The Church faced major political and theological challenges in
the 14 th century that resulted in the downgrading of the status
of the church.
 Babylonian Captivity 1309 - 1376
 French Kings dominated the papal court and moved it to
Avignon for almost 70 years.
 The Great Schism 1378 - 1417
 When the Roman elite selected a pope in 1376 and the
cardinals loyal to France selected a pope for Avignon
 This Great Schism lasted until the election of Martin V as
pope some forty years later.
 Italian Marsilius of Padua (1280-1343) challenged the legitimacy
of the church as an institution, arguing that it should own no
property and be under the authority of the state.
 Englishman John Wycliffe (1330-1384) asserted that the only
religious authority for a Christian was Scripture and that
Christianity should permit only practices sanctioned in
Scripture.