Early-sixteenth-century critics of the clergy concentrated on three problems: clerical immorality, clerical ignorance, and clerical

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Clerical immorality (such as prostitution, gambling, and drunkenness), clerical ignorance (lack of knowledge of scripture and doctrine), and clerical pluralism (holding multiple church offices) were the main concerns of early sixteenth-century critics of the clergy, known as the Protestant Reformers. Celibacy was not as big of a concern at this time, as it became later during the Counter-Reformation. Malfeasance and errors could be included under the broader category of clerical immorality and ignorance, respectively.

Early-Sixteenth-Century Critics of the Clergy Concentrated on Three Problems: Clerical