What exactly are Indulgences and the corrupt ones from Martin Luthers time?

-- Brian the Curious (none@none.com), November 14, 2004

Answers

The Church teaches that sin must lead to temporal punishment whereby sin is forgiven through the Sacrament of Confession, but the need for punishment for those sins remain. Indulgences are the remissions of such punishment.

Luther apparently claimed the Church was selling indulgences. The Church has never taught that money remits temporal punishment for sin. They were however abused by certain priests in that era.

-- D Joseph (newfiedufie@msn.com), November 15, 2004.

D Joseph, a point of clarification: indulgences are only one way of obtaining remission for temporal punishment. Good works for deeds performed while alive here on earth and time spent in Purgatory are other ways one can gain remission of temporal punishment.

Also, remission of temporal punishment in the form of indulgences for dead souls in Purgatory can be obtained by those alive, here on earth.

There are two forms of indulgences: Partial (part of temporal punishment due is remitted) and Plenary (all of temporal punishment due is remitted).

-- No Name (not really@important.com), November 16, 2004.