The Reformations That Were Executed by the Council of Trent - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages The council was presided over by three popes: Pope Paul 111, Pope Julius 111, and Pope Pius 1V. The main aim of the council was to articulate, define, and clarify the teachings of the Catholic Church, which was actually under threat from protestant heretical teachings, and to put in place measures to curb widespread corruption in the church among the upper echelons of the church, the clergy. This paper looks at four themes of the Council of Trent. The themes are Reformation, Interpretation of Scripture, Condemnation of Corruption in the Church, and Faith and Works.

Reformation
The reformations that were executed by the Council of Trent were meant to ensure order and efficiency in the Catholic Church and also to curb rampant corruption in the church. The following are the reforms that were made by the Council of Trent. First, the council decreed that bishops must live within their diocese. The bishops also were prohibited from buying or selling religious offices. This measure was meant to curb the common practice of appropriating church properties by rogue bishops. It was also decreed that each bishop had to establish a seminary within his diocese. This was meant to ensure that there were training facilities, within each diocese, for the candidates for the priesthood. The council also decreed that candidates for priesthood had to be firmly grounded in Theology, the candidates also were required to lead a virtuous life (The Council of Trent (1545-1563): Roman Catholic Church, Web.). On corruption in the church, the council decreed that any priest or bishop who would be found guilty of corruption would immediately be suspended and removed from office. All of these reform measures were meant to ensure the effective running of the Church.

Only the Church can interpret the Scripture
On the interpretation of the Scripture, the Council of Trent decreed that only the Church has the authority to interpret the Scripture. By this decree the council fathers in the Council of Trent meant that it is the Magisterium only, the official teaching office of the church that has the authority to interpret the Holy Scriptures. The members of the Catholic Church are supposed to abide by the church interpretations of the Scriptures, and not any other interpretation. This directive was meant to cushion catholic believers from erroneous and heretical interpretations of the Holy Scriptures. This decree on the interpretation of the scripture reinforced the position of the Magisterium as the official teaching office of the church.

The council fathers also condemned the abuse of indulgences by the clergy, and to curb this vice, the fathers reaffirmed the efficacy of the indulgences and put in place cautionary measures to ensure that indulgences are not misused for selfish gains by the clergy. ...Download file to see next pages Read More