According to Erasmus in this passage from The Praise of
Folly, which is an accurate analysis of the Catholic clergy?
In Erasmus's "The Praise of Folly" (original Latin title "Moriae Encomium" or "Laus Stultitiae"), the author offers a satirical critique of various aspects of society, including the Catholic clergy of his time. Without a specific passage from the text provided here, one can only give a generalized summary of Erasmus's stance.
Erasmus, through the personification of Folly, makes a number of critical observations about the clergy:
1. Corruption and Hypocrisy: Erasmus points out that many members of the clergy are corrupt, pursuing wealth and power instead of living the humble and pious lives they preach to others.
2. Pedantry and Superstition: He criticizes the clergy for their focus on ritual and dogma over genuine spirituality and faith. He mocks their reliance on Latin, their obsession with minute details of doctrine, and their superstitious practices.
3. Moral Failings: Erasmus satirizes the moral failings of the clergy, suggesting they are guilty of the same, if not greater, vices than the laypeople they often condemn.
4. Intellectual Vanity: The satire condemns the scholastic theologians for their intellectual vanity, their love of convoluted arguments and their neglect of the simple message of the Gospels.
5. Distance from Christ’s Teachings: Erasmus emphasizes how far some clerics have strayed from the teachings of Christ, who valued poverty, compassion, and simplicity.
Erasmus's critique was aimed not at the Church's core doctrines but at the behaviors and attitudes of its representatives, which he saw as undermining the true Christian spirit. It is important to note that Erasmus remained a committed Christian and a member of the Catholic Church; his criticisms were intended as a call for reform and improvement within the institution.
However, to gain a specific understanding of what Erasmus argued in a particular passage, you would need to provide the text in question. Erasmus's work made a substantial impact, and his calls for reform anticipated some of the issues that would come to a head during the Protestant Reformation, despite Erasmus himself remaining loyal to the Catholic Church.