Final answer:
The Catholic Church initially condemned the Reformation's ideas and worked to suppress them, culminating in the Counter-Reformation, where reforms were passed in the Council of Trent and new religious orders like the Jesuits were created to stop the spread of Protestantism. The correct option is A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Catholic Church's response to the Reformation was multifaceted and evolved over time.
Initially, the Church condemned the ideas of the Reformation and actively worked to suppress them, which can be seen in its excommunication of Martin Luther and engagement in various religious wars aimed at curtailing the spread of Protestantism.
This is illustrated by the official response known as the Counter-Reformation, which included the Council of Trent where reforms were enacted to address corruption and abuses, affirming both faith and good works as necessary for salvation, as well as the importance of both scripture and tradition.
The Catholic Reformation also led to the establishment of new religious orders, such as the Jesuits, and renewed political and spiritual efforts to reclaim the influence that was being challenged by Protestant beliefs. The correct option is A.