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Amen! This reply of yours is too long to quote, so if you want to know which one it is, it's #2904 about purgatory. Oh Havoc, I just thought of another reason the devil might like this purgatory sham....it diminishes the seriousness of sin by implying that sin A is real bad and will need a lot of purging, but sin B isn't really so bad, so the punishment for it will be relatively mild.

Catholics accuse protties of licentiousness, saying that they think they can sin all they want because they are so sure of going to heaven...but if you think about it, the same accusation can be made against catholics----they can shrug their shoulders at sin because they know they'll still be able to get to heaven after a little time in purgatory.

I can't believe we are even talking about such a concept as "purgatory." My "purgatory" took place at Calvary when Jesus suffered and died in my place. This is not a license to sin.....no, just the opposite...Calvary gives the followers of Christ the motivation to live for Him. 2 Cor. 5:14,15:

"For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died. And He died for all, that they who live should not longer live for themselves, but *for Him who died and rose again on their behalf*."

Oh Havoc, I just thought of another reason the devil might like this purgatory sham....it diminishes the seriousness of sin by implying that sin A is real bad and will need a lot of purging, but sin B isn't really so bad, so the punishment for it will be relatively mild.

Essentially, you have it. Catholicism turns Sin into a graded system of nearly harmless to mortal. God doesn't rate sin like that. Sin is sin. Doesn't matter if it's a white lie or a murder both are equally disobedience and both will damn a person to hell. Purgatory pulls the teeth of the bumble in the eyes of the unknowing - they can't see the bumble just put blackout on his teeth after sharpening them...

The sad thing is that they all know better. They all have Bibles with at least part of the truth. And It's not like God won't lead them, they just will not listen or follow.

"Catholics accuse protties of licentiousness, saying that they think they can sin all they want because they are so sure of going to heaven"

I think you hit the nail on the head. This is really the issue here with the Catholics, and it is totally false. There will be people who believe, but those who are truly saved struggle with sin and realize that sin hurts their relationship with God. No one who is saved thinks of salvation as a license to sin, or as SD put it, a Get out of hell free card. This is far from the truth.

JM

Your "purgatory" took place on Calvary? I fear you don't know what purgatory is. Answer me this: are you now perfect, without any sin, desire to sin, selfishness, anything unholy?

Will you be perfect when you are in Heaven? Or will you just go as you are and be "declared" perfect? Guilty, but acquitted, or actually truly innocent?

I realize I'll probably be attacked because I am about to post something being taught (my words) to Catholic youth concerning Indulgences and Purgatory. Let's just how many will say this is not "official" RCC teaching.
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The Church's Treasury of Grace The Catholic Church is able to grant indulgences because she draws on the infinite merits of Christ, Mary, and all the saints. Blessed Mary of Quito, a Spanish nun, saw in a vision a vast treasure, which, God explained to her, symbolized the graces and merits of Jesus (the treasure of the Church!) from which indulgences are taken. These graces and merits can be obtained by anyone who fulfills the conditions, usually quite easy, for receiving an indulgence. People who don't bother to take advantage of indulgences are like travellers passing through a field full of precious jewels, who don't even take the trouble to bend over and fill their pockets, even though they know they will need these treasures when they reach their destination.

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DID YOU KNOW?? Although you can't apply the indulgence to a living person (they have to get their own indulgences!) you can ask God to apply your indulgence to relieve the Holy Souls in Purgatory. And don't forget to ask the Holy Souls to pray for you when they get to Heaven; you'll be gaining friends in high places!

Catholic Youth Networking

Catholic Youth

Why let this "infinite treasury" go to waste. It is worth a lot of money.