the Protestant Reformation began because a rich fella wanted to buy 2 (two) bishoprics as his diocese -- and even though this was against Papal law to govern 2 bishoprics, the pope acceded because he wanted the money to develop some cathedrals
first instance of corruption at the very top
then we have a fella Tetzel working for that rich young ruler, on commission in selling Indulgences to raise the funds to give to the Pope's building work -- literally saying that every time a coin in the collection box would ring, a soul from purgatory would spring
(usually that of a poor tortured relative who has passed and was undergoing the shriving before entrance to heaven)
this mean that the Church was saying that what it bound in Heaven and Earth could be bought for a price, which is literal Simony -- named for Simon Magus who wanted to buy the miraculous powers of God the Holy Spirit -- and an accursed evil in the writings of St. Paul
this was extreme levels of corruption at the highest level
so Luther, being a very devout Catholic who cared for the poor as a shepherd of the flock should, writes his little theses, asking for an in-house discussion about the practice of selling indulgence; never expecting the reaction of common people who didn't read Latin
but the reaction of the Papacy was aggressive in the extreme, with murder plots and all manner of evil being aimed at a little guy who just wanted a chat -- expecting his Pope to be a good man, the very image of Christ on Earth, and thinking he could surely not be behind such predation on the poor and desperate
eh, but it turns out that just like every pope since the 500's, he was a raving antichrist who speaks blasphemies and makes himself the literal king of the world... and when all the good and sincere catholics woke up to the fact, the knew that the RCC was too far gone for internal correction, so they took their ball and went home to the true Church, obeying the Christ who says "come out of her, My People"
Attached: the virgin bride unpolluted by the world.jpg (781x1024, 307.21K)