The Indulgence Controversy and the Protestant Reformation

By the 16th century, the immense wealth that the church derived from its great political power had begun to corrupt it. Many began joining the clergy for less than purely religious reasons and many members of the clergy, popes included, succumbed to greed and immorality. The Catholic church of the 15th and 16th centuries was marked by excess, extravagance, and corruption. One of the most obvious signs of this corruption was the Indulgence Controversy which was largely responsible for the Protestant Reformation.

Although most people equate indulgences with the Indulgence Controversy of the 16th century, they are still in rare use by the Pope today. Thankfully, indulgences do not necessarily involve the corruption with which their sell is often associated. Contrary to popular belief, an indulgence is not some kind of "get-out-of-Hell-free Card." It is based upon a complex theological teaching that involves both the doctrine and dogma of the Catholic Church. Essentially, it is a way to avoid some time in Purgatory for the sins one commits on earth. To understand how an indulgence supposedly does this, however, one must understand abstract theological concepts like Purgatory, penance, and the Treasury of Merits...

According to the Catholic church, salvation is not really the free gift of God. Although God saves us through his grace, we must still pay for the sins we commit. Usually, this is done through penance. When a good Catholic knows he has sinned, he will usually go to his priest and confess. His priest will then assign him some kind of penance. Penance can be just about anything, but a requirement to say a certain number of "Our Fathers" or "Hail Marys" is common. If a Catholic does not fully atone for their sins by performing the required penance for their sins during their life, they will be required to spend time in Purgatory to atone for those sins. Here, the sinner will suffer until he has paid for his sins and is ready to enter the paradise of Heaven.