Did you read the article about the New Pope asking people to pay money to get their sins forgiven?

Question

It is hard to believe that Catholic Church has any credibility left.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7131088.stm

Answer 1

You really should read the article. It says nothing about payment or forgiveness of sins.

+ 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

This article?

"THE VATICAN announced a special offer last week. The Pope has decreed that any of the faithful who take part in any private or public devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes will receive a plenary indulgence.

The special offer, which is valid at any participating shrine until December 8 next year, is to mark the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Lourdes.

You will notice that it is not just any ordinary indulgence which would only knock a bit off of your term of punishment in Purgatory for sins committed during your life. Pope Benedict XVI is offering the gold-card plenary indulgence which remits all purgatorial punishment. Do not hang about in Heaven's detention centre; proceed directly to the Pearly Gates."

Hadn't heard about it, and couldn't care less as I'm not a Catholic, and understand Heaven/Hell/Purgatory to be a load of poo. The church is scamming. This is exactly news how?

Answer 3

More credibility if you know the history of the Church,, study more play less. lol.
Instead of hard public penance like standing in the snow with you family for 3 days it is considered just as much to give money. After all money is the new God of the faithless, the Church keeps up with modern changes when it has to.

Answer 4

Martin Luther wrote the 95 Thesis on the Catholic Church and this practice.

Also, I think the writer of the article is rather stupid for saying, "...Historians say, started the Protestant movement..." Does Science say otherwise? Like they do on everything else? Does it follow a "Jesus" pattern or something?

Answer 5

Sounds like they are going BACKWARDS with this idea. Not surprised, however, when the don't teach the TRUTH of Christ, that HIS BLOOD ALONE ATONES for ones sins. Jesus said it was FINISHED on the cross, but the Catholics, Mormons , JW's, etc. all want to ADD to what you need to do for Salvation, and it is a lame and worthless effort. A slap in the face of God.

Answer 6

No, and apparently you haven't either since you failed to post it.

Be credible and cite your sources.

EDIT Thank you for citing your source, it is greatly appreciated. I had not heard of the event but I am a Protestant so what do I know? At any rate, this practice of the Roman Catholic Church is not supported by the Bible, and flies in the face of the biblical teaching that only through belief in Christ's redemptive work on the cross can sins be forgiven.

Note that is the Protestant's point of view.

Answer 7

There is nothing there about paying money fro forgiveness of sins and the article has it wrong about "time" in purgatory

You are reading into a text what is not there.

It is hard to believe that you are not motivated by malice It is obvious that you are not motivated by concern for the truth

Answer 8

Is this what you are speaking of, brother?

Pope offers relief from purgatory
Pope Benedict XVI is offering relief from purgatory to Roman Catholics who travel to Lourdes over the next year, the Vatican said yesterday.

Pilgrims to the shrine in south-west France will receive "plenary indulgences" from the Pontiff, which the Church says reduce the time spent being "washed" of sin after death. The indulgences will be available from this weekend until Dec 8, 2008.

The Church teaches that people who do not go directly to heaven must spend time in purgatory, where they can be purified of residual sin. ...
( www.telegraph.co.uk)

Techinically, he wasn't "selling" them, but one wonders if he has this power, why not give full indulgences to all, instead of just a few who can go to France?

Answer 9

It is impossible for the church to go back to selling indulgences. I would love to know the source of that article.

Answer 10

No, I haven't, and I'm not likely to unless you bother offering a link to said article or at least a reference. I try not to form beliefs based upon rumor.