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AMMA_20120706_022.jpg

AMMA_20120706_022.jpg

Volunteer Kerry Fitzpatrick of Seattle, Wash. walks around with a sign asking for help washing dishes as spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as "Amma" or the "Hugging Saint," hugs and blesses followers at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, Va., Friday, July 6, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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AMMA_20120706_014.jpg

Spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi, top center, also known as "Amma" or the "Hugging Saint," receives a follower with a hug and blessing at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, Va., Friday, July 6, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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AMMA_20120706_006.jpg

Remya Meixner, second from left, of Harrisburg, Pa., and her sister Sue Meixner, second from right, of Clearwater, Fla., are both embraced by spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi, center, also known as "Amma" or the "Hugging Saint," who receives her followers with a hug and blessing at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, Va., Friday, July 6, 2012. The spiritual leader is on a 10-city tour through North America with the help of volunteers helping her throughout her visit. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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AMMA_20120706_008.jpg

Kimberly Taylor of Charlottesville, Va., left, cries as she watches spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi [cq], right, also known as "Amma" or the "Hugging Saint", receive David Ernest Wachter [cq], second from right, with a hug and blessing at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, Alexandria, Va., Friday, July 6, 2012. The spiritual leader is on a ten city tour through North America with the help of volunteers helping her throughout her visit. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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20120704-212708-pic-546102000.jpg

From left, Mary Ann Shutzer of Alexandria and Mary-Christine Bryant and her sister Phyllis Bryant of New York City pray during the closing Mass.

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20120704-183658-pic-378831303.jpg

Colorado Attorney General John W. Suthers is appealing a state appeals court ruling that the day-of-prayer proclamation is unconstitutional. (Associated Press)

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20120704-163145-pic-742697844.jpg

Quvenzhane Wallis was chosen from auditions of about 4,000 young girls in southern Louisiana schools and churches to play the lead role in "Beasts of the Southern Wild." (Associated Press)

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VOTE_9029.jpg

**FILE** Voter Salema Dahdah steps out the voting booth at Saint Monica Lanes in Philadelphia on Nov. 2, 2010. (Associated Press)

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20120703-212801-pic-476989888.jpg

Hindu spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as "Amma," has followers who believe that her hugs have healing properties. It is estimated that she has given more than 32 million hugs during her life. (Associated Press)

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Saints Brees Football_Live.jpg

**FILE** New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees celebrates Feb. 7, 2010, after the Saints' 31-17 win against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV in Miami. (Associated Press)

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Vatican Pope_Lea.jpg

Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives for an audience with newly appointed archbishops at the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican on Saturday, June 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

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Romney Church_Live.jpg

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives July 1, 2012, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Wolfeboro, N.H. Romney, the first Mormon to clinch the presidential nomination of a major party, attended services with his wife, Ann, five sons, five daughters-in-law and eighteen grandchildren. (Associated Press)