Is there any theological significance to the words 'debts' and 'debtors' in St Matthew 6:12?

"Forgive is our debts as we forgive our debtors"

Can this verse be used to justify the Catholic belief in temporal punishment, indulgences, acts of penance, etc?

mercyandjustice - Yes, there is a theological significance.  Don't read too much into translations.  Latin is a sacred language.  English is not.  

"Debts and debtors".

Interesting topic. Well, I think we can safely forget the translations, but what about the Tribe that has been looting the western hemisphere for the last 600 years until the popes gave in and finally decided to relax the strictures on usury? Now we're stuck. Oh, have you paid for your £70,000 home thrice over? We have.

From the Haydock Bible


Ver. 12. Of all the petitions this alone is repeated twice. God puts our judgment in our own hands, that none might complain, being the author of his own sentence. He could have forgiven us our sins without this condition, but he consulted our good, in affording us opportunities of practising daily the virtues of piety and mildness. (St. Chrysostom, hom. xx.) --- These debts signify not only mortal but venial sins, as St. Augustine often teaches. Therefore every man, be he ever so just, yet because he cannot live without venial sin, ought to say this prayer. (Cont. 2 epis. Pelag. lib. i. chap. 14.) --- (lib. xxi. de civit. Dei. chap. xxvii.) (Bristow)