The Conciliar Movement and Schism

The Conciliar Movement and Schism

Exemplified by the "Babylonian Captivity," the problems, which aroused in the eleventh century papacy, were nothing that could be overlooked. Eventually causing the schism and conciliar movement, the corruption of those leaders of the Catholic Church was caused by a question of who had more power, the king or the pope? The quest for more power in the papacy resulted in the beginning of the reform movement, another reason for the European states to politically separate, and caused the church to reevaluate its system of power.

A question of power and control was plaguing the pope and the king. Attacks ricocheted back and forth between Pope Boniface the VIII and King Philip IV, each thought they held more power than the other did. In earlier days, it would have been no question as to whom could manipulate the other into giving up power, the pope would only have to threaten excommunication and the king would give in to the papal demands.

Philip was not one to fear excommunication as those ahead of him had; the Church was not greater than he was. Eventually Philip tired of the games between himself and the papacy and had Boniface killed to settle the problem. This only lead to a greater argument.

The inability to bargain with the royalty in Italy drove the papacy to take a liking to the French offer to move the center of the Church to Avignon. France sees the power in holding the Church within its lands and persuades the papal leaders to bring the Church on French soil. The move of the Church marked an uprising of immorality among the Church leaders.

The papacy was known for their immoral behavior, bearing children, having affairs, being publicly drunk, and even participating in orgies. The papacy also participated in the sale of indulgences, in which they gave positions in the church as well as forgiveness and salvation for money. The conditions were bad in Italy, some leaders wanted to go back, but instead they took advantage of France.

A reaction to the decline of morals among church leaders, many people began to question the Universal Church. Lead by such people as John Wycliffe and Jan Hus, the reform movement began. Reformers believed that the middleman should be removed-the popes, bishops, cardinals-and that people could have direct contact with God.