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Questions and answers about indulgences, with special reference to Martin Luther’s objections

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Questions and answers about indulgences, with special reference to Martin Luther’s objections

1. What is an indulgence?

An indulgence is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment for sins after the sinner confesses and receives absolution. Under Catholic teaching, every sin must be purified either here on earth or after death in a state called purgatory.

2. How did the practice of dispensing indulgences begin?

The first known use of plenary indulgences was in 1095 when Pope Urban II remitted all penance of persons who participated in the crusades and who confessed their sins. Later, the indulgences were also offered to those who couldn't go on the Crusades but offered cash contributions to the effort instead. In the early 1200s, the Church began claiming that it had a "treasury" of indulgences (consisting of the merits of Christ and the saints) that it could dispense in ways that promoted the Church and its mission. In a decretal issued in 1343, Pope Clement VI declared, "The merits of Christ are a treasure of indulgences."

A Postman’s 1963 Walk For Justice, Cut Short On An Alabama Road

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A Postman’s 1963 Walk For Justice, Cut Short On An Alabama Road : NPR

William Moore was born in Binghamton, N.Y., but he was not just another "Yankee" sticking his nose where many Southerners believed it didn't belong. Moore had roots in the South. Moore was raised in Russell, Miss., after going to live with his grandparents at the age of 2. As an adult, Moore returned to Binghamton and began organizing demonstrations for civil rights. He also became a member of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a vital arm of activism at the time.

If you drove down Highway 11 five decades ago, you might have spotted a middle-aged white man in rumpled clothes and coiffed hair, sporting a gap-toothed grin. You might have thought little of it and kept driving. But when you glanced back, you would have wondered why this guy was pulling a little red wagon, handing letters to people he passed and pushing a grocery cart plastered with a "Wanted" poster featuring an image of Jesus. William Moore definitely stuck out.

But there were people along his route who did more than wonder about strangers like William Moore. Mary Stanton, author of Freedom Walk, a book about Moore and others who continued his effort after his death, describes people who confronted him. The polite individuals interrogated him about his intentions; the rude threatened him.

Ultimately, Moore was shot twice in the head at point-blank range near Attalla, Ala. He was left on the side of the road at a picnic area approximately 300 miles short of Jackson. In her book, Stanton describes a frightened Willis Elrod, who stumbled over Moore's body when he pulled over to use the restroom.

NPR

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New Gallup Poll Reveals Most Republicans Now Back Same-Sex Marriage : NPR

Support for same-sex marriage in the U.S. has reached an all-time high of 70%, according to a poll released by Gallup on Tuesday.

The percentage — the highest since the organization began recording the trend in 1996 — marks a 10% increase since 2015, the same year the U.S. Supreme Court ruled all states must recognize same-sex marriages.

The rise in support stems largely from a majority of Republicans, who for the first time approve of same-sex marriage at 55%, according to Gallup.

The company reports 83% of Democrats, a political bloc that has consistently been the biggest backers of same-sex marriage, indicated support for it this year. Compared to prior reports, Democrats reported the same level of approval for gay and lesbian marriage over the past few years.

Gallup wrote, "This could suggest that support for gay marriage has reached a ceiling for this group, at least for now."

Support among voters who identify as independents, is now at 73% slightly higher than the 68% to 71% range recorded from 2017 to 2020.

The Truth About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

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I spend too much time thinking about burn barrels, trash and waste, and our consumer throw away society bothers me a bit too much - which drives my anxiety. Sometimes these thoughts are downright obtrusive in my life and hard to talk about, even though they are kind of silly. Burning a little plastic ain't the end of the world, ask any Pennsylvania redneck. But I worry at times they hold me back from my career and life goals.

So that's why I've been doing bimonthly therapy sessions, learning many of the techniques and realizations discussed in this OCD video. Mastering these coping skills are key to being even more successful at my career. While therapy can be scary especially with the stigma associated with mental illness, I feel like I am learning a lot and slowly but surely becoming a better person. I don't always know if the investment of time and money is worth it - as most of the coping techniques are fairly obvious - but I think if it helps and ultimately leads to promotions and bigger checks at work it's worth it. One step closer to that off-grid homestead where I can burn whatever I want within reason. 

Thematic Map: Seneca Lake Watershed - 2019 National Agricultural Imagery Program