Answer:
The correct answers to the statement: Identify two specific ways the Catholic Church tried to stop the spread of Protestantism, are: 1. They excommunicated and banned followers and supporters of known Protestant leaders and movements and 2. They started the Counter Reformation.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Protestantism emerged and began to gain ground, especially in certain European nations, like Germany, England, and others, the first response of the Catholic Church was an aggressive one. Initially, they encouraged the persecution and execution of Protestant leaders and supporters, and their movements. However, when this did not prove enough, the Church initiated a process of excommunication and banning in the 14th century. Even then, that step wasn´t enough as more and more movements arose, especially as they were being protected by Germany, and other protestant nations. In the end, the one most effective step that was taken was the Counter Reformation, which started with the Council of Trent, where many of the practices for which the Church was being accused, and which had fed the Protestant movement, were either reversed, abolished, or changed.