Question

Which option accurately describes the relationship between the Catholic Church and public literacy prior to the humanist movement?

Prior to the humanist movement, the Catholic Church advocated the importance of literacy and founded public universities.

Prior to the humanist movement, the Catholic Church distributed Bibles to the populace to help promote literacy and Catholicism.

Prior to the humanist movement, the Catholic Church was predominately illiterate except for a few high-ranking bishops.

Prior to the humanist movement, the Catholic Church only provided literacy education for catholic clergy.

Answer 1

Prior to the humanist movement, the Catholic Church only provided literacy education for catholic clergy. The simple fact is that prior to the Humanism movement, the printing press did not exist. Admittedly, the Church also preferred to have a less-educated populace in order to better control them. However, Gutenberg's movable type press did not exist until the 15th Century. And therefore, literacy education would have only been provided to those who had ask to the handwritten bibles, which would have been elites, like kings and queens or clergy of the church.

Answer 2

The answer is that prior to the humanist movement, Catholics believed in educating the clergy, especially the higher ranking members. They preferred to keep the people less educated and more easily swayed.