ngs of Tetzel on the northern border soon reached the monk. Luther wrote to the local archbishop condemning the selling of indulgences. The idea that one could trade money for the absolution of their sins was a ridiculous notion to Luther. In the letter, he wrote "These unhappy souls believe that if they buy a letter of pardon they are sure of their salvation; also that souls fly out of purgatory as soon as money is cast into the chest..." (qtd. in Dolan 235). On the same day he wrote that letter, October 31, 1517, he also posted his ninety-five theses on the door of the castle church at Wittenberg condemning indulgences and announced a debate on the issue. One of Luther's points was that the Pope can repeal punishment for ecclesiastical laws, but only God can give true forgiveness for sins. He also asked, in his eighty-second thesis, "Why does not the Pope, if he has the power, out of Christian charity empty purgatory of the suffering souls all at once?" At that heart of this issue was Luther's idea of supreme good. He felt that devotion to God should be foremost in men's hearts, not exemption from punishment. Life should not be lived avoiding the punishment of God, but rather fulfilling God's Will. Luther's ninety-five theses quickly spread over all of Europe, being either accepted or rejected with vehement passion by clergy everywhere. The church struck back at Luther with criminal charges and demands of a trial, but the German clergy stood with the monk, many acknowledging that his views coincided with their own protests of the Roman church. Unable to silence Luther that way, the pope himself brought charges against Luther. Sadly, however, the general feeling of Rome was fear of lost profits, not a change in doctrine. Luther was eventually brought to trial and excommunicated from the church. However, no further action could be taken against Luther in Germany because of his popularity with the people and the size of his movement had ...
