... the abolishment of clerical abuses and reform. John XXII (1316-1334) was heavily intent on sanitizing the church finances and reforming church administration, which were disastrous after the rule of Clement V. Benedict XI was John's successor (1334-1342), and was in tune with the ending of nepotism, corruption, and malpractice among clergy. He reduced the bureaucracy and distributed land estates granted ... in feudal tenure to those clergy who were apt and able but also of good repute. Benedicts well off deeds were undone in large part due to Clement VI (1342-1352) and his spendthrift w...

• Word Count: 1761
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... would give the Protestant Reformation a chance. The Babylonian Captivity is an early example of the turmoil that plagued the Church. Philip of France was able to manipulate the appointment of Clement V for the papacy and with that the Church was moved to Avignon, France. Not only did this move rattle Catholicism to its core in terms of whether or not the ... in distress again. The Papal Schism would rear its ugly head and with that the cry for reform again presented itself. Bartolomeo Prignano, Urban VI, and Clement VII would all claim the right to the papal office, with Clement VII win...

• Word Count: 2257
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... cash was going to the clergy, who were becoming worldlier by the day. Even the papacy, the highest representative of God's church on Earth, had become almost mortally corrupted. Pope Clement VI's "luxurious court and gorgeous retinue were those of a secular prince, not a prince of the church- (Kelly 220). Even literature of the period portrays the clergy as being over-wealthy. There ... jobs had been filled, the appointees created more new offices to sell for profit. The practice of creating new offices as a fund-raiser is most documented with the popes. Alexander VI created eighty prev...

• Word Count: 1267
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... cash was going to the clergy, who were becoming worldlier by the day. Even the papacy, the highest representative of God's church on Earth, had become almost mortally corrupted. Pope Clement VI's "luxurious court and gorgeous retinue were those of a secular prince, not a prince of the church- (Kelly 220). Even literature of the period portrays the clergy as being over-wealthy. There ... jobs had been filled, the appointees created more new offices to sell for profit. The practice of creating new offices as a fund-raiser is most documented with the popes. Alexander VI created eighty prev...

• Word Count: 1366
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School