[B-Chan]

The one that burned Jews and Protestants as heretics?

The one that created science, Rheims Cathedral, the symphony, the subsidiary government, agricultural surpluses, church bells, representational art, and many other things.

Heretics were burned in the Middle Ages -- just as we "burn" spies and saboteurs and terrorists today. Then as now, some of these happen to be Protestants and Jews.

Many Catholics were burned, too, some of whom later became saints. As I said, a Christian commonwealth isn't an attempt to create a paradise, a perfect society, a "heaven on Earth". It's simply a commonwealth centered upon the Christian faith. Like any government of men, it is imperfect. If some heretics were burned unjustly, many more were burned who deserved to die for making war on their fellow men.

Sold indulgences?

One never could "buy" indulgences. The financial scandal surrounding indulgences, the scandal that gave Martin Luther an excuse for his heterodoxy, involved alms—indulgences in which the giving of alms to some charitable fund or foundation was used as the occasion to grant the indulgence. There was no outright selling of indulgences. The Catholic Encyclopedia states: "[I]t is easy to see how abuses crept in. Among the good works which might be encouraged by being made the condition of an indulgence, almsgiving would naturally hold a conspicuous place. . . . It is well to observe that in these purposes there is nothing essentially evil. To give money to God or to the poor is a praiseworthy act, and, when it is done from right motives, it will surely not go unrewarded."

The Council of Trent instituted severe reforms in the practice of granting indulgences, and, because of prior abuses, "In 1567 Pope Pius V canceled all grants of indulgences involving any fees or other financial transactions" (Catholic Encyclopedia). This act proved the Church’s seriousness about removing abuses from indulgences.¹

As said before, it’s the Taliban.

You don't know much about the Taliban.

[steve-b]

One never could "buy" indulgences. The financial scandal surrounding indulgences, the scandal that gave Martin Luther an excuse for his heterodoxy, involved alms—indulgences in which the giving of alms to some charitable fund or foundation was used as the occasion to grant the indulgence. There was no outright selling of indulgences.

Wow. Whoever wrote this makes Bill "it depends what the meaning of 'is' is" Clinton look like a rank amateur....