This article, From Skepticism to Belief: Shroud of Turin Researcher Shares Experiences, appears on the St. John’s University website:
Schwortz addressed hundreds of students, faculty, and staff in the Little Theater on the Queens campus. Describing his continuing research about the shroud, he spoke of the shroud’s impact on his own beliefs. “More than anything else, even if you’re a total skeptic, I hope students learn not to judge something by what they see in the media,” he said. “I hope they have an open mind—mine wasn’t open for 20 years.”
[ . . . ]
Though Jewish, Schwortz found his research on the shroud a transformational experience. He was originally reluctant to join STURP. By the time the original study concluded, however, he felt his work remained unfinished. In 1995, he met someone who insisted the shroud was a fake—based largely on a tabloid article. The encounter compelled Schwortz to examine his own perspectives on the cloth: he realized that he believed in its authenticity. Schwortz went on to found http://www.shroud.com, the top Google search and oldest website on the topic.
I was honored to be there and actually, finally, press the flesh with Barrie after two years of extended contact via the web and telephone. But someone in attendance was an echo of the Shroud’s past history that was totally unexpected, It was a wisp of the Shroud in history that I had already referenced in my manuscript citing in John Walsh’s book on the Shroud published after WWII.. She introduced herself to Barrie. She had, like others at the presentation, corresponded with Barrie but never met him personally.
She identified herself as the grand-niece of Rev. Peter R. Beecher. Beecher was an Irish cleric who wrote the first Shroud book in English. Vignon’s 1902 book had been translated into English from French circa 1902, but Beecher’s was written in English circa 1930. He sallied forth to do battle with English Jesuit Herbert Thurston and Beecher was a lively presence to the branch of his family who were in the US (as was his antipathy to Thurston).
We are in the study and debate about the Shroud dealing with cosmic issues. By some “accident” of history, Barrie has become the leading of voice for the authenticity of the Shroud. The packed presentation at St. John’s attests to that. There is something distinctively Jewish in his presentation, particularly in is world-wise humor which makes it so lively. (Let us mourn the passing of Sid Caesar).
Did I write “accident.” Make that providence. Or better Divine Providence.
John, lucky you! I can’t wait to meet Barrie myself having corresponded with him for two years, like yourself, and spoken to him from time to time over the phone… He’s very accessible and informative… which is totally unexpected for the only surviving key photographer of STURP together with his friendship providing the important liaison between Ray Rogers, Joe Marino (and Joe’s wife Sue Benford) who cracked the mystery of the skewed 1988 C14 dating. When I was at Harvard, I studied under a Jesuit confrere of Thurston’s, the then Charles Chauncey Stillman Professor of Roman Catholic Studies… the Rev. Prof. George Windsor MacRae, S.J. He informed me in 1978 that the Shroud was “a painting”. When I asked him who made such a statement, he said the late Herbert Thurston, S.J. Of course I didn’t accept his statement, because intuitively, even in 1978, despite no one else stating it then, I felt the Shroud gave the impetus and inspiration, i.e., was the Source, for the NT. Too bad the late Rev. Peter R. Beecher never came to Harvard.
Annette,
If everybody Barrie has helped in the past twnety years attended, they wold have needed Madison Square Garden.
Hi John,
We have Carnesecca Hall at St. Johns that holds 6,000, we can squeeze everyone into that building!
Great meeting you at the presentation, it was an amazing evening and I was honored to introduce Barrie at the event.
Take care,
Bill Lauto