This is no longer the case with indulgences.
To be clear what Colofornian posted was *never* the case for the Church Universal.
Please note the words “Church Universal”. The quote posted was certainly the teaching and practice of some who were quite deluded at the time. But it was never a universal teaching of the Church. This is where Luther erred, by assuming his experience was the experience and teaching of all, and where some continue to err today assuming errors and lies and misconceptions are what the Church teaches to all. (Universally).
This is the point Aikin was making when he wrote “The practice of indulgences has changed over the centuries and, like any institution regulated by men, it has been subject to abuse. There were real abuses at the time of the Reformation. In addition to superstitious understandings of what indulgences would do, some preachers were unscrupulous in the raising of money. (Contrary to popular legend, indulgences were never “sold” but were granted as an incentive to support charitable causes.)”
There were indeed unscrupulous evil people in the Church then as there are now. This does not automatically negate the truth claims she makes however. It’s a logical fallacy to suggest it does.