第4章 聖職者(僧侶)の権力 n.25 - 多くの皇帝が教皇に抵抗
経済的動機が宗教改革の流布(普及)に大いに寄与した一方,それだけでは,宗教改革の流布(普及)の説明としては不十分であることは明らかである。経済的動機は何世紀にも渡って働いてきた(作用してきた)からである。多くの皇帝が教皇に抵抗しようと試みた。即ち,いたるところの元首たち(sovereigns) -たとえば,英国(イングランド)のヘンリー二世やジョン王 - は抵抗を試みた。しかし,彼らの試みは邪悪とされたので,従って,失敗した。教皇職(権)に対する抵抗が成功することが可能となったのは,教皇職がその伝統的な権力を道徳的反抗を引き起こすほど長い間乱用した後であった。 |
Chapter IV: Priestly Power, n.25These words were written during the pontificate of Leo X, which was that in which the Reformation began. To pious Germans, it gradually became impossible to believe that the ruthless nepotism of Alexander VI, or the financial rapacity of Leo, could be "exalted and maintained by God." Luther, a "presumptuous and rash man," was quite willing to enter upon the discussion of the papal power, from which Machiavelli shrank. And as soon as there existed moral and theological support for opposition to the Church, motives of self-interest caused the opposition to spread with great rapidity. Since the power of the Church had been based upon the power of the keys, it was natural that opposition should be associated with a new doctrine of Justification. Luther's theology made it possible for lay princes to despoil the Church without fear of damnation and without incurring moral condemnation from their own subjects.While economic motives contributed greatly to the spread of the Reformation, they are obviously not sufficient to account for it, since they had been operative for centuries. Many Emperors tried to resist the Pope ; so did sovereigns elsewhere, e.g. Henry II and King John in England. But their attempts were thought wicked, and therefore failed. It was only after the Papacy had, for a long time, so abused its traditional powers as to cause a moral revolt, that successful resistance became possible. |