What was the Catholic response to the charges raised by various offshoots of Protestantism? What ...

Initially, the church declined to consider the question of reform, arguing that it was within the purview of the church only and not subject to the dictates of either the general population or political leaders of the time. However, because there was a long-lasting movement for reform within the church, and because the events of the various reform movements across Europe caused a substantial decrease in membership and challenge to its authority, the church eventually called the Council of Trent to come up with a response to the charges leveled by Protestants. The leaders within the church felt they had responded to calls for reform by allowing new monastic orders to form and allowing confraternities and lay organizations to participate, to some extent, in activities traditionally deemed within the auspices of the church. The Council of Trent met from 1545 to 1564 and ultimately addressed a point-by-point refutation of Martin Luther's, Calvin's, and other Protestant doctrines, issuing a statement that reaffirmed the need for sacraments and good works.