What was another name for letters that absolved the buyer of sin and were used by the Pope as a way of raising money in the fifteenth century?

Answer 1

You are referring to indulgences. However, there never was a certificate or letter. It was understood. Indulgences can be granted by the pope for performing certain pious devotions, such as a pilgrimage. However, no paperwork changes hands as the Lord knows full well what has taken place. At one time people were granted indulgences if they made a monetary gift to remodel and rebuild Saint Peter's Basilica. Some, including Martin Luther, look on this as a form of simony which, depending on how you look at it, might be considered just that. Did the benefactors donate so as to receive an indulgence (simony) or did they receive an indulgence because they donated?

Answer 2

Indulgences. Originally they were meant to be a substitute for Earthly pennance or restitution, but that the sinner would still be accountable to God and have to face his punishment. Slowly they began to be sold as a way to remit both punishments, and eventually could be used to free other peoples' souls from purgatory posthumously. This is where Luther took offense.

Answer 3

Roman Catholic AnswerThere is not now, and never has been any certificates or letters that absolved a buyer of sin. The thing that you are referring to, indulgences, are spoken about in this way by later days protestants and other people who are ignorant of the actual facts. Martin Luther objected to some practices in Germany where indulgences were issued for a donation to repairing St. Peter's in Rome. Indulgences are perfectly legitimate, and are part of the deposit of faith, and must be believed in for salvation. Previously, one of the things that one could do to earn an indulgence would be to contribute alms, but due to abuse, such as that in Germany, that practice has been discontinued. Indulgences have never, however, been issued to absolve someone of sin, and they could never be "bought". Indulgences are a remission of the penalty left AFTER SIN HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY ABSOLVED IN THE SACRAMENT OF CONFESSION. They were not "sold", they were issued to someone who did a good work, in this case, donating an alms to the Church.

Answer 4

It was called inmates