This week the Vatican is PR-ing their elaborate heritage restoration and interpretation work in the maze-like Catacombs of Priscilla, near Rome. Google have adapted their Street View technology to provide a fantastic underground virtual tour. The Vatican have also used lasers in a Lazarus display, and the tombs contain the oldest known image of the Madonna and child.
But these aren’t causing the fuss. According to Catholic theologian Dorothy Irvin, and others, restored third century paintings prove the existence of women priests in the early Christian church. They show women – and a woman priest:
“conducting a Eucharistic banquet … The slope of the shoulders, feminine postures and jaw lines, earlobes, breasts and upswept hair-do’s with forehead curls attest to the femininity of all those seated around the table”.
The Vatican was quick to step in; “
“These readings of the past are a bit sensationalistic but aren’t trustworthy.”
Links: Catacombs of Priscilla, Roman Catholic Womenpriests, Google Maps tour,
Sources, AP, Reuters, The Vatican, Roman Catholic Womenpriests
