Final answer:
The Council of Trent decided that salvation required both faith and good works, and it enacted reforms to improve clerical discipline, including banning the sale of indulgences and enhancing clergy education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Council of Trent made several key decisions aimed at reforming the practices and doctrines of the Catholic Church. Two important changes decided by the Council were the clarification on the role of good works and faith for salvation, and the introduction of regulations to reform and improve clerical discipline and administration.
Key Decisions of the Council of Trent
- The Council underscored that both good works and faith were essential for salvation, countering Martin Luther's emphasis on faith alone. This decision reinforced the Catholic doctrine of merit, wherein believers can achieve redemption through good works and the observance of sacraments.
- To improve Church administration, the Council prohibited the sale of indulgences and introduced measures such as preventing church officials from appointing relatives, limiting bishops to one bishopric, and enhancing the education of clergy.
These decisions were part of the Catholic Counter-Reformation's efforts to respond to the critiques and reforms sparked by the Protestant Reformation. The Council's rulings had long-lasting impacts on the practices and theological stance of the Catholic Church.