indulgences in the catholic church?

Question

how much were indulgences sold for? (then and now)
was there a sinner scale? (based on offense_
if there was a scale, how much did each cost?

help me out! best answer gets 10 pts rememberrr. lol.

Answer 1

Indulgences are no longer sold, so there is no "now" price.
The price varied by region, local currency, the type of offense -- and most importantly -- the wealth of the offender.
There was no official scale, it was up to the priest or bishop to decide what forgiveness would cost in each case.

Answer 2

Interesting question, but I don't know how to research it. An indulgence, contrary to popular opinion does not forgive sin. It is a remission from the requirement of justice. They actually come from the period of the first martyrs.

I will provide an example. Imagine you get really mad at your neighbor and burn down his house. Catholic teaching is that when you are truly penitent, you are forgiven by God. However, the Church teaches that Christians must also be bringers of justice and so you although forgiven, have an obligation to rebuild your neighbors house.

Now imagine you are desperately poor and do not have the means to do so. Indulgences forgive you of the obligation to be just and it places the Churches mercy in place of your responsibilties. The Church remitted your social obligation. So an indulgence eliminates the obligation as a Christian to not only seek forgiveness but to repair the damage that you did.

It did, at times in the past, occur that indulgences were sold, however, it was considered evil to do so and so was rare. Still, it did occur. If there is money involved, you can find someone to do anything.

Answer 3

Indulgences were never sold. They are simply spiritual grace given by God for works of charity done upon earth, what the Bible refers to as "storing up riches in heaven". However, during the Middle Ages, some Church leaders, in their enthusiasm to construct great churches to the glory of God, placed too much emphasis on the connection between making financial contrubutions to the Church and receiving such blessings. This created the appearance of selling something sacred, which is absolutely contrary to Catholic teaching. Today indulgences are still allowed for various works of charity including financial support of God's work, but the Medieval overemphasis on financial contributions has long been remedied.

Answer 4

I don't know if the catholic cult still sells indulgences, but in past times it went according to how rich you were and what the sin was about. Also depended on what church you attended. There was a standard, but the hierarchy abused it, it became blackmail in essence. If you died with a terrible sin, the church had the right to take everything you had regardless of the social status and it didn't matter what would become of your wife and children. They claimed that this was to ensure your entry into heaven.

Answer 5

Indulgences are not sold now and there was very little of that in the past. It is totally blown out of proportion by people who have a suspicious agenda. There always has been Judas' in the Church. Does it not say "The one who will betray me is the one who dips into the dish with me?" but, that does not make the Catholic Church unworthy. She is the bride of Christ. She is Holy because he makes her so. Let me ask a question of you. Would you divorce your spouse because your children sinned? No you would not so why do people think Jesus would divorce his bride the Catholic Church because some of the people sinned? If you use the issue of people sinning in an organization to talk against it, I mean Judas did bad things so does that mean what Jesus had to say was no good? Of course not.

Answer 6

Papal indulgences were a major source of revenue for the Papacy in the pre-Lutheran period. I don't believe they do it anymore, but the cost was relative to the indulgence desired.

Answer 7

Always based on what the Penitent could afford.

Kings gave vast land holdings.

Peasants in Mexico gave and give equivalent of a few pennies.

It all adds up for the VATICAN.