The Reformation- Key Terms

protestant

at first, a supporter of the reform of the Catholic Church. Later, a member of the churches that broke away

simony

the buying or selling of positions within the church

nepotism

the appointing of relatives to church jobs, regardless of merit

pluralism 

holding more than one church job at the same time 

absenteeism

a priest or bishop being absent from their church or diocese for long periods of time

sale of indulgences

the selling of special prayers that were said to reduce the time a soul spent in purgatory 

excommunication

expulsion from the catholic church and being unable to receive the sacraments 

heresy

knowingly holding beliefs that went against the official  teachings of the church 

predestination

the belief that god had already decided before a person was born whether or not they would go to heaven 

courts of inquisition

catholic courts set up during the counter-reformation to arrest, try and punish anyone thought to be a threat to the church’s teachings