Things I Didn't Expect to Read Today

Indulgences return to the mainstream in the Church.  On a related note, expect McDonald's to peg its Filet-O-Fish price to a mark slightly below the recommended donation level for an indulgence during Lent--though in past years, they've been selling them 2/$2 on Fridays, so they should be in the clear.  

I'm envisioning a price war between indulgences and Mickey D's. Sacrilege, I know, but isn't this the policy outcome of putting a price tag on bad behavior? It's Holmes' bad man formulation, only with the Afterlife, instead of the law, as the forum.  If it's easier to continue living a sort-of sinful, yet enjoyable life while making charitable donations that shave some time off of a stay in Purgatory than it is to live a slightly more virtuous, yet less enjoyable and more arduous life and require fewer indulgences, then the incentive is for Catholics to choose Option A.  The here and now will be more pleasant, and there will be negligible, if any, impact on the Afterlife.  

And this line cracks me up: "You cannot buy one — the church outlawed the sale of indulgences in 1857 — but charitable contributions, combined with other acts, can help you earn one. There is a limit of one plenary indulgence per sinner per day."  Talk about a distinction without a difference.