1 They excommunicated and banned followers and supporters of known Protestant leaders and movements and 2. They started the Counter-Reformation.
These two actions taken by the Catholic Church were part of its efforts to combat and suppress the spread of Protestantism during the Reformation. The excommunication and banning of followers of Protestant leaders was a way to isolate and ostracize those who were seen as a threat to the authority of the Church. By cutting off these individuals from the Catholic community, the Church hoped to weaken the influence of Protestant ideas and prevent their further spread.
The Counter-Reformation, on the other hand, was a more proactive strategy employed by the Catholic Church to respond to the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation. This movement focused on reforming the Church from within, addressing issues of corruption and decadence that had been highlighted by the Protestant reformers. It also involved initiatives to reinvigorate Catholic spirituality and combat the spread of Protestant beliefs through missionary work, education, and the establishment of new religious orders.
Overall, these actions taken by the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation were aimed at strengthening its own position and defending its beliefs and practices against the growing influence of Protestantism.