CATHOLIC B.A.S.I.C.s

C.N.W.E. has learned of an Irish community, which shares our mission. BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST ( BASIC) is a community "Praying and Working for the Ordination of Women in the Roman Catholic Church." In an action similar to the Canadian "Catholics of Vision," they have petitioned the Irish bishops on behalf of Women's Ordination. Their petition had 22 000 signatures. Thanks to their generosity, we have posted a copy the new painting depicting "The Last Supper" which was painted by Polish artist Bohdan Piasecki and commissioned by B.A.S.I.C. The following is quoted from their web page, with permission.

"About the painting, Leonardo da Vinci's great masterpiece "The Last Supper" is for many Christians the clearest image they have of Christ's last meal with his disciples. Yet though it is great art, da Vinci's painting is bad history. All the details in da Vinci's painting are inaccurate:

1. The painting shows daylight outside the window, but the actual Last Supper took place at night.

2. The figures are seated about the tables on benches, whereas Jesus and his disciples reclined on couches.

3. Da Vinci shows a meal of fish and ordinary bread, yet a Passover meal consists of unleavened bread, roast lamb and bitter herbs.

4. Da Vinci shows only Jesus and the twelve apostles, omitting women, yet the Passover had to be eaten by whole families, including women.and children, yet the laws of Passover require children to ask questions so that they can learn the meaning of the Passover meal from their parents and the disciples who prepared the meal during the day

5. Da Vinci shows thirteen Renaissance Italian males in oriental costume in a Florentine palace, not a Jewish celebration of the Passover in Palestine.

"We in BASIC have found Leonardo da Vinci's image of the Last Supper one of The main arguments used against us: "But there were no women at the Last Supper!" Certainly women and children would be present at the Passover meal. The presence of women at the Last Supper cannot be proved definitively oneway or the other, but it is more than probable that women were present."

In order to counter Leonardo's powerful image of the Last Supper, BASIC commissioned the eminent Polish artist Bohdan Piasecki to paint the Jewish Passover meal with women and children present. Bohdan Piasecki is one of the most famous contemporary Polish artists. He has lived and worked as an artist in Italy, Canada and France. He is Secretary of the Polish Academy of Art, and is now living with his wife Teresa in his home town of Okuniew, near Warsaw. The painting is oil on canvas measuring 20" by 48" was possible through a public launch and placing it on public display both in Ireland and in other countries. In order to bring the message of Bohdan Piasecki's painting of the Last Supper to a wider audience, BASIC has made available 2/3 size poster prints of the painting. These posters, on 240 gsm board measuring 100x50.5 cm (39.3x20 inches), are exact replicas of the print presented to Irish President Mary McAleese on November 9th.

Prices are as follows:
1 Print US$ 21.00 ($14.00 surface mail)
2 Prints US$ 31.00 ($24.00 surface mail)
3 Prints US$ 41.00 ($34.00 surface mail)
4 Prints US$ 51.00 ($44.00 surface mail) Price includes Packaging & Postage

The pricing structure reflects the fact that a maximum of 4 prints can be fitted in one package. Thus 5 prints will cost the same as 4 prints + 1 print, and so on up.

Payment: Unfortunately we do NOT accept credit cards. Please send personal cheques or money orders payable to BASIC.

POSTCARDS of the painting can be ordered for $8.00 for a package of ten. Telephone +353 1 288 5520 Address for orders: BASIC, Saint Francois, Avoca Avenue, Blackrock, County Dublin, IRELAND