Even though there are some sharp contrasts, for the most part, the influence and prestige of the Catholic Church was declining. The humanistic thinking did accept the older church institutions that were deeply rooted in traditions and traditional ways of thinking.
In the past, the Catholic Church had been an important part of the system that was based on the allegiances between lords and vassals (the feudal system). During the Renaissance the demands of society shifted and became based on money instead of allegiances.
