A clue to the secret of the Holy Grail

The local newspaper found out in advance about the sermon on the
Templars and the Grail heresy at the local church, and published an
informative article in the present edition:-

    ST Andrew's Church in Hertford is to hold a sermon On Sunday to
discuss issues provoked by the Mercury and by Dan Brown's best-selling
book, The Da Vinci Code.
    The book claims that Christ married Mary Magdalene, who bore his
children, and that their descendents live today and will reveal
themselves to claim their birthright.
    The Knights Templar are said to hold proof of this, namely the
Holy Grail and the secrets surrounding it.
    In September, the Mercury reported Hertford's links with the
Templars and the cup Christ used at the Last Supper, which put the
county town firmly on the Grail tourist trail.
    Then last month we reported how the modern-day Templars had
demanded a papal apology for their' persecution 700 years ago � a
story followed up by reporters from as far away as Pope John Paul II's
homeland in Poland.
    Lay preacher, Jim Thornton, who is also an East Herts district
councillor, will read Sunday's sermon during the family service at
9:15 am
    He said: "It's a fascinating subject, but it has disturbed a lot
of people, particularly claims that Christ was married to Mary
Magdalene and that they had children.
    "There are also allegations that the Roman emperor Constantine set
the Church agenda and pushed it towards all anti-feminine stance, and
that he chose which Gospels would go in the Bible and rejected others.
These concerns have been raised and I hope to address them on Sunday."
    He added: "l think it's really great that the Mercury has
highlighted these issues and at the same time put Hertford on the map.
    "I would welcome tourists to the town interested in the subject of
the Templars."

    -- Hertfordshire Mercury (10 December 2004), "Sermon to focus on
claim", p 23.


FURTHER READING

The Insider (10 December 2004), "The Holy Grail: Hertford may hold a
clue".
http://www.theinsider.org/mailing/edit.asp?id=0734