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How Did Martin Luther Use Indulgences Affect The Catholic Church?

120 Words1 Pages
Prior to the Protestant Reformation, only one form of Christianity existed in Europe - Roman Catholicism. The pope, along with many priests, not only controlled their subjects financially but spiritually. Clergy lived ostentatiously much to the bewilderment of their parishioners. The Catholic Church in Rome had become very wealthy owning assorted assets. Moreover, the only way people could connect with God was through a priest. One way the pope and priests were able to raise money for their projects was through indulgence. Indulgences allowed the parishioner to “buy” their way out of purgatory faster. A German priest, Martin Luther, was dismayed by the use of indulgences and in an effort to correct the Catholic Church’s error wrote the 95
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