The Church faced major political and theological challenges in the 14 th century that resulted in the downgrading of the status of the church. Babylonian Captivity French Kings dominated the papal court and moved it to Avignon for almost 70 years. The Great Schism When the Roman elite selected a pope in 1376 and the cardinals loyal to France selected a pope for Avignon This Great Schism lasted until the election of Martin V as pope some forty years later. Italian Marsilius of Padua ( ) challenged the legitimacy of the church as an institution, arguing that it should own no property and be under the authority of the state. Englishman John Wycliffe ( ) asserted that the only religious authority for a Christian was Scripture and that Christianity should permit only practices sanctioned in Scripture.