What was the primary purpose of the Council of Trent?

What was the primary purpose of the Council of Trent?

• A. To promote the Bible as the sole authority
• B. To define heresies and clarify Catholic doctrine
• C. To establish Protestant churches
• D. To enforce Calvinism

Answer: (B)

The primary purpose of the Council of Trent was to define heresies and clarify Catholic doctrine. Convened in response to the Protestant Reformation, the Council aimed to address the challenges posed by Protestant beliefs and to reaffirm the doctrines of the Catholic Church. This included establishing clear interpretations of key issues such as faith, grace, sacraments, and the authority of the Church. By providing definitions and clarifications, the Council sought to promote unity within Catholicism and counteract the spread of Protestant ideas, reinforcing the Catholic Church's teachings and practices. The other options cover ideas that were not the focus of the Council. Promoting the Bible as the sole authority runs contrary to the Council's reaffirmation of tradition alongside Scripture. Establishing Protestant churches is not consistent with the Council's goals, which were aimed at countering the rise of Protestantism rather than promoting it. Similarly, enforcing Calvinism does not align with the Catholic position, as Calvinism is a branch of Protestantism that the Council was explicitly working to address and disagree with.

The primary purpose of the Council of Trent was to define heresies and clarify Catholic doctrine. Convened in response to the Protestant Reformation, the Council aimed to address the challenges posed by Protestant beliefs and to reaffirm the doctrines of the Catholic Church. This included establishing clear interpretations of key issues such as faith, grace, sacraments, and the authority of the Church. By providing definitions and clarifications, the Council sought to promote unity within Catholicism and counteract the spread of Protestant ideas, reinforcing the Catholic Church's teachings and practices.

The other options cover ideas that were not the focus of the Council. Promoting the Bible as the sole authority runs contrary to the Council's reaffirmation of tradition alongside Scripture. Establishing Protestant churches is not consistent with the Council's goals, which were aimed at countering the rise of Protestantism rather than promoting it. Similarly, enforcing Calvinism does not align with the Catholic position, as Calvinism is a branch of Protestantism that the Council was explicitly working to address and disagree with.