This doesn't exactly have anything to do with the mayor's race so we'll just file it under media critique. The top story on philly.com right now is "Philadelphia archdiocese offers indulgences" and it's filled with all kinds of useful information, like:
An indulgence, according to the church, allows Catholics to avoid or shorten time in purgatory if they undertake certain prescribed acts.
and
What indulgences don't do is forgive sin or spring souls from hell, says William Madges, a theologian and the academic dean of St. Joseph's University. "Indulgences kick in for sins that have already been forgiven" by shortening time in purgatory.
Duh, anyone who's seen Dogma knows was a plenary indulgence is. It's a practice used by fallen angels to get back into heaven.
Is today a slow news day or something?
This story's positioning as the "Top Story" on the front page of Philly.com has gotten it a lot of views and (yay!) a lot of comments, one of my favorite features of Philly.com. Let's see what the denizens of the virtual 700-level have to say.
Click on "Continue Reading" to get some choice samples.
Good job explaining the use of indulgences. Hopefully this will clear up some misconceptions. (Love this one for its elegance and understatedness. I can practically see the sarcasm dripping off it)
24 years and still no championships. I've spent enough time in purgatory, thank you very much. (If this is what purgatory is like... sheesh.)
HOLD ON while nuns were beating me with rulers all during my Catholic school experience I was told you get no purgatory time if you confess your sins. Now i read an article on philly.com that says even if you do confess your since you still go to purgatory???? (While I was never physically beaten by a nun, I count the emotional abuse as my penance for any sin I have ever or will ever commit.)
Ok... back to the real, coverage worthy, issues.