Cryptic crossword clue
Catholic church upset over books lacking bishop trials 9

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word CRUCIBLES

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "trials/trials" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case trials/trials = crucibles.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does CRUCIBLES mean?

CRUCIBLES noun
  1. A cup-shaped piece of laboratory equipment used to contain chemical compounds when heating them to very high temperatures.
  2. A heat-resistant container in which metals are melted, usually at temperatures above 500°C, commonly made of graphite with clay as a binder.
  3. The bottom and hottest part of a blast furnace; the hearth.
  4. A very difficult and trying experience, that acts as a refining or hardening process.

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