what was it called when the catholic church had people pay for salvation?

Answer 1

It was not salvation but forgiveness of sins...Indulgences.

Answer 2

Most people answered it correctly. You are thinking of indulgences. And it was not about salvation, as someone pointed out. It was more about getting time off of purgatory.

Alister McGrath points out the history of indulgences is difficult to pinpoint. However, "(indulgences) seems to have rested upon the idea of the gratitude of the sinner for forgiveness of sins.....It must be noted that this was not understood to mean that a sinner purchased forgiveness. The gift of money was a result of, not a condition of, forgiveness. But by Luther's time...people seem to have believed the indulgences were a quick and convenient way of buying forgiveness of sins." So it is something that started off with good intentions, then by the 16th Century, became changed so much.

Tithing, as other people suggested, is different. Literally, it means to take 1/10 of your income and give it up to charity - usually a church. It often refers to any set amount you choose to set aside. It is not required by most churches, but is by a select few.

A few good resources:

Christian Theology: An Introduction by Alister E. McGrath. Page 62-63 has a very brief overview of indulgences. For a more detailed look, I suggest Catholicism by Richard P. McBrien or The Reformation: A History by Diarmaid MacCulloch.

Answer 3

The Catholic Church never had people pay for salvation but people did pay for indulgences for a time.

+ 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 4

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, an indulgence is “The remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven. A properly disposed member of the Christian faithful can obtain an indulgence under prescribed conditions through the help of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints. An indulgence is partial if it removes part of the temporal punishment due to sin, or plenary if it removes all punishment.”

Answer 5

It was called selling indulgences...less temporal punishment for sins. It got out of hand in SOME areas...not all. Not all Televangelists ask for donations in order to build huge mansions, own private jets and the like. Nothing to do with salavation? Guess again. When you tell people who are poor, less educated and vulnerable to "trust God" that he will reward your faith....it does involve salvation.

Answer 6

It was called selling indulgences. It was more about lessening punishment in purgatory than granting salvation.

Answer 7

Indulgences-pay for sins-temporarily. Martin Luther hated this and wrote his "95 Thesis."

Answer 8

Indulgence.

Answer 9

It is called Simony or the sin of Simony after I believe a certain Simon Baruch who was such an abuser.

Answer 10

It is called myth! It NEVER happened. Some people confuse alms-giving with 'buying salvation' but they are two very different things.