At first the Catholic Church reverted to the historic practices of banning and excommunication, followed by military repression. When these methods failed to stop the spread of Protestantism the Catholic Church turned to the Counter Reformation.As Protestantism swept across many parts of Europe, the Catholic Church reacted by making limited reforms, curbing earlier abuses, and combating the further spread of Protestantism. This movement is known as the Catholic Counter-Reformation.What were the three key elements of the Catholic Reformation, and why were they so important to the Catholic Church in the 17th century? The founding of the Jesuits, reform of the papacy, and the Council of Trent. They were important because they unified the church, help spread the gospel, and validated the church.
It started a revolution that showed the world that it was possible to overthrow an empire. It was the beginning of a push for democracy all over the world.
