Posted on 10/02/2018 5:51:36 PM PDT by marshmallow
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon - Catholic leaders in the Ivory Coast are warning against preachers spreading a so-called “prosperity Gospel” - which often includes giving large sums of money with a promise of a heavenly financial blessing in return.
Nigerian preacher Chris Oyakhilome is an example, promising that “your miracle is in your offering” and that if a person is in financial difficulty or suffering from disease, they must give generously to his ministry to receive their needed “miracle.”
“All giving is a demonstration of our faith in God and his word,” he said in a podcast widely distributed in western Africa. Oyakhilome also said believers should give generously, because it will become a pathway to wealth, health and good luck.
“Those who sow a lot will reap even more later,” he said.
The phenomenon was discussed during the first congress of the Reflection and Production Cell of Ivory Coast Theologians (CEREPTI), which took place Sep. 11-14 in Yamoussoukro.
Bishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo of Katiola, the president of the bishops’ conference in the Ivory Coast, denounced the influence such preachers were having even in the Catholic Church, and called on Catholic theologians to effectively present the “true Gospel of Christ” in the face of “the excesses and deviations which constitute an affront to Catholic orthodoxy and orthopraxy.”
The bishop said Catholic theologians had a duty to face up to the “heresies” which threaten Catholic identity - heresies promoted by “communities which mushroom everywhere by road sides claiming to be Christian, but which deny the centrality of the Cross, and preach that prosperity could come like a magic wand.”
Dogbo called on the theologians to work with the country’s bishops to constitute a rampart against these excesses, and to be true promoters of Catholic doctrine.
(Excerpt) Read more at cruxnow.com ...
As is the typical RC polemicist's weasel wording, there is no "official" canon that approved the abuse of Indulgences. Did you catch that? The anti-Protestants insist we must find somewhere in the millions of documents produced by the Vatican where they come out and say, "We approve of the abuse...". As you and others have pointed out repeatedly, there WAS actual approval of the abuse because the money collected was used for the Basilica and who knows how many other "projects" (i.e., Pope Leo's gambling debts). Additionally, Johan Tetzel was NEVER imprisoned or prosecuted by Rome for his money-making scheme nor were the various bishops who benefitted from their "cut" of the proceeds.
One last thing...the collecting of money in exchange for indulgences continues to this day. Now, it is just not as overt as it once was. On a personal note...my Catholic Mom told me she wants to find out how much it costs for a funeral Mass(es) at her church for when she dies. A church she has faithfully donated to monthly out of her limited funds. I think that is sad.
No worries.
He cites his sources and people can examine them.
The reason people will take them seriously, is the historical and current corruption of Rome.
Disgusting.
Catholicism is no body of Christ.
I think it is clear not all his sources are acceptable.
The others are.
You have freedom to evaluate the historic corruption of the Roman Catholic church.
Heck, it is still corrupt today.
It was corrupt throughout history and today, revelations about the leadership and abuse of minors is worldwide.
Rot from the fish hat in rome down.
Again, it is easy to see how abuses crept in. Among the good works which might be encouraged by being made the condition of an indulgence, alms giving would naturally hold a conspicuous place, while men would be induced by the same means to contribute to some pious cause such as the building of churches, the endowment of hospitals, or the organization of a crusade. 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. Looked at in this light, it might well seem a suitable condition for gaining the spiritual benefit of an indulgence. Yet, however innocent in itself, this practice was fraught with grave danger, and soon became a fruitful source of evil. On the one hand there was the danger that the payment might be regarded as the price of the indulgence, and that those who sought to gain it might lose sight of the more important conditions. On the other hand, those who granted indulgences might be tempted to make them a means of raising money: and, even where the rulers of the Church were free from blame in this matter, there was room for corruption in their officials and agents, or among the popular preachers of indulgences.
So, yes, alms giving was part of indulgences. You are correct. Having said that, the CE is clear that if used with the right intentions there is nothing intrinsically evil about this. The issue was that there was danger of using this with the wrong intentions (on both sides)....which did happen. This is probably why this practice appears to be no longer used ... to avoid the same problems.
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