Weaknesses of the Church

What offence was associated with the Church?

Corruption

What were examples of corruption?

Pluralism and non-residence

What’s pluralism?

Receiving the profits of more than one post

What’s non-residence?

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

What was an example of a corrupt clergyman?

Cardinal Wolsey

Why were many clergymen guilty?

The Crown used Church offices as a way of rewarding those of its officials who were clergymen

What’s anticlericalism?

Opposition to the political and social importance of the clergy

What did some lawyers object the influence of?

Canon lawW

What’s canon law?

Law of the church

What did people object to?

Legal privileges of the clergy

What’s an example of clerical misconduct which did cause criticism?

Death of Richard Hunne

What were there occasional disputes over?

Tithes

What did Wolsey secure the dissolution of and why?

20 houses in the 1520s to fund the establishment of Cardinal College, Oxford.

What had larger monasteries become in effect?

Substantial businesses with huge resources in terms of land and buildings.

What were flourishing right up to the final days of the dissolution?

Orders such as Observant Franciscans and Bridgettines

What did Simon Fish write?

The Supplication of the Beggars

Who was Simon Fish?

An early Protestant convert who was dedicated to H8 W

What was the book attacking?

Many aspects of the Catholic Church and portrayed it as being greedy, corrupt ad treacherous.