Written and Posted in Christian Love

Because so much controversy exists over present- day Catholicism and its changes since Vatican Council II, a need exists to clarify what and how significant these changes are. Therefore, Vatican Council II is quoted below. Regarding INDULGENCES, we read:

"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 defined conditions through the Church's help when, as minister of Redemption, she dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfaction won by Christ and the saints" (Vol. 1, p.75).

"An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin" (Vol. 1, p.75).

"Partial as well as plenary indulgences can always be applied to the dead by way of prayer" (Vol. 1, p.75).

"The faithful who use with devotion an object of piety (crucifix, cross, rosary, scapular or medal) after it has been duly blessed by any priest, can gain a partial indulgence" (Vol. 1, p.77).

"...it [the Roman Catholic Church] condemns with anathema those who say that indulgences are useless or that the Church does not have the power to grant them" (Vol. 1, p.71).

Questions Regarding These Vatican II quotes:

1. According to present-day Catholicism, what are indulgences?
2. How do they relate to punishment due to sin?
3. According to present-day Catholicism, if a faithful Catholic uses a blessed rosary, is there an indulgence blessing?
4. Can indulgences be Scriptural, since there is no need for anything but Jesus' blood to remove all punishment and guilt due to sin?
5. What is the Vatican Council II "anathema" pronounced on all non-Catholics who reject indulgences?
6. Are you under the aforementioned "anathema" of present-day Catholicism?
7. According to the Bible, shouldn't you rejoice if you are under this "anathema" and repent if you aren't?