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In the second decade of the sixteenth century, a powerful movement known as the Protestant reformation began in northern Germany. This movement was born out of widespread discontent with the reigning Catholic church. Though initially slow to respond to the challenges of the reformation, the Catholic church eventually responded in a vigorous manner to the threats of spreading Protestantism. The Protestant reformation began in 1517 when Martin Luther posted his ninety-five theses on the door the …

…by faith alone was flawed and that good works were absolutly necessary to gain entry tro the kingdom of Heaven. The Council of Trent was not designed to heal the rift forming between European Christians, but to strengthen the Roman Catholic Church in opposition of Protestantism. The church that emerged for the Council of Trent was highly centralized under a newly vigorous papacy and prepared to fight for its place in an increasingly pluralistic world.