Volume 25, Number 2    September 2003

 

A story we helped create:
Time magazine covers Magdala events

Six years ago everyone believed  St. Mary Magdalen was a repentant prostitute.  Today, thanks to a massive organizing effort administered by FutureChurch and partnered with CTA, the world knows better.  Proof positive:? On Aug. 11 Time magazine devoted four pages to setting the record straight. With two photos of CTA Northern California's 2003 Magdala celebration and lengthy quotes from its leader Ellen Turner, the piece is the latest in a five year parade of feature articles, many garnered by CTA regional leaders, that change how we think about this preeminent woman of faith.  

FutureChurch's Sr. Chris Schenk discovered in graduate school that there is no biblical basis for the idea that Magdalen was a harlot.   In 1997 she designed a campaign to correct the mistake. Catholics were asked to celebrate Magdalen's July 22 feast with a presentation by a biblical scholar, and a prayer service giving competent women a rare opportunity to preach and preside. These rituals became the hallmark of the FutureChurch/CTA Women in Church Leadership project.
The idea caught on thanks to CTA regions, ordinary Catholics and the Holy Spirit. In 1997 a Dallas Morning News writer wrote a story about the  project. Los Angeles Times religion writer, Larry Stammer saw it, and wrote an article which was picked up on the national wire.

Suddenly Magdala went from maligned prostitute to the "Apostle to the Apostles."   The 23 celebrations in 1997 grew to 300 this year. FutureChurch/CTA media releases and contacts from local organizers prompted more media attention.  Outlets such as U.S. Catholic, National Catholic Reporter and Catholic News Service interviewed bible scholars and quoted project organizers.  A&E's Biography, the Odyssey channel and Vatican radio produced features.

All the publicity drew crowds to local celebrations and prompted newcomers to organize their own rituals. Example: this year a piece by a Des Moines Register religion writer doubled attendance at CTA Central Iowa's second annual event in Ames, where the speaker was Sue Stanton, author of "Great Women of Faith: Inspiration for Action."

Celebrations spread in 2003
Worldwide in 2003, an estimated 16,000 people participated in St. Mary of Magdala celebrations. There were observances in Germany, Australia, Ireland, Switzerland, Canada, Samoa, Great Britain, Puerto Rico, and for the first time ever, Russia.

In the U.S. 21 local CTAs and nine Dignity chapters sponsored events. Larger celebrations took place in parishes and retreat centers. Coalition events occurred in Cincinnati (10 organizations), the Magdalen group in Atlanta, and the Sisters for Christian Community. Canada's Catholic Network for Women's Equality created a French version.

Many groups expanded their focus from Magdalen to other women of faith, using the new FutureChurch/CTA resource, More! Celebrating Women Witnesses (see ad below).

Three women at a parish in Baltimore organized WOMENSPIRIT "to acknowledge women in history of and to awaken women to their invaluable role in our Church."   A Sunday prayer service honored Mary of Magdala. Monday brought a live dramatization of women in Scripture, and Wednesday a women's retreat.

At Cleveland FutureChurch Dr. Phyllis Zagano spoke on women deacons, citing evidence that deacons in the first century were both female and male. She also said Rome has recognized the sacraments of the Armenian Catholic Church which has women serving in the diaconate right now.

Perhaps the most moving celebration of all was described by a harried New York City priest :  

"We had about 170 people. The lesbian community attended, and the Singles for Christ. We have people visiting from Liberia.  I dubbed Mary Magdalen the patroness of Liberia - to offer these poor people hope as they watch their relatives being slaughtered. Mary was the model as she watched Jesus being crucified. It worked to offer compassion to Yahweh's wandering people in this crazy city."