Is this a joke article, like from The Onion or something like that? Does this kind of stuff still go on today?
Read full story from telegraph.co.uk
Excerpt:
Pope Benedict XVI is offering relief from purgatory to Roman Catholics who travel to Lourdes over the next year, the Vatican said yesterday.
Pilgrims to the shrine in south-west France will receive “plenary indulgences” from the Pontiff, which the Church says reduce the time spent being “washed” of sin after death. The indulgences will be available from this weekend until Dec 8, 2008.
The Church teaches that people who do not go directly to heaven must spend time in purgatory, where they can be purified of residual sin.
It is the latest initiative to get more pilgrims to the shrine, famous for the reported healing properties of its water. In August the Vatican opened an airline service offering pilgrims direct flights from Rome to Lourdes.
Differences in doctrine can certainly make it difficult for
those of faith to negotiate and worship harmoniously, amen?
Despite the minefields, I have been blessed with prayer-
partners who belong to Catholic, Jehovah’s Witness, Baptist, Evangelical, Presbyterian, United and Muslim
churches. We definitely all share one thing in common –
we all have something to learn!
Maybe there’s a Catholic in the house that can explain the logic in all of this…