In 1993, Martin Luther, a German theologian, posted 95 theses to the entrance of Wittenberg’s Castle Church. The 95 theses strongly criticized indulgences, which according to Catholic standards would decrease or wipe out penances for wrongdoing. Beginning in the 11th century, the religious organization granted these indulgences to those who took part in the Crusades, and even went as far as to promote and sell certificates of indulgences with the purpose of fundraising. This practice, which received great opposition from Luther, eventually led to much backlash. It is a general belief that the Catholic Church ceased to offer indulgences following Luther’s strong disapproval. In 1570, Pope Pius V banned the sale of indulgences. Despite this, Pius V declared that indulgences would be valid as long as money was not exchanged. By 1563, he had accepted a full set of beliefs about indulgences that was established from a series of gatherings with senior religious officials, commonly known as the Council of Trent. This extensive set of beliefs, revised by Pope Paul VI in 1967, remains one of the doctrines of the church until now. As an example, indulgences were available at the National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago between November 2021 and November 2022. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of Mother Cabrini’s canonization as the first American saint, admired by Catholics for caring for fellow Italian immigrants, the Catholic Church announced an indulgence. Despite this, the idea was met with a mixed reception, with some being skeptical and two other branches of Christianity – Protestantism and Eastern Orthodoxy – being entirely opposed to it. As a theologian who has performed thorough research on the concept of God, I understand that the practice of indulgences is an enduring, developing and controversial subject in both Catholic and non-Catholic groups alike, due to the doctrine of original sin. One of the central beliefs of Catholicism is that all people born into the world are marked by the sin of original sin, due to the act of disobedience made by Adam and Eve towards God in the Garden of Eden.
