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95 Theses XVI: The Unsinkable Martin Heresy

76. We assert the contrary, and say that the pope's pardons are not able to remove the least venial of sins as far as their guilt is concerned. My comment: Once more, the Church agrees, if by "pardons," he means indulgences. If he means to assert the pope has no power at all by virtue of the keys, that's just heresy. A priest does not merely announce, declare, and proclaim the forgiveness of sins; he is, by virtue of his ordination, an instrument for its accomplishment, by the will of Christ.

77. When it is said that not even St. Peter, if he were now pope, could grant a greater grace, it is blasphemy against St. Peter and the pope. My comment: I know where he's trying to go, but it's actually true: No more than one person has the jurisdiction of the See of Peter at one time. So, in fact, the pope has no more or less power than Peter, in that sense. That said, Pope St. Peter, pray for us!

78. We assert the contrary, and say that he, and any pope whatever, possesses greater graces, viz., the gospel, spiritual powers, gifts of healing, etc., as is declared in I Corinthians 12 [:28]. My comment: If he's trying to say that the pope has the most power by virtue of the Apostolic See, I agree.

79. It is blasphemy to say that the insignia of the cross with the papal arms are of equal value to the cross on which Christ died. My comment: Let not the foolish person believe he courageously fights for the gospel in denying the Vicar of Christ's sacramental power. That it depends upon the Cross of Christ is not, of itself, in dispute.

80. The bishops, curates, and theologians, who permit assertions of that kind to be made to the people without let or hindrance, will have to answer for it. My comment: I could not agree more, to the extent that such assertions are false.


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