Question

How did the practice of selling indulgences contribute to the Protestant Reformation?

A. They led people to believe that the Catholic Church was too concerned with material wealth.
B. They angered people because they were only given to those who spoke Latin.
C. They caused the deaths of nearly 25 percent of Europe's population.
D. They resulted in a violent struggle for power between rival Catholic popes.

Answer 1

The correct answer is A. Indulgences posed a great threat because the Pope's were taking money from others. Indulgences was a hoax because they said if you have offerings, it would minus off years in purgatory.

Answer 2

The first answer is correct (A).

The Catholic leaders were followers of the doctrine of St. Thomas Aquinas, who defended the idea that salvation was not by faith but by good works. It was believed that forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation could be achieved through payment in cash, which would be used to finance Church expenses. This practice led to the processes of abuse and corruption that were denounced by Martin Luther, being one of the main reasons for the Protestant Reformation.