The Dominican monk Johann Tetzel (1465-1519 ) was the great mouthpiece, commissioner, and preacher of indulgences in Germany. His preaching raised enormous amounts of money which were sent to Rome.
Johann Tetzel collected money for him self, and for Rome. The Papacy needed to raise finances to build the biggest mansion of them all, the St. Peters Church.
The non-denominational Charismatic Churches today is likewise full of preachers who are selling indulgences in the name of healing, financial or material blessings. Like Tetzel, they misuse the name of Jesus. Like Rome, these TV-preachers also become multi-millionaires.
Tetzel said if they would put money quickly into the coffer to obtain grace and indulgence, all the mountains near St. Annaberg would turn into pure silver. He claimed that in the very moment the coin rang in the coffer, the soul rose up to heaven.
Even notable Roman Catholics such as Juan de Valdez, the brother of the secretary of the Emperor Charles V, admitted the corruption of such practices:
«I see that we can scarcely get anything from Christ’s ministers but for money, at bishopping money, at marriage money, for confession money – no, not extreme unction without money! They will ring no bells without money, no burial in the church without money; so that it seemeth that Paradise is shut up without money. The rich is buried in the church, the poor in the churchyard»
The idea behind Tetzels indulgences, was the religious believe that man can buy favors with God. Such false teachers will tell you that: « When God (understood to be represented by the preacher) gets your money, God will grant you miracles, healing or salvation».
The Jewish Messiah did not demand money from anyone, neither did he give anybody money, properties or material favors. He came to save the whole human race from our sins.
A poor lady put two cooper coins into the Temple treasure box. The Messiah saw this, and blessed her. He rebuked those in the Temple who had put in larger amounts of money.
The Messiah told us: «The love of money is the root of all evil». Some of the most prominent lovers of money are preachers who appear on «Christian» TV every night.
ivarfjeld.com 
Your understanding of indulgences is predictably flawed. The purpose of indulgences is to remit the sin that we might be delivered from purgatory, in other words to lessen the time. It is not, and never has been, a ‘get out of jail free’ card. The fact is that in order to gain the indulgence, the one trying to gain the indulgence must perform certain acts, among them to give alms, and to do penance, and to pray. You can’t just throw money at it, and expect it to go away. You have to be in a state of grace to receive the indulgence. Also, many times, they’re for our dead already in purgatory, not for us.
Also, you show pictures of religious leaders, none of which appears to be Catholic-they’re all protestant.
Catholics are never required to give money to anyone-you can worship free, get married free, be buried free (though the plot of land may cost, the priest is free). One never could “buy” indulgences. The financial scandal surrounding indulgences, the scandal that gave Martin Luther an excuse for his heterodoxy, involved alms—indulgences in which the giving of alms to some charitable fund or foundation was used as the occasion to grant the indulgence. There was no outright selling of indulgences. That some people used indulgences to raise funds was never sanctioned by the Church.
Thanks David.
You wrote:
The one trying to gain the indulgence must perform certain acts, among them to give alms, and to do penance and to pray.
My comment:
There is no difference between the Roman Catholic Church and non-denominational Charismatic Churches when it comes to indulgences. You hit the mark. Religious people put their trust in their own ability to perform, to be able to reach salvation. They are told they are cursed, if they do not pay money to their leaders, and they have to indulge in buying and selling of alms. But man can neither get saved by alms, nor by his own performance.
Man is saved by God`s grace alone. Man shall live by faith alone. Man shall put his trust in the one an only perfect atonement, given us by God, the blood of Christ. We are saved by faith in Christ. Alone.
You wrote:
That some people used indulgences to raise funds was never sanctioned by the Church.
My comment:
Johann Tetzel might have been a freelancer in the Papal system. There was surely many like him. He sold certificates, confirming that souls in Purgatory would be set free by giving money to him and Rome. Martin Luther took a stand against Tetzel. He also came to the conclusion that Rome it self was corrupt.
St. Peters Church in Rome was built on money, raised by sinful people who were told they could buy them self a place in Heaven.
I believe that we should pray for healing, and that Jesus heals today. But many people are giving money to Charismatic Faith Healers based on the same concept first used by Tetzel. «When you give money to me, the Lord will listen to you».
This is religious fraud.
People are not able to see that the healing grace of Jesus is freely available to both believers and non-believers. Just make a small cut in your finger, and after three days you will see.
Tetzel aside, there were not many like him. That Luther took it upon himself to declare Rome wrong is itself a corruption. All church structures are built by money raised by sinful people, because we are all sinners. Your perception that people gave money to buy a place in heaven. The Catholic Church teaches, and has always taught that everyone needs the grace of God alone to get into heaven. That a sinful man mislead some people is a fact, but was never sanctioned by the Church. Luther’s problem was that the Church didn’t seem to act fast enough, but the fact was that there was already reform in place when he broke away.
You really need to study the Catholic Church and understand what she taught before you go criticizing “the Church” for the actions of some within her.
People often criticize Disney corporation for sanctioning gay pride weekends, where groups of homosexuals converge on one of the parks wearing shirts with the Disney logo. People see these pictures and assume that Disney sanctions this. In fact, Disney is only the venue, it does not condone nor approve of homosexuals. They accept, and are required to accept, money from anyone to gain access to the park. The same is true with the Catholic Church-there are many, many bad Catholics, there are many who do not know their faith well, and they are easily mislead. The Church’s teachings have always been those of Christ, and will always be so. For He said that the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church. This is the Church He built upon Peter, the Rock. The Catholic Church.
Dear David.
I have been married to a Roman Catholic for 14 years, and was a practicing non-believing Roman Catholic for many years. I have studied the The Catechism of The Catholic Church in details. I have also read the Bible. The Church live in error on many accounts. First of all by denying Sola Scripture, and implementing all kinds of pagan traditions. The Catechism of The Catholic Church is full of paganism. I do not know in which end I shall start, but can keep you busy for a long time on this topic.
Please do…but if you have questions, real questions, you should visit my blog and find the answers…So far you have it all wrong.