Question

“Why does not the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than with the money of poor believers?”
—Martin Luther, 95 Theses, 1517

Evaluate the quote, then identify which critique of the Catholic Church is most clearly related.(1 point)
Responses

The clergy were immoral.

The pope was misusing indulgences and taxes from the laypeople.

People should not need to pay to reach religious salvation.

Monarchies did not have a divine right to rule.

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The quote by Martin Luther critiques the apparent disparity between the immense wealth of the pope and the financial burden placed upon ordinary believers to fund the construction of grand religious buildings like St. Peter's Basilica. Luther questions the appropriateness of using the money of "poor believers" rather than the pope's personal wealth, highlighting a perceived hypocrisy in how the Church was spending its resources.

The critique most clearly related to this quote is:

**The pope was misusing indulgences and taxes from the laypeople.**

This option aligns with Luther's overall argument regarding the financial practices of the Church, including the sale of indulgences, which he believed exploited the faithful for the Church's financial gain.