What is the name for the Catholic Church practice that granted release from the punishment of sins?
Reconciliation.Roman Catholic AnswerThere are two kinds of punishment for sin. In reconciliation (confession), the eternal punishment (separation from God eternally in hell) is entirely remitted, and the temporal punishment is partially remitted through your penance. The temporal punishment is due to the fact that all sin has consequences that we do not see, necessarily, and that we are bound, in justice, to repair the damage we have done - to the extent that we can. This punishment is remitted through good works - fasting, prayer, almsgiving; it is also remitted through an indulgence, a plenary indulgence remits ALL the punishment due to already forgiven sin. Anything not remitted in this life is paid for in purgatory as only the perfect can enter heaven.