"Eggs" Benedict Serves Up Indulgences to Youthstill heretical after all these years

I've heard that Wittenberg Beer might have had some influence in Benedict's life as a youth growing up in Germany. I think the name of the beer was "Papal-Bull-Weiser." You know the slogan: when you've said "pay Papal-Bull-Weiser, you've freed them all." However, I have it on very good authority that the Pope's most favorite pop song that he likes to sing around the Vatican late at night when he thinks that all the other little "Romie Homies" are quietly asleep is: "B-B-B-Bennedicty and the Tetz."

Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Germany on August the 18th last month to address more than 400 000 young people at the 20th World Youth Day meeting. This marked his first visit to the country of his birth since he was crowned pontiff back in April of this year. What also makes this trip "out of the ordinary", is that he granted two special indulgences for the young people attending the World Youth Day (held in Cologne, Germany August 16-21). As you might be aware, the practice of indulgences dates back to the time of the Reformation (1517). “Eggs” Benedict (my nickname for Romanism's conservative antichrist figure) is showing his true papal colors these days by reviving authority in the apocryphal teachings of Tridentine doctrines (such as the selling of indulgences - but in this unusual case the indulgences weren't sold, but he makes them earn them and then he grants them) which he unashamedly represents as infallible truth; but in reality are nothing but damnable lies. The “yoke” – you might say– is on him.

Who is John Tetzel?
John Tetzel, was Pope Leo X emissary; a braggart hired as Rome’s chief fundraiser by promising a “get out of jail free card” for the price of a financial offering to the Pope. He was ordered to sell the idea that buying indulgences would release sinners from divine punishment. "Indulgences" were printed permits or coupons listing the monetary value of a personal confession of sin. Bishop Albrecht of Mainz had authorized the sale of indulgences in order to pay Rome for making him an archbishop. The monies raised were used to assist in building St. Peter’s basilica in Rome. This became known as the selling of indulgences. Tetzel was the great mouthpiece, commissioner, and preacher of indulgences in Germany. His preaching raised enormous amounts of money which were sent to Rome. He had a very clever saying that he was infamous for when motivating people with the false promise of avoiding purgatorial punishment, playing with fear on the sentiments of many that by giving to him and Rome their friends and loved ones would be immediately released from torment to heaven's glory. He would "sing": "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs."

Luther, who was outraged by this abhorrent practice issued a public call for theological debate on the sale of indulgences by posting his ninety-five theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg on the eve of All Saint’s Day, October 31, 1517. He strategically trumped, by one day, Tetzel's influence over the people by challenging his unbiblical view of indulgences in a public forum. Printers distributed copies without Luther’s knowledge and permission. Within a few weeks, Martin Luther was known everywhere as the "voice of renewal." He began to see clearly that the church of his time stressed human merit—works righteousness, rather than trust in God alone for the salvation of men’s souls. It is no wonder that Luther and the other reformers gospel cry became: grace alone-sola gratia; through faith alone-sola fide; on the Word alone-sola Scriptura; because of Christ alone-solus Christus; to the glory of God alone-Soli Deo Gloria.

"Monking" Around
"This indulgence was highly respected. When the commissioner was welcomed to town, the Papal Bull (a written command or edict from the Pope) was carried on velvet or gold cloth. All the priests, monks, councilmen, teachers, pupils, men, women, maids, and children went to meet him singing in solemn procession with flags and candles. The bells tolled and when he entered the church the organ played. A red Cross was put up in the middle of the church to which the Pope's banner was affixed. In short: even God himself could not have been welcomed and received more beautifully.” [Source: Friedrich Myconius, Historia reformation is, p. 14.]

Turnabout is Fair Play
“After Tetzel had received a substantial amount of money at Leipzig, a nobleman asked him if it were possible to receive a letter of indulgence for a future sin. Tetzel quickly answered in the affirmative, insisting, however, that the payment had to made at once. This the nobleman did, receiving thereupon letter and seal from Tetzel. When Tetzel left Leipzig the nobleman attacked him along the way, gave him a thorough beating, and sent him back empty-handed to Leipzig with the comment that this was the future sin which he had in mind. Duke George at first was quite furious about this incident, but when he heard the whole story he let it go without punishing the nobleman.” [Source: Luthers Schriften, herausg. von Walch. XV, 446.]

Here’s the Issue in a Nutshell: History Repeats Itself
According to a Latin-language decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary dated August 2 and made public August 8, a plenary indulgence is available to the faithful who attend the sacred functions of World Youth Day and also "attentively and religiously" participate in its solemn conclusion on Sunday, August 21. The decree lists the additional conditions that must be fulfilled in order to gain this or any other plenary indulgence: sacramental Confession, reception of Holy Communion, prayer for the intention of the Holy Father, and a soul free from attachment to any sin.

A partial indulgence is available to all the other faithful,
wherever they may be during World Youth Day, if, with a contrite heart, they pray
fervently that Christian youth be strengthened in the profession of the Faith;

be confirmed in love and reverence toward their parents; and

form a firm resolution to follow "the holy norms of the Gospel and Mother
Church" in living out their present or future family life, or whatever
vocation they are called to by God.

This brief explanation below taken from Rome’s own "Primer on Indulgences" and will give you their justifying reason for this hellish practice.

Primer on Indulgences of the Roman Catholic Church.
“Those who claim that indulgences are no longer part of Church teaching have the admirable desire to distance themselves from abuses that occurred around the time of the Protestant Reformation. They also want to remove stumbling blocks that prevent non-Catholics from taking a positive view of the Church. As admirable as these motives are, the claim that indulgences are not part of Church teaching today is false.

This is proved by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states, "An indulgence is obtained through the Church who, by virtue of the power of binding and loosing granted her by Christ Jesus, intervenes in favor of individual Christians and opens for them the treasury of the merits of Christ and the saints to obtain from the Father of mercies the remission of the temporal punishment due for their sins." The Church does this not just to aid Christians, "but also to spur them to works of devotion, penance, and charity" (CCC 1478).

Indulgences are part of the Church’s infallible teaching. This means that no Catholic is at liberty to disbelieve in them. The Council of Trent stated that it "condemns with anathema those who say that indulgences are useless or that the Church does not have the power to grant them"(Trent, session 25, Decree on Indulgences). Trent’s anathema places indulgences in the realm of infallibly defined teaching.”

This is the sad reality of the current state of Romanism. Is there any doubt that this is a false church, led by a false shepherd, representing a false gospel, according to false doctrine. The Reformation did actually happen folks... but in light of the above, we need to still be "pounding on Wittenberg's Door."

Having more fun than a Reformed Baptist should be allowed to...
Stephanus Johan Campius
Galatians 1:6-8