cheap atonement

Wow. I can hardly believe that indulgences, both partial and plenary, are coming back in fashion. Addessing why they are bringing them back, a Brooklyn bishop said, "because there is sin in the world." What an indulgence allegedly does is wipe away the consequences of sin. It clears away the punishment but does not address the source of punishment. So, it neither combats the problem of sin nor mitigates it. Though you remain guilty, you no longer have to FEEL that way because you "atoned" for it by offering up some Hail Marys or making a pilgrammage. This power grab by the Church masquerades as a holy quest of sanctification. Come to the Church, they say, and we will reduce your time in Purgatory. Come to us for help, and we may even eliminate all punishment after death. Sounds good, doesn't it, to people who are innately inclined to seek the easy way out. Unfortunately, not everything has an easy way out. The Church has claimed authority over something it just has no control over. Who has the power to determine punishment for sin? Only God.

EDIT: I don't mean to mislead, indulgences have been around forever, but it's just now they are experiencing a boom in popularity.
EDIT2: I'm not Catholic, so I don't know much about Purgatory. I think the Catholic Church said "just kidding," and now it no longer exists. That's according to my Middle Ages professor.