ABC Special Explores if Jesus Had Wife

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 10.30.03 | DAVID BAUDER

[mhking]

NEW YORK — ABC News correspondent Elizabeth Vargas concedes her network is stepping into a theological minefield with its one-hour exploration of whether Jesus Christ had a wife.

The ABC News special, "Jesus, Mary and DaVinci," is scheduled to air Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

"You can't talk about this subject without intriguing people or offending people," Vargas said Thursday. "We're trying to do it as respectfully as we can."

ABC screened the special for some reporters and religious leaders on Thursday. The program is based on the best-selling novel, "The DaVinci Code," which claims to be partly grounded on historical fact.

The book asserts that Mary Magdalene was Jesus' wife — not a prostitute, as in some teachings — and that she fled Jerusalem with his child following his crucifixion.

The story was kept alive for centuries by a secret society that included the painter Leonardo DaVinci, who supposedly inserted clues about it in his art, the book claimed.

The ABC special outlines the theories and speaks to several theologians who either discount the story or assert that it is possible.

The show unravels like a mystery perpetuated by secondhand gossip. Vargas said ABC found no proof that Jesus had a wife, but couldn't completely discount it, either.

Vargas, who was raised a Roman Catholic, said her own parents said to her, "Oh, my goodness, what are you doing?" when they found out she was working on the story.

She said she was never aware of the power struggles and political intrigue that went into how her faith is taught today.

"For me, it's made religion more real and, ironically, much more interesting — which is what we're hoping to do for our viewers," she said.

It drew some immediate criticism, particularly from a representative of the Catholic League, who said ABC News relied too heavily on the opinion of Father Richard McBrien of Notre Dame, who believes Mary Magdalene's importance has been historically understated and that it's possible she was his wife.

"I think it was not sufficiently balanced," said Joseph DeFeo, policy analyst for the Catholic League. "The majority of the people who spoke believed in either the plausibility or the outright truth of (book author) Dan Brown's claims. The facts themselves scream out that this is a crackpot theory."

The show even drew criticism from Nikki Stephanopoulos, mother of ABC News correspondent George and the communications director for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. She the special might offend people who believe that women have a more prominent role in the church.

[Highway Kind]

I stand corrected; Thank You, Sir!!! Glory be to GOD!!!

[drhogan]

the following post is based partly on fabrication:
Scholars have recently debated whether or not satan had a wife (known as Mrs. Satan.) it is possible that she is currently on the board of directors of ABC, and possibly on the democratic national committee. Although there is no evidence at all to support this theory, ABC News said that the theory could not be completely disproven.

[Norse]

Jesus, Reagan, Bush, Republicans, etc. All trashed constantly by the networks. does anyone even watch these channels anymore?

[Jeff Chandler]

And Mel Gibson's rendition of "The Passion of Christ" is "controversial"?

[stands2reason]

Not Capetian, I got the lines mixed up.. As I said before, I'm brain-dead---I got 2 hours sleep last night and I have a cold. Sue me.

[Wolfhound777]

"Where will we be 20 years from now." I'm guessing: a) Civil War II b) WW III c) The Second Coming.

Current events are setting up all three.

[Wolfhound777]

Scholars have recently debated whether or not satan had a wife (known as Mrs. Satan.) it is possible that she is currently on the board of directors of ABC, and possibly on the democratic national committee. Although there is no evidence at all to support this theory, ABC News said that the theory could not be completely disproven.

Mrs. Satan is a senator from NY.

[Spirited]

Think they'll do a piece on the chief prophet of Islam, too?

Wonder how much they would dare to embroider out of whole cloth (lie) in that case.

[Grampa Dave]

Actually we are fighting WWIV.

The cold war which wasn't all that cold at times was WWIII. Thanks to Ronald Reagan, we won that war.

[Rockitz]

It's just amazing how much heracy comes out of the seminaries.

[Rockitz]

This seems like a veiled attempt to flood the entertainment market with Jesus pieces so that "The Passion" will be devalued upon it's premier.

[Libertina]

"We're trying to do it as respectfully as we can."
Yeah, right...

[Salvation]

Read the Bible for the truth!

[exit82]

Agree with you about WW3. Surprising that more folks don't realize that the 46 year war with Communism was WW3.

The WOT is WW4,in my opinion. Before it is over, there will be a worldwide reordering of the politcal landscape.

[Salvation]

Sweeps week?

Are they using their witch's brooms?

[exit82]

Chancellor, that was one of the funniest lines I've seen here on FR. Thanks for the belly laugh.

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

the opinion of Father Richard McBrien of Notre Dame, who believes Mary Magdalene's importance has been historically understated and that it's possible she was his wife.

Why is this man still a priest?

[A CA Guy]

How about that scene where Christ is feeding thousands with a few fish and some bread, and in comes Reagan who says, "Christ Almighty, why are you feeding these bums, if they weren't smart enough to pack their own lunch, let them starve from their own stupidity".
Then Reagan later looks to cut John the Baptist's head off.

Sweeps!

[Lurker]

"Vargas said ABC found no proof that Jesus had a wife,"

And if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle.

L

[Grampa Dave]

A lot of us so called cold war vets know that many times it wasn't so cold. It last 46 years as you noted, and cost us trillions. However, that was a great investment as the USSR went broke. If they had won, we wouldn't be here on Free Republic.

WWIV will have incredible geopolitical impact on the entire world. As GW has noted they are either with us or agains us. After Iraq, many learned what it meant to be against us.