Abuses and Criticisms of the Church

VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQP4cYSUn_c 

Canterbury Tales – Geoffrey Chaucer, 1387

-          Very critical of the church

-          Pardoner’s Tell

-          Trickster makes money by selling relics (indulgences)

Simony - selling official positions

• Pope sold 24 offices in one year

• Occurred when priest enjoyed income of a rich parish

Nepotism - promotion of member of one’s family to important positions

• Cardinal Wolsey's son - Provost of Beverly Minister and Dean of Wells

Absenteeism

• Not being in your diocese

• Wolsey - Archbishop of York - didn’t enter for 16 years

Ignorance - uneducated, many clergy were uneducated in their position

Pluralism

• Holding more than one title

• Wolsey - Cardinal, Archbishop of York, Legatus…