Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” (Jn 8:10-11)

In the story of Susana and the Elders (Daniel 13:1-64) the whole assembly praises God “who saves those who hope in him . . . Thus was innocent blood spared that day.” (Daniel 13:60,62) But the gospel of Jesus and the Adulterous Woman is another story altogether. The tag line could have read: “Thus guilty blood was spared that day.” Or as the wonderful poster at the diocesan retreat center said while showing a hand holding a rock: “Jesus was once asked for his support of the death penalty--His reply, Let one who is without sin cast the first stone.”