Apparently the Catholic hierarchy–Pope Benedict, in particular–is bringing back indulgences (NY Times 2/10). This is big news, because they have been out of favor since the Mother Church was selling them to some profit back in the 16th century, setting off the wrath of reformer Martin Luther and fostering the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
Just what are indulgences, anyway? The name gives us some hint. It works this way: Catholics can commit sins, go to confession, but still have to do time in that unpleasant in-between-place, Purgatory, which is sort of a way-station to heaven, after you’ve paid your dues with enough suffering for said sins. To avoid this stop, you can say certain prayers, make certain devotions, or go on certain pilgrimages–such will keep you safe until you commit another sin, which is almost certain to happen, knowing ourselves as we do. You can also reduce purgatorial time for dead people–but as one baffled Catholic complained, “What does it mean to get time off in Purgatory? What is five years in terms of eternity?” Good point.
Why are indulgences coming back into favor now? Well, sin is out of favor these days. People just “make mistakes.” Or have “dysfunctional families.” If only every child were given milk and cookies at bedtime, there would be no such thing as evil, many secularists believe. Instead of going to a priest, we go to a psychiatrist–or if money is short in the current economic downturn, we check out a self-help book from the library. Without sin, of course, there can be no repentence. (And no real need for confession or indulgences, of course.)
I see the point. I’m for sin, myself–that is, I believe we all commit them. And repentence is a good thing. But personal sins, which seem to be the focus of confession and indulgences, pale in the face of systemic sins, like war, hunger, and the lack of health care (for starters). Just think about the systemic sins of the bankers and investment firms! How many prayers or piltrimages would it take to wipe out these sins? It boggles the mind. Of course, the Church allows “charitable contributions” to count toward indulgences as well (presumably, to the Church, among other worthy organizations), so perhaps some of the TARP money could go for that.
According to the article in the Times, Portland, Oregon, is one of the locations where the Church has enthusiastically offered indulgences this year. For those looking for an alternative, I would like to counter with the Universalist view of “universal salvation,” in which we posit a God who is too good to send anyone to a burning lake of fire for eternity–or even for a few thousand years to Purgatory. We believe that hell is what we make for ourselves right here on this earth, when we separate ourselves from God and from one another.
Like the Catholics, we also take contributions. But we don’t guarantee heaven. Our God doesn’t do deals. Sorry.
