Agreed. Another tradition which doesn't correlate with what the Bible teaches.
Well, the Catholic Church has never sanctioned the selling of indulgences. This was an abuse of office. Catholic priests are sinners, like most other Christians.
So tell me, where in the Bible is Luther's doctrine of "the Bible alone"? That one should be in the Bible, shouldn't it?
Modern day televangelists sending out solicitations for money for new jets and mega-churches is completely consistent with the corruption that Luther protested,
I found this at New Advent regarding indulgences. I was curious to know what the Catholic Church's current teaching on indulgences is.
The power of the bishop, previously unrestricted, was limited by Innocent III (1215) to the granting of one year's indulgence at the dedication of a church and of forty days on other occasions. Leo XIII (Rescript of 4 July. 1899) authorized the archbishops of South America to grant eighty days (Acta S. Sedis, XXXI, 758). Pius X (28 August, 1903) allowed cardinals in their titular churches and dioceses to grant 200 days; archbishops, 100; bishops, 50. These indulgences are not applicable to the souls departed. They can be gained by persons not belonging to the diocese, but temporarily within its limits; and by the subjects of the granting bishop, whether these are within the diocese or outside--except when the indulgence is local.
So it appears that some sort of indulgence program is still in effect. And they vary according to events and countries. And there are local and non-local indulgences.
I have to admit this is a bit weirder than I thought.