Mary of Nazareth was found to be pregnant before she was wed. She was set to die, a sentence determined by the men in charge of her life. Men who would have carried out this charge in the name of honor—in other words: “Traditional Family Values.” 

(Traditional Family Values have nothing to do with Christianity; they would not have given Mary Magdalene the sense of self-worth to banish her demons; they would have not spared the unborn life of Christ.)

Mary appeals to Joseph, who initially tells her his hands are tied on the issue, he cannot change the law. If they say she is a sinner then so be it. But he sleeps on it and changes his mind when an angel tells him Mary’s not lying… Well, everyone knows that story. But I think Joseph deserves more credit than we have given him for the last 1800 years or so. 

Let’s start by removing the paranormal elements. Assume that, like every other mother on this planet, no angel appears to Mary to tell her she will bear the son of God.  Assume that, like every other child who had ever graced this planet, this child had been conceived the old-fashioned way. Maybe she was raped, as has been the counter-narrative for decades. Maybe she was flattered by the older brother of a friend. Things got a little out of hand. She was likely only 15 years old.

I was 15 once. I can relate. So too can any woman who remembers her own 15 year old youthful transgressions.  

In any case, she runs to Joseph, “Help me, help me. Please. They’re going to kill me.” 

In the name of honor (the Traditional Family Values of his day), Joseph had every right to turn his nose up and say to Mary that she is on her own. She is worthless to him now.

But he did not. And no visions of angels were necessary. All that was needed was for Joseph to look into Mary’s eyes and know in his soul that she was worth the air she breathed only by virtue of breathing it. Perhaps he was well aware of the human capacity for weakness for he was wise beyond his years. Perhaps he did hesitate as he needed some time to gather the inner strength to stand against his community and say “my bride has committed no crime.”

Such is a far more powerful story of human frailty and spiritual strength.  To say otherwise is to undermine our own--human--force of will. The Church and conservative right have done a damned good job of this.

In modern American terms, Mary is a 15 year old girl trapped in a conservative household whose family will force her to have the child then allow her to live in shame the rest of her days. Upon turning 18 or sooner if need be, she has the non-option of continuing her shame-laden life in her parents household or run off with the first man willing to marry her. (And what of her child? Has she been able to properly vet out the abuse factor of her potential spouse? Alas, after 3+ years in her own oppressive hell, she no longer has the tools to filter out the bullies and the creeps.)

Perhaps if Mary were a college student, her conservative parents will cut her off financially. She is dead to them. She is on her own. She appeals to her boyfriend Joseph. The child isn’t his, but he understands the human capacity for weakness for he is wise beyond his years. He also knows Mary's value on this Earth exists beyond her womb or whomever has rights to it. But unlike their counterparts 2000 years ago, Mary and Joseph do not have an entire village of cousins to help them with the child and to ensure his employment. They are college students in a dog-eat-dog world. Harsh decisions must be made.

 …and The Man we call Christ would say they have already been forgiven.

   (P.S. -- If Santorum were transplanted into Nazareth at the time of Mary’s dilemma, which side would he be on?)