The Catholic Church in England

what corruptions were there in the Catholic church

pluralism, simony, absenteeism

what is pluralism

receiving the profits of more than one post

what is simony

the purchase of Church office

what was absenteeism

receiving the profits of a post, but not being present to perform the duties associated with it

what is anticlericalism

Opposition to the political & social importance of the clergy

why did some common lawyers object to canon law (the law of the church)

the legal privileges of the clergy

what was a example of the legal privileges of the clergy

Richard Hunne

what was the Richard Hunne case

Richard Hunne (a London merchant) was found dead in his cell, it appeared he hanged himself, but it was deciphered by the coroner’s jury that this was not the case & his death was most likely some botched form of torture.

when was the Richard Hunne case

1515

what is the effect of the Richard Hunne case

Disastrous for the short-term reputation of the church, but was not at the forefront of the minds of the critics of the church

precedents for absolving religious houses existed by the…

1530s

what did Wolsey do in the 1520s

Wolsey secured the dissolution of 20 monasteries to fund the establishment of Cardinal College, Oxford. 

how is decline of monasticism evidence for problems of the church

Some historians have suggested that monasticism was a relic of the bygone age and had lost its sense of direction, with the larger monasteries having become substantial businesses. The ease and speed of which monasteries were dissolved supports this argument.