Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent

Audience

The work of the council was addressed to two audiences—the members of the Roman Catholic Church and Protestants. In the case of the first group, the council confirmed its dogmas on issues of faith and presented a number of reforms of the Church as an institution. With regard to Protestants, the council refused to debate with them and consider their proposals and different interpretations of Church history, sacraments, and doctrinal matters. In all issues on which Protestants differed from the See of Rome, the council upheld its traditional stand, at the same time pronouncing heretics anathema.