[
quote=zmjezhd]Well, almost.
Yes, in many cases, the "problem" had been brewing or was in full boil before the council was convened, decision made, and concrete cures.
Isn't interesting, and in a way, sad, how we can look back and see mistakes that had
been brewing, and the end result from a few centuries later. What if the pope had
made Luther a Cardinal? What if the pope had read the these posted on the doors?
Did he? Did it matter? What was the threat? A lifestyle? Money? Why cannot people
who disagree get together and work it out? Do we do so today? (Gaza?) [/quote]
The Pope did read the 95 Theses. His first response to them is alleged to have been, "The German monk writes good Latin." In effect, the Pope was not sufficiently astute involving issues of theology to understand the implications of the theses.
They did not have a negative impact on him until monies from the German States began drying up. Then Rome took notice. But, while the effect is what caused notice to be taken, the effect was not the crux. The crux was theological.
Appointing Luther as a Cardinal would not have changed the impact of the theology of the theses.
