Mgr. Barton on Dead Sea Scrolls

MGR. John Barton, one of England's leading Catholic Biblical scholars, and English Consultor of the Pontifical Commission, appeared on northern independent television last week in a discussion about the "Dead Sea Scrolls".
The others taking part were the Anglican Dean of Liverpool, Dr. F. W. Dillistone, and Mr. John Allegro, Lecturer in Comparative Semitic Philology at the University of Manchester, who is the author of the " Pelican" book, " The Dead Sea Scrolls", parts of which have been the subject of controversy.
The discussion followed two short talks by Mr. Allegro earlier this month. The Chairman was Mr. Frank Machin, a Manchester journalist, who has made frequent television appearances.
Mgr, Barton told the Catholic Herald that it should be said at once that Mr. Allegro's hook is, in great part, a factual account of the discovery and purchase of the Scrolls; of their editing and fragments of other works by experts in various fields of study; of the excavations at Qumran, and the origin of the Qumran sect of covenanters; and of the doctrines of the sect, together with an account of their life and discipline.