a priest) started. Too often these young noblemen had never frequented the church before they were suddenly supposed to lead it. This lead to absenteeism (where a "priest" would hire someone else to actually do his job for half (or less) of what the parish was paying him while he went off and led the life of a "gentleman of leisure) and also simony (the buying and selling of clerical offices), both of which lead invariably to corruption.

Source(s):

Rodney Stark, _For the Glory of God_ (Princeton University Press)

Answer 2

Maybe they were run by the king.

Answer 3

WAS CORRUPT? THEY STILL ARE

Answer 4

It still is corrupt. There's cases of child molestation and money laundering til this day.

People trying to make a buck off faith. So sad.

Answer 5

the same as it is now

Answer 6

The church was corrupt in the middle ages because they believed that you "NEED" to believe what they believe or else you are evil and you are put to death.

Answer 7

During the reformation they sold indulgences, which would allow you to basically buy your way into heaven. This was mostly led by John Tetzel. Martin Luther fought against it. That's really all i can remember. hope i helped!

Answer 8

which church are you talking about...Lutheranism and Protestants came about in the Middle Ages.

But in general, the Roman Catholic Church was corrupted by greed. The Pope's and his priests, bishop's and cardinals were more like politicians rather than spiritual leaders. They burned ppl at the stake regularly for questioning the King's or the Church for heresy or witchcraft.

Answer 9

nepotism where they gave positions to relatives, absenteeism where they were absent from their duties, they also let people pay for the agreement that they would not go through pergatory (simony selling of church positions etc ). thats all i can think of off the top of my head but i think there may have been more.
i just remember learning a number of sins they committed, but this all resulted in them having to give up all their money and take a vow of poverty, which is why the church stopped being so rich and why the priests are like they are now.
before this they were very wealthy. if i think of any more ill come back and let you know though.

Source(s):

I have a degree in this area in history :)

Answer 10

If you are referring to the Vatican, it would be the fact that the position of Pope was being sold by the Church. It didn't matter what your background was as long as the money was up front.

Answer 11

THE CHURCHES ARE STILL CORRUPT ...

Source(s):

LAPSED CATHOLIC STILL NOT CONVINCED AFTER 30+ YEARS

Answer 12

All religions are corrupt in the same way. They steal your divinity and try to sell it back to you.

Answer 13

There were some clerics in the church that sold Indulgences.
Christ died freely for the forgiveness of sins so that whoever believed that he rose from the dead and called on him would be saved; saved by Grace not by deeds or intercessors. The Church became corrupted when some of the leaders turned it into a business enterprise. Read the New Testament and look at the way some of the Churches are run today. Do you think Jesus would approve?

Answer 14

How was it not?

1--first off, the church would take roll at all the services and if you weren't present, you'd get in trouble

2--no chairs or pews to sit in

3--the selling of indulgences

4--the worship of Mary

5--the belief that the Pope could change the Bible because he was always right

6--Legalism

7--Because the people couldn't read, they could say whatever they wanted to and people would believe it so they had almost complete control over the people

Source(s):

Common Sense

Answer 15

all religion is a corruption of the free-will and peace among mankind.

Answer 16

For example, there were popes who had children and called them nieces and nephew -- Lucretia Borgia and her brother were the children of a pope.
When St. Peters in Rome was being built, there was a big squeeze for money, and that was resented in many places. The sale of "indulgences" was part of that.
The people who controlled the Catholic church were often nobles closely related to the ruling princes, and the church was used as a means for those princely families keeping their power and wealth.
With the Reformation, the same kind of use of the church continued by the princes.