Church Reform Movement

The Church Reform Movement refers to efforts, particularly during the Middle Ages, aimed at addressing issues of corruption and moral decline within the Christian Church. Reformers sought to enhance clerical discipline, improve the education of priests, and eliminate practices like simony (buying church offices) and nepotism. Key figures, such as Pope Gregory VII, advocated for the independence of the Church from political influence and emphasized a stricter adherence to spiritual values. This movement laid the groundwork for significant changes in the Church, influencing later developments like the Protestant Reformation.