The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

INDULGENCES. 427against the gratuitous assertions of our adversaries.We certainly do not wish to excuse or palliate theevil de^ds of Catholics, who, with all the blessedaids which their religion affords, ought to be muchbetter than they are. Yet we will add, quoting thewords of the Catholic World: "If we are not verymuch better than our neighbors, we are not anyworse ;and are not to be hounded down with thecry of vice and immorality by a set of Phariseeswho are constantly lauding their own superiority,and thanking God they are so much better than wepoor Catholics." CHAPTER XXVII.INDULGENCES.r PHERE are few tenets of the Catholic ChurchJ- so little understood, or so grossly misrepresentedby her adversaries, as her doctrine regarding Indulgences.One of the reasons of the popular misapprehension of an Indulgence, may be ascribed to the changewhich the*meaning of that term has gradually undergone. The word Indulgence originally signifiedfavor, remission, or forgiveness. Now, it is commonlyused in the sense of unlawful gratification, and offree scope to the passions. Hence, when some ignorant or prejudiced persons hear of the Church grant-