how did the catholic church respond to the spread of protestantism?

Answer 1

Not well.

Answer 2

Intolerance and arrogance have replaced the love and kindness and tolerance that were the distinguishing qualities of the first century Christians, so that now in Roman Catholic countries Protestants and others who are sincere believers in Christ but who do not acknowledge the authority of the pope are subject to all kinds of restrictions and in some cases even forbidden to practice their religion. The distinctive attitude of the present day Roman Church was fixed largely by the Council of Trent (1545-1563), with its more than 100 anathemas or curses pronounced against all who then or in the future would dare to differ with its decisions.

Answer 3

With the counter-reformation, an internal movement withim the church to reform itself and define the position of the church in face of the challenge. This movement included theologians such as St Robert bellarmine, St Cajetan. Missionaries like St francis of sales. Mystics: St Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross, but more especifically with the council of Trent that established what was official church dogma and scripture canon, and what not, while at the same time declaring anathema most of the points held by Luther and Calvin, not by name but specifically saying in formulas like "whosever holds or affirms X to be Y in oposition to Z let it be anathema"
the counter-reformation took care of most of the issues that in Luther's eyes were wrong in the church, but unlike Luther, it did seek to reform the church from the inside, not splitting it in half or creating a new body.

Also it is important to notice that the company of Jesus ( The jesuits) founded by st Ignatius of Loyola arose as an estructured and rationalistic response to counteract its effects with science and knowlege "ad maiorem gloria Dei'

Answer 4

With outrage and physical attacks.
'FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS" covers the Catholic response to Protestantism.

They apologized for not saving Jews who were being killed by Nazis.
Will they ever apologize for their murdering Bible believing Christians?

Answer 5

Eventually, it did bring about some concrete reforms, but also forced them to authoritatively define some things, such as the Canon of the Bible, which had been in use since the late 4th century, but since Reformationists decided to drop some of the books and parts of books, they had to respond and say "no" to that.

Answer 6

They demanded either renewed loyalty to the Catholic Church or the heretic was executed.

Answer 7

There was a Counter-Reformation in the RCC which resulted in the Council of Trent. You can find the substance of their views against the PR there.

Answer 8

The counter reformation.

Answer 9

Violently, for the most part. I mean, look at the Gunpowder Plot.

Answer 10

The Reformation with lots of blood and wishing golf had been invented (or was it?)

Answer 11

With the council of Trent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Trent