The papal party finally
realized the seriousness of the challenge to its moral authority--and in
1546 called a Council at Trent to answer the Protestant charges of ecclesiastical
corruption and theological deviation. Rigid discipline was reimposed over
the priests who remained loyal to Rome. Luther's teaching on divine
grace and justification alone by faith was condemned. A campaign was readied
to wipe out any "heretics" not ready to return to Roman discipline. The
war was thus on.
The Roman church, championed
by the most powerful ruling family in Europe (the Spanish Habsburgs)--well-financed
from their plunder of South and Central America--fought back--cruelly,
trying to stamp out the fires of the Protestant revolt. They succeeded
in many places--and might have been fully successful had not the Muslim
Turks attacked Vienna--the Eastern center of Habsburg power--during the
height of this struggle. With the Habsburgs thus distracted, Protestantism
dug in. |
Miles
H. Hodges - 2006
