LETTERS.

HAVING READ AND THEN REREAD "WHO FRAMED MARY Magdalene? by Heidi Schlumpf (April), I am left quite disappointed. A great opportunity for building up the church was lost to gender-bashing and sex-biased scholarship. I expect better of U.S. CATHOLIC.

The sole use of women scholars for source materials and quotes is as deplorable as would be the sole use of men. To suggest that Christian scripture feeds the notion that "women are either madonnas or whores" detracts from strong women of the scriptures who are neither: Phoebe, Lydia, and Anna to name a few of many.

The topic is an important one to all Christians. However, the presentation is divisive and alienates. Rather than building women up, it makes them out as victims. Rather than educating men, it bashes. The end product is that we all lose and a great opportunity is wasted.

Father C. Gregory Jones, C.S. V. Carbondale, Ill.

Absolutely outstanding! It is high time that the truth of Mary Magdalene finally has come out! I believe that the restoration of the women of the early church to their appropriate places of honor, respect, and power will bring about the much needed healing in our church and our world.

Debbie DeLong Visalia, Calif.

I am very happy that a national magazine gives Saint Mary Magdalene her due in the April issue. At the same time, I was disappointed the writer gave so much credit to FutureChurch and Call to Action, as if the movement to remember Mary Magdalene started with these groups just two years ago.

As Schlumpf must know, the biblical scholars have tried their best--at least since 1965--to present Mary Magdalene as a true witness to and evangelist of Christ's Resurrection.

In addition, the liturgical catechesis from Rome--as reflected in the 197.5 sacramentary--lists her as apostle, with not a single word about her being a repentant sinner.

James Beiersdorfer Sun City Center, Fla.

Schlumpf's article reminded me of a story our professor of dogmatic theology told the class in the late 1940s when I was in the seminary.

A teacher of his at the Grand Seminaire in Montreal had written a book that demonstrated that, although in the Western church since the time of Gregory the Great, Mary Magdalene was identified with the public sinner who washed the feet of Jesus in the house of the Pharisee, this was not supported by any biblical evidence and was contrary to the tradition of the Eastern churches, which did not consider her a sinner but "the myrrh-bearing woman, equal to the apostles" because she was the first one to bring the good news of Christ's Resurrection.

The Vatican rewarded his scholarship by ordering him to withdraw the book from circulation and forbidding him ever to teach scripture again.

His advice to the Montreal students: "Gentlemen, if you ever have an uncontrollable urge to write a book, write a novel ... in English. Because if you write in French, as I did, you will immediately be suspected of heresy."

Father Edmond Bliven Portland, Ore.

Sharing in the Crucifixion

Like Robert J. Batastini ("Crucify him!", April) I have felt extremely uncomfortable playing the part of the crowd in the Passion narrative on Palm Sunday. Unlike him, however, I feel that there is a good theological purpose served by this practice.

Since Christ died for our sins, everyone who has sinned is as responsible for his death as those who stood in the crowd on that day and called for his death. In shouting "Crucify him!" we are reminded that, however much we would like to picture ourselves standing steadfastly by Jesus to the end, there have been times when, like those in the crowd, we have chosen an easier path that led to sin. The words force us to confront our own real guilt in Jesus' Crucifixion.

After the drama highlights our undoing, its second troubling line, "Let his blood be upon us and on our children," reveals the means of our redemption. As Christians, we recognize the saving value of Christ's blood; we are members of the throng who have washed their garments clean in the blood of the Lamb. So the original intent of the crowd is turned on its head, from an acceptance of guilt to acceptance of salvation.

Perhaps viewing the drama in this light will help build more prayerful participation in a part of the liturgy that is otherwise difficult.

Deborah H. Eater Levittown, Pa.

I read the article "Crucify him!" with interest, because the reading of the Passion narrative is very important to me. At the beginning of the article, I felt the author was articulating the reasons for my discomfort at reading the crowd part during the liturgy. Then I stopped and thought some more and changed my thinking.

I do dislike reading those hateful words, "Crucify him!" and feel totally wrong saying them. But then it occurred to me that to the extent that I do sin in everyday life, I am saying those words. I should use the recollection of this revulsion at saying the words to make me more determined to behave so that those words do not belong to me.

To my mind, the extent to which I sin is the extent to which they do.

Linda Oliver Bolivar, Tenn.

I am a 77-year-old convert from Judaism to Catholicism and I have anguished for years over the words "Crucify him." I have always thought it counterproductive psychologically and have had feelings that it could perpetuate anti-Semitism. I wept with relief when I read your article.

Ruth Goldboss Highland Park, Ill.

In the flesh

I would like to comment on the article "Don't give up suffering for Lent" by Sister Yolanda Tarango, C.C.V.I. (March). The statue of Jesus is heartbreaking, but I think it's important for us to look at it. He suffered for us, and we should not forget it.

We need to feel a bit uncomfortable when we see how sad he was and how much he suffered.

Lent is a good time to reflect on our lives and how we can act and be more like Jesus.

In our church the crucifix is covered in gold. I never liked the idea of hiding Jesus' suffering with gold paint. And I don't believe Jesus can be too happy about it either. After I read this article, saw the picture, and then went to my church and looked at the gold crucifix, it was more disturbing than before.

Our church is planning a renovation and I'm going to suggest to Father that we have a flesh-colored Jesus on the cross--one that looks real and is shedding his blood. We need to be reminded.

Shirley M. Noel Northbridge, Mass.

Word power

I was pleased to read the poem "Redemption" by Sherry Elmer (February). It reads beautifully on the page and becomes a living redemption when read aloud.

Words live when they are spoken, and Elmer chose words that resonate through the flesh and bones of the body.

I would like to thank Elmer for walking us so close to the earth.

Ellen Kort Appleton, Wis.

Redemption is not a subject many people discuss these days, and a poem that so clearly gives a metaphor for hope is needed. Indeed, much that cannot be said otherwise can be said in poems.

We need more poetry!

Lenore McComas Coberly Madison, Wis.

Anger held hostage

I enjoyed Heidi Schlumpf's article "Unsettled in the Holy Land: A travel advisory to Jubilee Year pilgrims" (January) about our trip to Israel last summer.

Several of the speakers we heard brought up the need for forgiveness: That there can never be peace in the Middle East until people are willing to let go of the past and begin to forgive each other.

It seems as though whenever the peace accords begin to look promising, someone tries to prevent them from coming to fruition, because they are like the elder brother of the prodigal son, and won't let go of anger.

I'm sure that injustice exists on both sides, but what we were presented with were glaring examples of violations of human rights.

Rebecca R. Fleming Colorado Springs, Colo.

Ethical dilemmas

I have read with great interest Kevin Clarke's article "Unnatural Selection: How biotechnology is redesigning humanity" (January).

It is an excellent explanation of the ethical problems posed to society by present biotechnology and of the moral guidelines presented by the Catholic Church.

Father Kevin Fitzgerald, S.J. in the U.S. and a Franciscan priest and I at the Laboratory for Human Genetics in Spain are in the same boat. We are devoted to research in order to prevent malformations and human defects of genetic ethology.

The problems we encounter are the same, and, of course, we share the answers the church gives.

Father Vitalino Aller, C.M.F. Madrid, Spain

Kevin Clarke stated that stem cells are currently obtained only from an aborted fetus. But, when our baby was born, we donated the cord blood to be used in stem-cell research. Cord blood is a valuable resource that usually gets discarded. More parents should be made aware of this procedure and how to donate their child's cord blood.

Jeremy Weidig Battle Creek, Mich.