Catholic Answers Shroud Article

The Shroud of Turin is an ancient burial cloth containing the front and back images of a scourged, crucified man that many believe is Jesus the Christ. It is totally unique and the most studied artifact in human history.

In October 1978, the Shroud of Turin Research Project (STURP) performed the first and only in-depth scientific examination of the Shroud in its history. This team consisted of outstanding scientists and researchers chosen solely for their scientific skills and expertise. STURP included atheists, agnostics, Jews and Christians. They used the most advanced scientific instruments available over a period of five days and nights.

Their findings were published in 24 scientific papers that appeared in highly respected, peer reviewed scientific journals. Their findings include these scientific facts:

• Science cannot duplicate the image
• It is not a picture or photo. There is no paint or dyes on it
• Science cannot even explain how the image was formed
• All scientific articles in the past 30 years support authenticity except the C14 dating paper which have now been set aside by many scholars as they were apparently based on the use of an anomalous sample and were consequently incorrect.
• Many scientific experts have therefore concluded that the state of the evidence since 2005 clearly establishes the authenticity of The Shroud of Turin.
• Scientists found that it was created by 6-8 billion watts of ultrra violet radiation.
• The shroud is now displayed at St. John's the Baptist Church in Turin, Italy.