FREE ESSAY ON THE CONCILIAR MOVEMENT AND SCHISM

THE CONCILIAR MOVEMENT AND SCHISM

Exemplified by the Babylonian Captivity, the problems, which aroused in the eleventh
century papacy, were nothing that could be overlooked. Eventually causing the schism and
conciliar movement, the corruption of those leaders of the Catholic Church was caused by
a question of who had more power, the king or the pope? The quest for more power in the
papacy resulted in the beginning of the reform movement, another reason for the European
states to politically separate, and caused the church to reevaluate its system of power.
A question of power and control was plaguing the pope and the king. Attacks ricocheted
back and forth between Pope Boniface the VIII and King Philip IV, each thought they held
more power than the other did. In earlier days, it would have been no question as to whom
could manipulate the other into giving up power, the pope would only have to threaten
excommunication and the king would give in to the papal demands. 
Philip was not one to fear excommunication as those ahead of him had; the Church was not
greater than he was. Eventually Philip tired of the games between himself and the papacy
and had Boniface killed to settle the problem. This only lead to a greater argument.
The inability to bargain with the royalty in Italy drove the papacy to take a liking to
the French offer to move the center of the Church to Avignon. France sees the power in
holding the Church within its lands and persuades the papal leaders to bring the Church
on French soil. The move of the Church marked an uprising of immorality among the Church
leaders. 
The papacy was known for their immoral behavior, bearing children, having affairs, being
publicly drunk, and even participating in orgies. The papacy also participated in the
sale of indulgences, in which they gave positions in the church as well as forgiveness
and salvation for money. The conditions were bad in Italy, some leaders wanted to go
back, but instead they took advantage of France.
A reaction to the decline of morals among church leaders, many people began to question
the Universal Church. Lead by such people as John Wycliffe and Jan Hus, the reform
movement began. Reformers believed that the middleman should be removed-the popes,
bishops, cardinals-and that people could have direct contact with God. There would be no
dependence on corrupt Church leaders to save you; your salvation was based on faith
alone.
After many arguments and pleas from the people, the papacy is moved back to Rome, only to
enter the period of The Great Schism. Pope Urban VI comes into power and loses favor of
some other leaders. Everyone in the papacy is so used to self-indulgence, they decide
they have the right to elect another pope if they so choose. Pope Clement VII is elected.
Thus begins the schism; Clement VII is taken to Avignon to continue immoral-moral
practices while Urban VI remains in Rome, causing two popes from which to choose
allegiance and two centers of the Church.
Religion was a large part of Europeans' lives during this period, other countries could
not sit back and watch the church be controlled by only two countries. Diplomatic
allegiance choices were made according to long standing rivalries. England supports Italy
and Urban VI because of their shaky relations with France, while the Scots back France
because of their relations with England. The schism gives rivaling countries yet another
reason to separate themselves from one another; it feeds the already existing fire.
It has come to the realization of the leaders of the Church that this matter must be
resolved. The Conciliar Movement begins in order to create a church council to regulate
power of the papacy, end the abuses, and end the schism. The Council of Pisa began the
remedying process by deciding a council will share the power and decision making with the
papacy. A new pope was elected at this meeting, yet all people still do not recognize
him, which allows the problems and schism to continue. 
A meeting of the Council of Constance finally ends the schism. Attempts for the balance
of power through a church council failed; the pope would not approve seeing as it
involved the resignation of his ultimate power. The abuses only get worse in the papacy,
yet all efforts were not futile.
Ultimately, the Catholic Church was not changed; it was only shaken up. The papacy still
stuck to their belief in the Unum Sanctum of 1300, which declared papal infallibility,
meaning the abuses could continue since they could do no wrong. The end of the conciliar
movement was marked by the apparent accomplishment of nothing. Foreign relations
continued as were: everyone looking for a reason to gang up on everyone else. The schism
and abuses of the papacy laid down the foundation to reformation, which did not help the
Universal Catholic Church, only destroyed it.