The same old Rome

Rome's boast is that she does not change. The papal visit to Scotland was certainly an illustration of this. 

An open air mass was held at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow. In order to get a good turn out Rome sold an indulgence to all who would attend.

Here is the wording of the pdf document that can be found on the 'Bishops' Conference for Scotland' website. 

GAINING THE 

PLENARY 

INDULGENCE

Bellahouston – A Pilgrimage of Faith and Forgiveness

People will come from near and far to Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, to welcome Pope Benedict XVI to Scotland and to join with the Successor of Peter in the celebration of Holy Mass. This is truly a pilgrimage of faith. As with all genuine pilgrimages undertaken in an authentically religious spirit, Catholics who make the journey to Bellahouston Park for Mass with the Pope with devotion and trust in God may receive a Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “the doctrine and practice of indulgences are closely linked to the effects of the Sacrament of Penance”.

So what are indulgences? The Catechism explains: “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints” (CCC 1471).

Rather loosely and imperfectly but not altogether incorrectly, indulgences have been popularly described as “time off purgatory”.

Indulgences can be partial or plenary, and can be applied to the living or the dead (CCC 1472).

The usual conditions are: prayers for the intentions of the Pope, together with a good Confession and the reception of Holy Communion within a reasonable time.

Rome is once again hawking salvation. It was the sale of indulgences that prompted Martin Luther to nail his 95 thesis to the door of the church at Wittenburg on 31st October 1517. This event is taken as the beginning of the Reformation. 

So much for all those who tell us that Rome has changed and there is no need to continue standing for Reformation principles. 

The Word of God reminds us that salvation is without money and without price, Isa 55:1,2:

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

If we needed fresh justification for opposing Romanism and the papal visit this selling of indulgence gives it to us.