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.

[Robe]

This is not new stuff.. it was addressed in a book titled
" HOLY BLOOD,HOLY GRAIL"about 25 + years ago.

I recommend it ... good read

[Lloyd227]

Just for the fun of it, do a google search on [Merovingian AND Christ]

Rather interesting even if it does seem a bit loony

[prairiebreeze]

Vargas said ABC found no proof that Jesus had a wife, but couldn't completely discount it, either

I have no proof that the aliens are sending me coded messages through my dental fillings but OTOH, I can't completely discount it either. Pfft!

I have to wonder if this isn't an attempt to try to steal away some of the thunder from Mel Gibson's "Passion of Christ". Didn't we already see this sort of garbage through Scorcese's rag?

Their motives are to stir up stink with Christians. As always, while I can register my protests with their sponsors and by not viewing their trash, it's still aggravating.

Prairie

[billbears]

The continuing PC attack on the tenets of Christianity, fun for the whole family!! And let me state, from what I see and hear at work and in the world, it's working quite well. Christians are ostracized. Religious jokes are A-OK. And Christ, well, He was just this guy you know....

And one wonders how these people are going to at least try to explain their actions to the Almighty

[SendShaqtoIraq]

"AND He's a Yankee Fan"

Uh, evidently NOT.
Hee hee.

[Mr. Mojo]

Well, 26 World Series titles in the last 80 years IS a bit Godlike, wouldn't you agree? ;)

[P-Marlowe]

Ok, so CBS is trashing Reagan, ABC is trashing Jesus, who's NBC susposed to trash?

I'll go out on a limb... It ain't gonna be Muhammed.

[narses]

This is sooooo far outside of anything I would have ever imagined, I cannot believe it is true. Please tell me I'm reading a spoof from the Onion. Please.

[PeoplesRepublicOfWashington]

WWJD

Not my ex-wife!

[nickcarraway]

ping

[airedale]

Looks like someone at ABC read the DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. It's a best seller on the fiction list. The other book on this subject is Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Michael Baigent which serves as a basis for Brown's book.. Brown’s book is a pretty good read but his first book was better.

It's pretty controversial stuff. Here is the review of the Holy Blood Holy Grail book which I'm pasting from Amazon.com:

“Michael Baigent, Henry Lincoln, and Richard Leigh, authors of The Messianic Legacy, spent over 10 years on their own kind of quest for the Holy Grail, into the secretive history of early France. What they found, researched with the tenacity and attention to detail that befits any great quest, is a tangled and intricate story of politics and faith that reads like a mystery novel. It is the story of the Knights Templar, and a behind-the-scenes society called the Prieure de Sion, and its involvement in reinstating descendants of the Merovingian bloodline into political power. Why? The authors of Holy Blood, Holy Grail assert that their explorations into early history ultimately reveal that Jesus may not have died on the cross, but lived to marry and father children whose bloodline continues today. The authors' point here is not to compromise or to demean Jesus, but to offer another, more complete perspective of Jesus as God's incarnation in man. The power of this secret, which has been carefully guarded for hundreds of years, has sparked much controversy. For all the sensationalism and hoopla surrounding Holy Blood, Holy Grail and the alternate history that it outlines, the authors are careful to keep their perspective and sense of skepticism alive in its pages, explaining carefully and clearly how they came to draw such combustible conclusions. --Jodie Buller"

[Askel5]

===Years ago, I read "Holy Blood, Holy Grail"


Is that the one of which you spoke?

[SerpentDove]

>>"For me, it's made religion more real and, ironically, much more interesting<<

Religion was boring before? What kind of moron are we dealing with here?

[SerpentDove]

I suspect "C"

[SerpentDove]

Yet the fools on this network rush in where angels fear to tread.

[Wampus SC]

"They know not what they do."
I think they do know what they do, and are convinced they'll get away with it. They might for now, but one day they'll have to face the man they're making this hit piece about.

[SerpentDove]

>>Question is .. exactly what point does ABC think they are trying to make here?<<

They handly the deep things of God cheaply, and spread slander for a quick buck.

I don't think they realize how soon they will be worm food, and face God just like you and me.

[Wampus SC]

" blasphemy, b.s., whats the difference? the media does not believe in THE TRUTH anyway, so WTF??? WE shall know soon enough, as shall nonbelievers......"

They believe in the truth. They're opposed to it.

[Bobby777]

no doubt ... and no different I imagine ...

[Republic]

wait till God has his sweeps week

Just wonderful! ROFLMAO!