Christian Unity (the book) - The Maranatha Community

CHAPTER 4THE SECOND GREAT SPLIT: WESTERN CHRISTENDOM TORNAPART – THE PROTESTANT UPHEAVALInnocent III’s papal reign (1198-1216) epitomises the Western ideal of theChurch as having powers both temporal and spiritual. In his reigntransubstantiation was set down as a dogma and auricular confession to apriest was enforced. In his reign both Henry IV of France and John of Englandwere forced to bow to the Pope’s will. In his reign attempts were made toextirpate heresy, particularly of the Cathari (Albigensians) in Southern France.From the cradle to the grave, for both rich and poor, the Church ruled all of life– though the rich had the prospect of a better life beyond death as they paidfor the mitigation of pains in purgatory by having masses said for them.Rumblings of discontent against the power of Pope and priest arose in Englandas early as Bishop Grosseteste of Lincoln (1170-1253). Almost all his life,Grosseteste was deeply disturbed by the worldliness of the Church and thestifling effect of the centralised power of the Roman Curia. He was a scholar,Biblical commentator, theologian and scientist. His treatise De Luce (‘On Light’)suggested that light was the first form of all matter to be created.In 1235 he left the academic life of Oxford to become Bishop of Lincoln. As apastor he had a zealous concern to remove clergy living a worldly life, bothreligious and secular. In 1245 he went to Lyons to plead for church reforms inEngland before Pope Innocent IV. Five years later he went again to Lyons and aMemorial he had written was read to the Pope. In it he appealed to the graceand condescension of Christ in coming to earth to redeem mankind as a modelfor Christian ministry. He laid the blame for the indolence, luxury andworldliness of the Church firmly on the bad example of the Papal Curia.Innocent IV considered excommunicating him.Just before his death, Grosseteste had another tussle with the Pope, who triedto impose his own nephew, Frederick of Lavagna, as a canon of LincolnCathedral. Grosseteste firmly opposed the move, consistent with his campaignagainst non-residency of the clergy. He prepared even for open rebellionagainst the Pope if necessary: it was not unity at any price for him. A centurylater Wycliffe was to be influenced by his writings.Page 60