The Catholic Church is selling indulgences again.
Miscellaneous Heathen
Hold to the now, the here, through which all future plunges to the past.
The Catholic Church is selling indulgences again.
…said the Archbishop of New Jersey,”‘Ay, it’s the fookin’ economy. What can I say? How ya’ doin’, no disrespec’.” I love the part about how you can’t buy one, but you can make charitable contributions. That’s rich.
Well, it doesn’t appear the Catholic church is going to sell them again, per se (though there was mention of charitable contributions combined with other works – to what is the question). The indulgences appear to have more to do with doing good works and devotions. I’m sure it will end up being perverted and, ultimately, removed from practice again.
It brings up this question: if the Pope is God’s envoy on Earth and is infallible on these issues, he sure seems to make God indecisive on the question of indulgences, doesn’t he? Has God changed his mind on what it take so get to Heaven? Are thousands of years of Christian practice for naught if the rules change in 2009? Oh boy!
As an Episcopalian, I believe there is really nothing you can do to earn your way there. That falls solely in the realm of God’s grace. Of course, we also believe purgatory is a fiction, so that helps. None of that, of course, discounts the value of good works. You should do good for your neighbor anyway. Such works are the important building blocks of creating community with God and your neighbor and are inspired by the Holy Spirit, not by getting a payoff from a bishop.
Cool I just bought the naming rights of the drive at Matilde’s school. I wonder what a year at the downtown cathedral goes for?
From Rogers Alley: “When the coin in coffer rings, the soul from Purgatory springs!” Score!