THE EVENING NEWS
MARTIN LUTHER KIDNAPPED
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Palos, Spain (1492).
Christopher Columbus, a 41 year old sailor of Italian birth, left today on a voyage which many people feel is doomed to failure. With three ships and 90 men, he hopes to sail west instead of east to reach the Indies - India, China, the East Indies, and Japan. While Columbus believes the Indies are only a few thousands miles west of Spain, critics say it is much farther. They argue that a trade route over such a great distance would not be profitable. Meanwhile, there are those who say the world is flat and therefore a westward route to the Indies is impossible. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain have spent $14,000 outfitting the fleet. Rulers of Portugal, England, and France previously turned down Columbus' plan as being "too risky". |
Wittenberg, Germany (1521).
The German monk Martin Luther was kidnaped yesterday in central Germany by persons believed to be his own followers. A source who did not want to be identified said friends of the monk have taken him to a secret location where he will be safe from German authorities. Luther was returning home to Wittenberg after a dramatic appearance before the Imperial Diet at Worms. He had been ordered to appear before the Diet - the German lawmakers - by Emperor Charles V. The Emperor wanted Luther to recant statements in which he criticized the Catholic Church. When Luther refused to change his beliefs, the Emperor declared him an outlaw and said he could no longer continue to preach. At the same time, the Catholic Church excommunicated Luther as a heretic. He lost his membership in the Church. Luther's problems began four |
years ago when he nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of a Wittenberg church. It was his way of protesting against certain practices of the Catholic Church. Luther became alarmed at the Church's selling of indulgences - pardons for one's sins. The Church said that a person's sins would be forgiven if, among other things, they gave money to the Church. Luther argued that paying money had nothing to do with a person getting into heaven, that "faith alone was enough". Luther further believes man does not get closer to God by attending church, going on pilgrimages, aiding the poor, or with the help of clergymen and the Pope. He says, "Only faith can open the doors to heaven".
Despite opposition from the Pope and the Emperor, Martin Luther has attracted many followers to a movement known as the Protestant Reformation.
Please turn to "Luther" |
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