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Jesus's wife papyrus denounced by Vatican newspaper as a 'clumsy fake' Jesus's wife papyrus denounced by Vatican newspaper as a clumsy fake
(35 minutes later)
The Vatican's daily newspaper has denounced as a "clumsy fake" an alleged 4th-century Coptic papyrus that suggests Jesus was a married man.The Vatican's daily newspaper has denounced as a "clumsy fake" an alleged 4th-century Coptic papyrus that suggests Jesus was a married man.
Karen King, a professor at Harvard divinity school, presented the ancient text at a conference in Rome last week, claiming it contained the words "Jesus said to them, 'my wife'", a possible reference to Mary Magdalene.Karen King, a professor at Harvard divinity school, presented the ancient text at a conference in Rome last week, claiming it contained the words "Jesus said to them, 'my wife'", a possible reference to Mary Magdalene.
Christian tradition maintains that Jesus did not marry, a theory that underpins the Catholic church's insistence that priests remain single and celibate. The idea that Jesus did have children was most recently aired in Dan Brown's bestseller The Da Vinci Code.Christian tradition maintains that Jesus did not marry, a theory that underpins the Catholic church's insistence that priests remain single and celibate. The idea that Jesus did have children was most recently aired in Dan Brown's bestseller The Da Vinci Code.
The Vatican made no comment in the days following King's announcement, but L'Osservatore Romano published a strongly worded editorial on Thursday claiming that the papyrus was a "clumsy fake, like many others from the near east," which had probably been concocted for sale. The Vatican made no comment in the days following King's announcement, but L'Osservatore Romano published a strongly worded editorial on Thursday claiming that the papyrus was a "clumsy fake, like many others from the near east", which had probably been concocted for sale.
The paper's editor, Giovanni Maria Vian, added that the story neatly catered "to a contemporary ideology which has nothing to do with ancient Christian history, or with the figure of Jesus. Either way, in any case, it's fake."The paper's editor, Giovanni Maria Vian, added that the story neatly catered "to a contemporary ideology which has nothing to do with ancient Christian history, or with the figure of Jesus. Either way, in any case, it's fake."
The fragment of text belongs to a private collector who asked King to help translate it. King said the document, which was reportedly translated from an earlier Greek text, originated in Egypt but gave no further details. Experts are split over its authenticity, with some doubting the grammar used in the text.The fragment of text belongs to a private collector who asked King to help translate it. King said the document, which was reportedly translated from an earlier Greek text, originated in Egypt but gave no further details. Experts are split over its authenticity, with some doubting the grammar used in the text.
In an article alongside the Osservatore Romano editorial, leading a Coptic scholar, Alberto Camplani, who helped organise the conference, to warn that the papyrus could be a modern fake and criticised King's decision to take her findings to the media before more studies were carried out. In an article alongside the Osservatore Romano editorial, leading Coptic scholar Alberto Camplani, who helped organise the conference, warned that the papyrus could be a modern fake and criticised King's decision to take her findings to the media before more studies were carried out.
Vian was also critical of King's PR acumen. The announcement was "prepared without leaving anything to chance", he wrote. "American papers were alerted in advance, a prearranged press conference held by Karen L King to prepare a global scoop, which was however immediately put in doubt by specialists."Vian was also critical of King's PR acumen. The announcement was "prepared without leaving anything to chance", he wrote. "American papers were alerted in advance, a prearranged press conference held by Karen L King to prepare a global scoop, which was however immediately put in doubt by specialists."
Harvard has said it is awaiting testing of the text's ink before publishing King's findings in the Harvard Theological Review.Harvard has said it is awaiting testing of the text's ink before publishing King's findings in the Harvard Theological Review.