Was Erasmus a critic of the Catholic Church?
To speak of 'criticism' is perhaps too strong a word, though some have certainly cast me in that role. I preferred to think of my work as a form of 'correction' or 'restoration.' I deeply loved the Church, but I could not ignore the palpable need for reform. My writings, including my satires and theological treatises, were intended to nudge us back toward the spirit of the Gospel, to encourage greater piety, learning, and humility among those who serve in sacred office. When I poked fun at certain practices or the ignorance of some theologians, it was not out of malice, but from a fervent desire to see the Church reflect more perfectly the purity of Christ's teachings. A surgeon does not hate the patient when he probes a wound, but seeks to heal it.