Canons and Decrees of the Council of Trent

Questions for Further Study

• 1. The entry makes frequent reference to Martin Luther and his Ninety-five Theses. Read that entry and then make a list of five quotations from the theses that you think the Council of Trent found particularly objectionable.
• 2. The sixteenth century was a time of great religious turmoil in Europe, and that religious turmoil spread into politics. What impact did the Protestant Reformation have on Europe, and how did the Council of Trent try to respond?
• 3. At the Council of Trent, the Catholic Church seemed to “dig in its heels” on various matters of doctrine and Church practice. How do you think European history and the history of Christianity might have been different if the Catholic Church had adopted a more flexible attitude? Why do you think it refused to do so?
• 4. What impact, if any, do you think the Canons and Decrees still have in the twenty-first century?
• 5. In the sixteenth century, membership in a certain faith and adherence to its doctrines were matters of great moment to people, often leading to wars and persecution. In the twenty-first century, few people are likely to even pay attention to whether a person is, say, a Lutheran or a Catholic—and indeed, these and other churches engage in outreach to find common ground. What do you think has led to these changes in attitude toward religion?