Did, or does the pope have the spiritual authority to sell indulgences?

Question

If so, where does this authority come from and doesn't it, in fact, create a de facto doctrine?

I hate to break it to you two, but OFFICIAL PAPAL doctrine from the time of Martin Luther stated the following:
1. PURCHASING an indulgence would pull a man's soul from the fires of hell, even if he were to have violated the mother of Christ, herself.
2. Purchasing an indulgence would pay for the sins of the person, in whose name it was purchased
3. There was no sin that the papal indulgence could not erease

The writings of Martin Luther accurately documented these assertations and they were never, ever challenged as to their veracity, just their stance on the issue!
Revisionist, catholic statements do not change the truth of history.

Regardless, let's say that they are only for the forgiveness of certain sins, under what authority does the pope SELL forgiveness?

all grants of indulgences involving any fees or other financial transactions

That staement is an actual admission of the SALE of indulgences, please, look up both the word 'fee' and 'transaction'

As to the claim that Martin Luther was incorrect in his assertations, the truth is surely shown that the catholic prince (frederik, I believe) of Germany granted both assylum and safe conduct to Luther, having heard both the statements and charges Luther made against Rome, on this issue and the charges leveled at him by Rome. Were it shown that Luther had lied, the Prince would not have opposed Rome, but the Prince had first hand knowledge that what Luther said (that indulgences WERE the sale of forgiveness) AND, more importantly, that what Luther said, was in fact, true.
Beyond this, Rome admited that they could not contend with Luther on a basis of Holy Scripture, only on the basis of his rebellion of church doctrine!
The Pope admitted that Luther was scripturely correct!

Answer 1

+ 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 2

Pastor Billy says: read this MYTHS ABOUT INDULGENCES


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."

addendum: your question and additional comments or quotes is not about the practice of Indulgences but the abuse of them! Learn your history better

addendum#2: to answer the third person posting eternalw--- one can receive an indulgence doing exactly what you are advocating... by reading scripture :D btw glad you enjoy our Catholic book!

Answer 3

imagine yourself put into a room and all you had was the bible....after 20 years you finally got out of that room after reading the bible over 40 times about

youve never heard any doctrines, all you have was the bible....when you walked into the catholic church you'd be literally dumbfounded by how anyone believes in anything that was born out of the catholic church.....i wont point you to a denomination, i point you to the bible alone....

heres a biblical search engine http://www.o-bible.com/search.html

type in pope, if it doesnt come up then stop believing in it

Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Answer 4

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07783a.htm

read this