One major difference: The Protestant Reformation challenged and ultimately rejected the authority of the pope. The Catholic Reformation aimed at affirming the authority of the pope.
<u>Details about Protestant Reformation:</u>
The Protestant Reformation is noted as beginning with Martin Luther's posting of what are commonly called "The 95 Theses." The official title of Luther's document, which he put forth on October 31, 1517, as theses for debate, was: Disputation on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences. Indulgences were papers issued by the authority of the pope that granted the person obtaining them the removal of penance owed in regard to their sins. Luther objected not only to the fact that these papers were being peddled for money, but questioned many of the doctrinal foundations behind the use of indulgences.
As Luther continued his reform efforts, he protested not only indulgences, but the revering of relics, prayers to saints, the authority of the pope, and more. Many of the long-standing Catholic Church traditions were challenged. Other reformers, such as Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin, also became part of the Protestant Reformation activity.
Luther and the other Protestant reformers proclaimed salvation as a gift of God's grace, rather than something earned by human efforts. The Roman Catholic Church spoke of God's grace also, but as an enabling power that helped human beings do the works required for obtaining salvation. The reformers still preached that we should do good works, but said those works were a fruit of being saved rather than a source of salvation.
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<u>Details about Catholic Reformation</u>:
The Roman Catholic Church responded to the Protestant Reformation in a number of ways intended to strengthen its own stance and its hold on church power. This movement by the Catholic Church is known as the Counter-Reformation or the Catholic Reformation. It included a number of features, such as:
- The formation of religious orders that aimed to build allegiance to Rome and the papacy, and to educate people in Catholic teaching. The Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits for short, was a key order of this sort. The order was founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534, along with Francis Xavier and several others.
- The Council of Trent served to reform some abuses that were acknowledged by the Catholic Church, but mostly to assert the full authority of Roman power and doctrine over the Protestant threat. The Council of Trent held meetings over a span of years from 1545 to 1563.
- The Roman Inquisition was founded in 1542 to act as an investigative body in regard to threats to Rome's teachings. About a century later, Galileo would be one of the most famous persons tried by the Roman Inquisition.
