I think it is D. I think that it once had a religious meaning , but even though times had changed and God was no longer part of the church. —- it remained the same
When used as a verb it is: to allow, when used as a noun it is: authorization
This sentence is an example of this primary English sentence pattern:
D. Subject (the toddler) + action verb (tossed) + indirect object (his father) + direct object (the ball).