Question

questions 1 through 3 refer to the following.
\to the count of katzenellenbogen, ziegenhan, and nidda, my gracious lord.
pope leo x, in the bull in which he put me under the ban, condemned my statement that to
fight against the turk is the same thing as resisting god, who visits our sin upon us with this
rod. i still confess freely that this statement is mine. the popes and bishops called for war
against the turks in the name of christ. yet because christ taught that christians shall not
resist evil with violence or take revenge, it is against his name.
in how many wars against the turks have the bishops and clergy prevented christians from
enduring heavy losses? indeed, the king of hungary and his bishops were beaten by the turks
at varna* and more recently a german army would perhaps have fought with more success, if
it had not contained priests. if i were an emperor, a king, or a prince in a campaign against the
turks, i would encourage my bishops and priests to stay at home and mind the duties of their
office, praying, fasting, saying mass, preaching, and caring for the poor, as not only holy
scripture, but their own canon law teaches and requires. to this i say amen, amen.\
*a reference to a failed christian crusade launched against the ottoman turks in 1444
martin luther, german theologian, sermon addressed to a german prince, 1528

a historian could best explain the arguments made in the passage regarding the pope and the
clergy in the context of protestant claims that the catholic church
a had not adequately supported earlier crusades against muslims in
the holy land
b had become corrupted by power
c had become too heavily influenced by renaissance humanism
d had failed to convert muslims living in europe to christianity

Explanation:

Martin Luther, a key figure in the Protestant Reformation, criticized the Catholic Church's clergy. Protestant reformers often argued that the Catholic Church had become corrupt by power. In the passage, Luther questions the actions of bishops and clergy (e.g., calling for wars which led to heavy losses, not following their own duties as per Holy Scripture). Option A is incorrect as the passage is not about support for earlier Crusades in the Holy Land. Option C - there is no indication of Renaissance Humanism influence in the text. Option D - conversion of Muslims in Europe is not the focus of the passage. The main critique aligns with the idea of corruption by power.

Answer:

B. had become corrupted by power