Heck, you don't even comprehend the difference between matter of faith and morals (doctrines and dogmas) and matters of discipline.

So do you consider the selling of indulgences a matter of faith and morals? Yes or no?

In case you don't know, selling indulgences offers the forgiveness of sins in exchange for money! It wasn't just the penalty of sin that was offered for sale, but the actual release of guilt. The church's official documents offered plenissima remissio peccatorum (full remission of sins) in exchange for money.

You should note that the primary reason for Luther's rebellion against Rome was the selling of indulgences, and Pope Leo responded to Luther by issuing a Papal Bull that threatened excommunication to those who failed to preach and believe that the pope had the right to sell indulgences.

If selling indulgences is a matter of faith and morals, then the doctrine of infallibility falls flat on its face, because the Catholic Church now recognizes it as wrong practice. If, however, the selling of indulgences is not considered to be a matter of faith and morals, then something is seriously amiss.

Maybe I comprehend these things more than you think.

Maybe I comprehend these things more than you think

Maybe not. You clearly do not comprehend the issue of indulgences, but put forward an anti-Catholic caricature of same that is full of lies and half truths.

Myths About Indulgences

MYTHS ABOUT INDULGENCES

by James Akin

Myth 1: A person can buy his way out of hell with indulgences.

This is a common misunderstanding, one that-anti-Catholic commentators take advantage of, relying on the ignorance of both Catholics and non-Catholics. But the charge is without foundation. Since indulgences remit only temporal penalties, they cannot remit the eternal penalty of hell. Once a person is in hell, no amount of indulgences will ever change that fact. The only way to avoid hell is by appealing to God's eternal mercy while still alive. After death, one's eternal fate is set (Heb. 9:27).

Myth 2: A person can buy indulgences for sins not yet committed.

The Church has always taught that indulgences do not apply to sins not yet committed. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes, "[An indulgence] is not a permission to commit sin, nor a pardon of future sin; neither could be granted by any power."

Myth 3: A person can "buy forgiveness" with indulgences.

The definition of indulgences presupposes that forgiveness has already taken place: "An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven" (Indulgentarium Doctrina norm 1). Indulgences in no way forgive sins. They deal only with punishments left after sins have been forgiven.

Myth 4: Indulgences were invented to money for the Church.

Indulgences developed from reflection on the sacrament of reconciliation. They are a way of shortening the penance of sacramental discipline and were in use centuries before money-related problems appeared.

Myth 5: An indulgence will shorten your time in purgatory by a fixed number of days.

The number of days which used to be attached to indulgences were references to the period of penance one might undergo during life on earth. The Catholic Church does not claim to know anything about how long or short purgatory is in general, much less in a specific person's case.

Myth 6: A person can buy indulgences.

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.

Myth 7: A person used to be able to buy indulgences.

One never could "buy" indulgences. The financial scandal around 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."

This article was taken from the November 1994 issue of "This Rock," published by Catholic Answers, P.O. Box 17490, San Diego, CA 92177, (619) 541-1131, $24.00 per year. Used by Permission.

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