[Spar]

The First Crusade - Council of Clermont (1095)

Council of Clermont decreed that "whoever, out of pure devotion and not for the purpose of gaining honor or money, shall go to Jerusalem to liberate the Church of God, let that journey be counted in lieu of all penance."

St. Bernard, the preacher of the Second Crusade (1146): "Receive the sign of the Cross, and thou shalt likewise obtain the indulgence of all thou hast confessed with a contrite heart."

[JMJ333]

The Pope who said that should have consulted his bible first.

Link 1

Link 2

Can you both please read these links? Thanks.

And spar, we can debate indulgences if you like but that really has nothing to do with the issue.

[Antoninus]

Council of Clermont decreed that "whoever, out of pure devotion and not for the purpose of gaining honor or money, shall go to Jerusalem to liberate the Church of God, let that journey be counted in lieu of all penance." St. Bernard, the preacher of the Second Crusade (1146): "Receive the sign of the Cross, and thou shalt likewise obtain the indulgence of all thou hast confessed with a contrite heart."

If you think these statements equal "automatically go to heaven" all I can say is that you are clueless with regard to Catholic teaching. Penance and indulgences are offered against sins PREVIOUSLY confessed. This in no way guarantees that one will not get a one-way ticket to Hades as a result of one's subsequent wicked actions.

Nice try, though.