Corruption and reform in the church

Simony

Buying or selling church office (**Acts 8); seen as leading to immoral leaders

Lay investiture

King/political leader invested bishops with their symbols of religious authority; seen as giving state power over church

Sexual immorality

Sexual behavior that violated church teachings and moral standards

Marriage of clergy

Single = less distracted, sexual unity = evil (in cases of extreme asceticism)

Cluny

Influential monastery; monks targeted corruption in monasteries and churches

Henry III

Holy roman emperor; handpicked popes from reforming backgrounds (being chosen not based on politics but piety)

Free/canonical elections

Church leaders chose other church leaders; seen as less of an opportunity for bias or corruption (**Pope Nicholas II created the college of cardinals, responsible for choosing the pope)

Celibacy of clergy

Total abstinence from sex and marriage; seen as total devotion to God and the church