The ‘counter reformation’ or Catholic Reform was brought about by many reasons. The Church was becoming very corrupt; the abuses of indulgences and such had many outraged. The two biggest reasons for the Reform was the emergence Protestantism and the great Schism. When the combined effects two phenomena proved too much there was finally an uprising and a reformation that has lasted the test of time.
“Early calls for reform grew out of criticism of the worldly attitudes and policies of the Renaissance popes and many of the clergy.” In other words, the upper clergy of the church acted more like royalty than humble men of God, the power entrusted to the church meant that the pope had to deal with politics as well as lead the church. Thus the saying ‘Power corrupts’. Before long, the clergy realised its full potential and sought to exploit it for their own personal gain. “A key factor in the stagnation in Christendom was the general worldliness and negligence of the prelates...” Forsaking of duties by churchmen was one of the foremost reasons in the accidental formation of the Great Schism.
“The Great Schism is the title given to the rift that formed in the Church in the eleventh century A.D.” When Pope Gregory XI died, the College of Cardinals was forced to elect a new Italian pope to lead the church. When Pope Urban VI was elected, he threatened to ‘reform’ the college if the opposing cardinals did not adhere to his lead. Unable to change their predicament, the French cardinals fled from Rome. Believing it safe in Avignon they met and declared that the “...election of Urban was invalid and void because they had acted under duress.” Oddly enough, they chose a Frenchman as Pope. Now divided, the church began competing with itself. “When t ...