1. The Roman Catholic Church was a powerful institution in the Middle Ages.

2. The Roman Catholic Church united people in the Middle Ages. It was the only Christian Church in Western Europe. People paid church taxes and accepted its leadership.

3. The Roman Catholic Church was the largest landowner in Western Europe. It was a wealthy and powerful institution.

4. But some popes were corrupt. Some popes used their position for personal gain and pleasure and were not spiritual leaders.

5. Some popes encouraged the sale of indulgences to raise money for the Church.

6. When a Catholic committed a sin, he had to ask forgiveness through the Church. To show his sincerity when asking for forgiveness, he could buy an indulgence. An indulgence was a piece of paper granting forgiveness.

7. Martin Luther was a German monk. He was deeply troubled by the sale of indulgences.

8. In 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 theses on a Church door in Germany. These statements questioned Church practices.

9. Through reading the Bible, Martin Luther concluded that faith alone could save a person. A person could not be saved through the Church or good works.

10. Church officials asked Luther to repent or ask forgiveness for his actions. Luther refused. The Pope excommunicated Luther.

11. An excommunicated Catholic cannot participate fully in Church sacraments. Luther was cast out of the Catholic Church.

12. Martin Luther left the Church and started his own church, the Lutheran Church. He married and raised a family.

13. The Protestant Reformation or the protest against the Roman Catholic Church led to the end of Christian unity. No longer would one Christian Church exist. Instead, many churches developed. As for Luther, German princes protected him and he lived a long life.

14. Other reformers were not as fortunate.

15. Questions Why was the Roman Catholic Church powerful during the Middle Ages? What were indulgences? Who was opposed to the sale of indulgences? Why was he opposed? What were the 95 Theses? What happened to Martin Luther? Why was the Protestant Reformation an end of Christian unity/