What helped the curtail the spread of protestantism?

Answer 1

The Catholic Counter -Reformation.

The Counter-Reformation was a broad effort of four major elements:

Ecclesiastical or structural reconfiguration

Religious orders

Spiritual movements

Political dimensions

The reforms included the foundation of seminaries, training of priests in the spiritual life and the theological traditions of the Church.

Political activities included the Roman Inquisition.

One emphasis of the Counter-Reformation was a mission to reach parts of the world that had been colonized as Predominantly Catholic and also try to reconvert areas such as Sweden and England that was at one time Roman Catholic.

Answer 2

The Enlightenment had a damaging effect on religion of all types, including Protestantism. When humans rely on evidence to make decisions, religion falters.