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Pope Leo X, in the bull in which
he put me under the ban, condemned my statement that 'to fight against the Turk is the same thing as resisting God, who visits our sin upon us with this rod.' I still confess freely that this statement is mine. The popes and bishops called for war against the Turks in the name of Christ. Yet because Christ taught that Christians shall not resist evil with violence or take revenge, it is against His name.
In how many wars against the Turks have the bishops and clergy prevented Christians from
enduring heavy losses? Indeed, the king of Hungary and his bishops were beaten by the Turks at Varna* and more recently a German army would perhaps have fought with more success, if it had not contained priests. If I were an emperor, a king, or a prince in a campaign against the Turks, I would encourage my bishops and priests to stay at home and mind the duties of their office, praying, fasting, saying mass, preaching, and caring for the poor, as not only Holy Scripture, but their own canon law
teaches and requires. To this I say Amen, Amen."
*a reference to a failed Christian Crusade launched against the Ottoman Turks in 1444
Martin Luther, German theologian, sermon addressed to a German prince, 1528
A historian interpreting the passage would most likely explain that the audience of the sermon is an illustration of the fact that
A
papal alliances with the Holy Roman emperors led to widespread religious persecutions in Germany
B
the Protestant German nobility was
wary of confronting the Ottomans without Catholic support
C
political support from the German nobility aided in the development of the early Protestant community
D
the Protestant German nobility adopted pacifist attitudes during religious disputes with their Catholic and Muslim opponents