Question for Catholics about indulgences?

Question

How are indulgences a Biblical teaching?


From Wikipedia.com...

Indulgence, in Roman Catholic theology, is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due to sins which have already been forgiven. The indulgence is granted by the church after the sinner has confessed and received absolution.

Historically indulgences were a major point of contention when Martin Luther initiated the Protestant Reformation.

Answer 1

Contrary to Catholic apologists, pr agents and spin doctors, Indulgences remain a major source of profitable revenue for the church from its faithful.

It is true that the Popes have been forced to cancel certain indulgence products and re-issue new methods from time to time. For example, the stations of the cross introduced less than 200 years ago has been an extremely profitable method of extracting indulgences.

Sadly, you will never get a straight on this subject. The plates are handed around at least twice every Sunday. The cash boxes around the stations of the cross are filled along with candles to worship Mary and other saints in side chapels.

Even though you can see the practice still exists in virtually every Catholic church in every country on planet Earth, they deny it exists.

Answer 2

Pastor Billy says: a slight correction, Martin Luther had issue with abuse of indulgences not that they were "not biblical". I can receive an indulgence by merely spending time as Evangelicals say "in scripture". Reading the bible is one way of receiving the benefits of an indulgence. Makes you wonder why non-Catholics claim Catholics aren't encouraged to read scripture now don't it ;)


Here read this :MYTHS ABOUT INDULGENCES

http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/1994/9411fea1sb2.asp

Answer 3

Here are some pages that you might find helpful. The first one deals with the Martin Luther angle.

These are from a very reputable Catholic resource, Catholic.com

Answer 4

+ Sources of Doctrine +

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

The Catholic Church does not use Holy Scripture as the only basis of doctrine. It could not. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).

There were hundreds of Christian writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 AD.

Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like:
+ The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
+ Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the Ten Commandments)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?

Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This was one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.

This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.

Do Christians who do not allow the continuing guiding force of the Holy Spirit to make their beliefs more and more perfect, still endorse slavery as Colossians 3:22 commands, "Slaves, obey your human masters in everything"?

We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you. (1 Corinthians 11:2)

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect1chpt2.htm#80

+ Purgatory +

To discuss indulgences, first we have to talk about Purgation (or Purgatory).

Are you perfect now? Most people would say no.

Will you be perfect in heaven? Most people believe yes.

Purgatory (or purgation) is the process of God's love changing our imperfect selves into perfect beings. Depending on the amount of change needed by different people this can be an easy or slightly harder process.

Everyone in purgatory is on their way to heaven. I don't think Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a very hard time of it.

+ Indulgences +

The concept is that a person can do acts of penance now on earth to make purgation easier.

Penance is internally turning one's heart toward God and away from sin in hope in divine mercy and externally by fasting, prayer, and almsgiving.

A corruption grew in the Church many years ago where rich people would give enough alms (money to the Church) to essentially buy an easy way to heaven. This was one of Martin Luther's protests (hence Protestants) and shortly thereafter the Catholic Church cleaned up this practice.

In 1567 Pope Pius V canceled all grants of indulgences involving any fees or other financial transactions.

But remember because everyone in purgatory is already on their way to heaven, indulgences do not get you into heaven. They just make purgation easier.

I guess if you did not believe in purgatory then there would be no reason to worry about indulgences.

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Indulgences and other things not outlined in the Holy Bible are man-made, not God-made (1 Tim 4:1-8 NIV). God offers undeserved, unmerited favor (grace) and/or pardon for deserved punishment (mercy). Catholic indulgenences are their version of mercy, but only God gives mercy, not men.

Answer 6

that was in the dark ages. They don't do that anymore to my knowledge.