Stephen Jones has picked up on Antonacci’s recent release from a story that appeared in the The Edwardsville Intelligencer (a suburb of St. Louis). As of this morning, this seems to be the only news outlet to pick up the story. Well, that and two blogs.
Stephen, as he has been doing with all news stories lately, analyzes the story and adds his thoughts. He concludes:
It will be interesting to see what the Vatican’s response (if any) to this petition will be. If the Pope (the owner of the Shroud) does agree to further testing of the Shroud, I doubt that it will be in response to effectively one individual’s (Antonacci’s), request. My guess is that to minimise any further controversy the Vatican would probably want to see a broad consensus among Shroud pro-authenticists (and maybe even including Shroud anti-authenticists), of what the tests would be, how they would be carried out and by whom, before it agrees to any further testing of the Shroud.
I agree with Stephen. We only need to look back to the 1980’s to see how to go about this in the right way. Then, John Jackson gathered solid support from many credible scientists in different fields and developed a well-reasoned, scientific plan for examining the shroud. The result was STURP.
A petition like this one is probably counterproductive. It glaringly show the lack of support among shroud scientists and scholars.
The missing ingredient is someone like Father Rinaldi. He was the prime mover and shaker behind the scenes.
David is right about missing Father Rinaldi. The reach of his influence in many venues including connecting the right people and creating alliances the sum of which was much greater than the parts was essential to the success of the task. For example there was the Rolfe (and Wilson) plus Jackson et al plus Harry John’s money. And, a portion of Silent Witness proceeds was fed back to Father Rinaldi to help fund STURP. And hovering in the background was the ghost of Fr. Rinaldi’s uncle whose memory opened doors for David Rolfe. He was eventually beatified by the Church (the uncle, not David) :-)
But we have to realize we don’t have a Father Rinaldi right now. What we need are some serious scientists. Maybe even an historian or two. Charles???
The timing might actually be right to approach the Pope, as Francis has been reaching out to atheists in public forums, acknowledging the value in discussion and our mutual search for Truth. As a Jesuit he is a man who understands the role of science and reason. Allowing a balanced new study of the Shroud would be a great way to further this type of respectful (fingers crossed!) dialogue. What a fitting way to practice what we preach — and this Pope is certainly trying to be a ‘practice what I preach’ type of leader.
If only I had his phone number!
What we may need is a clerical champion, although there will never be another Rinaldi. Also, qw have to insure that it isn’t an All American show. There are plenty of Italian and French scientists right now, It has to be an international effort.
But someone has to organize the scientific methods that are non-intrusive and sell them.
.But someone has to organize the scientific methods that are non-intrusive and sell them.’
That is why a laboratory specialising in conservation of textiles is the best place to go to because they are expert in non-invasive techniques- that is their job. I remember reading that the lab set up in Florence after the floods was now in danger of closing and all its expertise being scattered but perhaps it is still going and it would have enormous credibility when it produced results.
Before to work perhaps you have to be able
to look something in Italy … (or in Europe !) …
There are the following links :
http://www.nanoxm.it/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/depliant_en_small.pdf
http://www.nanoxm.it
or (better) :
http://www.nanotechitaly.it/
>The sixth edition of NanotechItaly opens a window onto so-called KETs, the Key Enabling Technologies defined by the Horizon 2020 program. The conference will demonstrate how they are essential, along with nanotechnology, to promote competitiveness and innovation in priority areas for the international economy, encouraging the meeting of researchers and academics with the industrial world …
and
this is the interesting link :
http://www.nanotechitaly.it/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/NanotechItaly2013_Program.pdf
= Nanotechnologies for the Textile Industry
by Paolo Canonico
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See also :
http://www.textile-platform.eu/structure/
http://www.textile-platform.eu
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I hope in your interesting comments !