Mary Magdalene, 13th disciple

He then goes on to explain to us what "specious" means. In fact, it is his arguments that are specious, or as he explains, "deceptively attractive in appearance" "but actually wrong or false".

He cites the scriptural example that Jesus chose all male disciples. However, the socio-cultural conditions of biblical regions thousands of years ago would have made it almost impossible for a man to consort with a group of women for the purposes of spreading his "good news".

Indeed, the example of Mary Magdalene, who has been called the "13th disciple", could be used to show that Jesus per se was not averse to shepherding women into his flock, and rather that he was simply aware enough to know that directly enrolling female disciples, given the sexist cultural climate of the day, may have been counter-productive to spreading his religion.

Fr Shaw cites "the constant practice of the Church", which says (or used to say!) that ordaining women is wrong. He is therefore relying on a premise which is almost identical in meaning to the conclusion that he is trying to draw.

Third, and most spuriously, Fr Shaw uses the old argument that the Church should be "imitating Christ in choosing only men" as priests.

Again, this presupposes that gender is a relevant factor.

BOB CHURCHILL,

Worcester.

n THE Rev Preb E A Hadley says (You Say, Thursday, May 20) " Christianity today has reached a critical point".

I agree - but for other reasons. The Western church is in great apostasy as ministers compromise the word of God to appease man/womankind.

Seminaries churn out ministers who are taught how to keep their jobs - not how to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I agree with Fr Anthony Shaw in regard to women "priests" - they have no place in the church. That is all I agree with the Roman Church on.

Former Protestant churches are sunk in signs and wonders-seeking and ignore the Bible. They pursue gods of modernisation.

ANDREW HALL,

Worcester.