1. The Church faced major political and theological challenges in the 14 th century that resulted in the downgrading of the status of the church.

2. 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.

3. 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.