Did the Church market indulgences to the communities of those who died without surviving family?

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This question came up on a website I frequent, and I’m curious about this myself. I would post a link, but it won’t let me, as I’m a new user. After someone without any living family died, did Tetzel market indulgences for them to other members of their community? Could a non-family member purchase an indulgence for someone?

Given that people on the Internet seem to have malicious intentions, I’d just like to clarify that I don’t. I’m just asking a question about history, and given that the Catholic Church keeps the best and longest records of any institution I’ve ever seen, I figured this site would be the best place to ask.
 
  1. Who’s Tetzel?
  2. If he’s a historical figure, how long ago did he live?
  3. Simony is the sin of attempting to buy or sell holy things. There was a period in Church history some centuries ago (I want to say about the 1200’s but not sure) when some priests and bishops would openly offer indulgences for sale. This was a very corrupt practice. and Mother Church put an end to it.
 
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John Tetzel was the monk who went around selling indulgences PT Barnum style to raise money for the Church, back in the day of Luther. He had a little jingle, “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings/the soul from Purgatory springs!” He was one of the things that triggered Luther to write the 95 Theses and start the Protestant schism. The link I posted goes to a book reference about him.
 
Ahh. I recall reading about that nasty little jingle. I didn’t recall the name attached to it.
You’re right though: the practice of selling indulgences is one of the elements that brought on the Reformation.

–And to this day the Church gets accused of it as though we were still allowing it.
 
Yep, I’m fully aware it’s stopped. I was just curious as to that aspect of it. The reason our family left the Catholic Church was because my mother didn’t agree with our parish’s financial practices, but I don’t hold anything against the Church myself.
 
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I have no doubt that Tetzel marketed indulgences to anybody with money.
 
Did the Church officially teach it? No.

Did individual members of the Church do it contrary to Church teaching about simony and for filthy lucres sake? Yes.

Individual Priests or Bishops falling into heresy, committing sins, or teaching or doing things contrary to the Faith has happened since the time of the Apostles, happened during the Reformation Era, happens now, and will happen till Kingdom Come.

Wayward clerics are the exception to the Infallible Rule of the Church. Judging the Church as unjust because of wayward clerics is the same as judging the US Constitution as unjust because of corrupt politicians - it’s quite unfair.
 
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