Final answer:
The piece of paper that granted pardon from the punishment of sins was called an indulgence. It was controversial during the time of the Reformation and challenged by Martin Luther.
Step-by-step explanation:
The piece of paper that supposedly granted pardon from the punishment of sins was called an indulgence. The indulgences were a practice where the Church acknowledged a donation or other charitable work by issuing a piece of paper, called an indulgence, that certified a shorter stay in purgatory and a quicker entry to heaven. This practice was a controversial issue during the time of the Reformation, specifically challenged by Martin Luther in his Ninety-five Theses.