The buying and selling of indulgences and the worship of relics caused a scandal in the Catholic Church. Relics are the material remains of a deceased saint or martyr and the objects closely associated with these (anonymous) remains. Indulgences were certificates, purchased either for oneself or on behalf of others, which guaranteed the forgiveness of sins (Eppehimer 18). The postclassical Latin meaning of the word indulgence came to mean the forgiveness of a tax or debt. In Roman law, indulgence was used to express release from captivity or punishment. An indulgence that can be obtained in any part of the world is a universal indulgence, while an indulgence that can only be obtained in a specified place is local. The perpetual indulgence can be obtained at any time, while temporary indulgences are available on certain days or during certain periods (Kent). An indulgence is not: permission to commit a sin, forgiveness of future sin, forgiveness of the guilt of sin, or an exemption from any law or duty (Kent). The concept of indulgences is based on the medieval Catholic doctrine that sinners must not only repent of their sins to an ordained priest, who then grants absolution, but that penance is also required to atone for the sin (Jordan 1). Even after sins have been forgiven, sinners are still owed some form or recompense for the sins they have committed (Brown 123). The Church declared certain good works, such as: certain types of prayers, fasting, almsgiving, and pilgrimages equivalent to so many days of public penance (Cantor 240). Indulgences can be obtained for oneself or for others, especially for those who died and were in purgatory awaiting release from the punishment due to their sins (Brown 39). Purgatory is a realm where those in the middle of paper sought to hold the most prestigious. Some relics were even stolen from one church, only to find a new home in another (Boehm). Works Cited http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/things/relics.htmleppehimer, trevor. Protestantismhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07783a.htmCantor, Norman F. "indulgences" The encyclopedia of the Middle Ages. 1999ed.Brown, Stephen f. Protestantism, second edition of world religions. Jordan, William Chester. the middle ages volume 3brown, stephen f., anatolios, khaled. Catholicism Orthodox Christianity Second Edition World Religions.http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/relic/hd_relic.htmhttp://www.medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/holyrelics.htmlotfinoski, Steven. Roman Catholicismhttp://www.suite101.com/content/the-importance-of-medieval-religious-relics-a64836bunson, Matthew. “Relics”. Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages