The Reasons for the Reformation
There are several reasons why the Reformation began. Almost all of them revolve around the fact that the Church was corrupt. The Pope focused more on wealth and power than helping to teach Christianity. Bishops neglected their duties and lived in luxury. Many priests were poorly trained. Some priests even sold indulgences, which are sheets of paper that pardon you from a sin and allow you to go to heaven. Others broke their vows and married when they were not supposed to.
Priest selling indulgences
Martin Luther
All of these actions upsetted a monk known as Martin Luther. He had gone on a visit to Rome and was furious when he saw these things. He protested by writing the 95 These, which were a list of all the problems of the Church, and posted them on the doors of many churches. However, many church leaders disliked what he had done and excommunicated him. Later, the Holy Roman Emperor called for the Diet of Worms, a meeting at the city of Worms, where they asked Luther to retract his beliefs. He refused and was soon declared an outlaw. As a result, he fled to one of his friend's castles where he hid from the Church. He soon founded his own Protestant sect known as Lutherism.
