What types of corruption existed in the church in the 14th century?

Answer 1

The papacy and the church in general are seriously corrupt during this time being marked especially by four problems:

1. Simony (buying and selling church positions).

2. Pluralism (a single person having several church positions, simply to make more money).

3. Absenteeism (church leaders being absent from their churches, often because they had several positions).

4. Nepotism (naming relative to positions of power in the church).

This was followed by the "Great Western Schism" (1378-1423) in which there were 2 (or even 3) Popes in Europe at one time, usually on in Avignon and on in Rome. All of Europe chooses sides. (This is related to the 100 years war).

The "Counciliar Movement" responds to this crisis by calling for church councils as the best way to resolve the disputes surrounding the papacy and to bring church reform. Members of this movement believe that the authority of a council is greater than the authority of a pope (some members of the movement believed the authority of The Bible was higher than either, but the Bible did not address some controversial issues). The Council of Pisa (1409) fails to resolve the division in the church, leading ultimately to three popes eyeing the power!

The Conciliar Movement eventually succeeds in ending the Great Western Schism (through the Council of Constance in 1414-1418), but it has it own divisions (see also the Council of Basel, 1431-1438). Toward the end of the Middle Ages, the Papacy is united in Rome, but falls prey to the new temptations of wealth and artistic glory that are present in the Italian Renaissance. The popes become more concerned with building extravagant buildings and commissioning art than with leading the church spiritually. Pope also became involved with civil wars in Italy in an effort to consolidate their power.