Abuses and criticisms of the Church: the extent and impact of simony, nepotism and absenteeism; anti-clericalism
Many people in England criticised the Church for corrupt practices before the Reformation. Clergy sold religious offices, favoured their relatives, and neglected their parishes — fuelling widespread public resentment.
Real World
Cardinal Wolsey held the bishoprics of Bath, Durham, and Winchester simultaneously in the 1520s while rarely visiting any of them, embodying absenteeism and pluralism at the very highest level of the English Church.
Exam Focus
Assess the 'extent' of abuse carefully — examiners expect you to acknowledge that many parish priests were conscientious; avoid over-generalising corruption as universal.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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