Final answer:
Martin Luther criticized the Roman Catholic Church for its practice of selling indulgences, promoting the idea that faith alone is sufficient for salvation, which led to the Protestant Reformation. He also advocated for the scripture to be the sole source of Christian authority. The Council of Trent later reaffirmed the Catholic doctrines that Luther opposed.
Step-by-step explanation:
Martin Luther criticized the Roman Catholic Church due to its practices of selling indulgences, which he argued corrupted the church's spiritual authority and detracted from the true path to salvation. Luther's major contention was with the Church's view that salvation could be achieved through good works and buying indulgences, asserting instead that salvation comes solely through faith. His views sparked what is known as the Protestant Reformation. Frances de Sales' major achievement is not accurately represented in the options provided, but he is known for his role in the Counter-Reformation and as a Catholic bishop who worked to convert Protestants back to Catholicism.
Luther’s teachings emphasized that scripture alone should be the source of Christian authority, diverging significantly from the Catholic Church’s interpretation which included tradition and papal authority. His protest began with the publication of The Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, condemning the sale of indulgences and calling for a return to biblical teachings.
The Council of Trent, which convened as part of the Counter-Reformation, reaffirmed many of the Catholic doctrines that Luther had challenged, such as the importance of both faith and works for salvation, the validity of indulgences, and the authority of the Church's tradition and the Pope.