Definitions

An indulgence is the Church’s shortening of temporal punishment due to sin that has already been forgiven. Technically defined, it is “a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven” (Indulgentiarum doctrina Norm 1). Thanks to God’s indulgence, the Church has, on occasion, the authority to they remove from a penitent what he or she must still owes, in justice, after committing sin. Indulgences are partial or plenary, depending on whether they remove all or just some of the temporal punishment due to sin.

Indulgences are “topical issues” because they seem controversial, even scandalous, and perhaps for two reasons. First, there lies a difficulty on terminological grounds. Some might wonder who the Church is to dictate on “punishment” for anyone and especially “temporal” punishment, that is, punishment in this life. After all, a loving God does not punish, so the Church would do better to promote harmony and peace and a safer planet rather than dole out punishments. Secondly, the doctrine of indulgences might pose difficulties for those who accept that while the Church certainly has a role to play in people’s salvation, nevertheless suppose that the practice of Reconciliation is sufficient for this purpose. A sincere Confession, after all, forgives sin at the moment of absolution.