Chaucer’s Criticism of the Medieval Catholic Church

Chaucer’s Medieval Clergy easily and often find fault with commoners, yet seem to be oblivious to the dalliances and sins they themselves commit. The vilest hypocrite Chaucer reveals is the Pardoner. While preaching against the sin of avarice, the Pardoner quotes Timothy 1:6 “radix malorum est cupiditas”, or “love of money is the r

The disobedience of the Catholic clergy is illuminated by the disregard they show for the sacred ordination vows they once swore, before God, to uphold. Clergy should be in the world, witnessing to others, they should not be of the world. The Prioress, however, has a worldly air about her. “She took pleasure in good-breeding” and “took pains to imitate the manners of court.” Although the Prioress should radiate agape love for all of mankind, she seems to crave a more secular form of love. Her broach, inscribed with “Amor vincit omnia” or love conquers all, resembles a token from a secular romance. The Friar also appears to be guilty of romantic interludes. The narrator’s account that “he knew the taverns in every town and the innkeepers and tapsters” lends credit to the idea he fraternizes with women of questionable morals. This is in direct disobedience of the vow of celibacy he took upon being ordained into the church. Additionally, the lifestyle the Monk portrays is the exact opposite of the vows a Monk swears to uphold. Monks generally live pious lives, rising early to say prayers and working diligently throughout the day, taking time out of their work only for meager meals and devout prayer. Chaucer’s Monk, on the other hand, finds the “rule of Saint

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