I’ll Take Indulgences for $200
Catholics are always being accused of being able to buy indulgences. Those dumb Catholics, they think they can buy forgiveness; buy their way into heaven. And if they say you can’t buy indulgences then they must confess to inconsistencies in doctrine because this used to happen. Right?
As a protestant I heard about this buying and selling of forgivness that was going on back in the middle ages. This was what jumped started the Reformation, right? Wrong! All my study (through protestant sources) showed me this was never the case. The Reformation was about philosophy and politics. Martin Luther DID protest the “selling of indulgences”, much like today some protest the “selling of votes, political power and influence”. Were indulgences for sale? No. Just like political influence is not for sale today. Can you find in the Constitution, or any of our laws were this is permissable? On the contrary, you’ll find where it is illegal! Then what are we talking about? We are talking about corrupt politicians who promise to vote a certain way because of large campaign contributions. The same is true for indulgences. Indulgences are not for sale, never have been. So what do we mean when we say that they were?
First things first - what is an indulgence? An indulgence is a reprieve from part or all of the penance associated with a forgiven sin. Being granted an indulgence is often confused with being granting forgiveness, but they are not the same thing. I don’t know how things work in your house, but in my house forgiveness and penance are two separate things. When my children disobey a rule there are consequences. Depending on the severity of the offense the penance might be writing lines, doing jumping jacks, running laps or even offering a simple apology to the offended party. But forgiveness is a different matter altogether. I forgive my children for their offenses, but they must still do their penance! Sometimes though, for various reasons I might grant a reprieve of part or all of their penance. Maybe the child offers, in true repentance, to do his brothers chores for him, or to give him one of his favorite toys. I might decide that this offering can count as his penance. Did this child buy his forgiveness? No, I had forgiven him already, it merely counted as his penance. Confessed sin is forgiven sin! But there is still the necessity of penance. If you steal from me, I might forgive you, but you still need to return my property! If you murder my friend, I can forgive you, but I can’t take away your penance. You must go to jail. Now, you might be granted an indulgence by the state - early release for good behavior. Did you buy, or even earn, forgiveness? No, but you earned a break in your penance. There were/are many ways to be granted an indulgence; one of these ways was/is to give alms to the poor. So, in essence, you are substituting one form or penance for another. Like, for instance, in our own justice system: instead of three days in jail you might be able to spend sixty hours community service, or possibly even pay a fine and go straight home.
Can the granting of indulgences tied to the giving of alms be abused? Of course! Much like politicians who vote to please big money. Does this mean that the Church, itself, is corrupt? Does this mean our Government, itself, is corrupt? Do we throw out the whole system because the men who run it are sometimes fallen? I think not.
