TV Fact check - a "Gospel" of Judas?

National Geographic Channel has been promoting its TV show and Books entitled "The Gospel of Judas" - with some sensational theories rooted in Gnostic writings that Judas Iscariot was a sympathetic character, rather than his usual portrayal as the ultimate traitor. See the following description of the show - entitled "The Gospel of Judas" from nationalgeographic.com:

Discovered by chance in the 1970s, a document that lay hidden for some 1,700 years, emerges today as The Gospel of Judas. Trace the story of what has happened to the document since it was found, explore the recent authentication process and analysis, and discover key insight gleaned from its laborious translation and interpretation. Dramatic recreations portray and clarify the complex story of intrigue and politics of the earliest days of Christianity, and reveal the contents of the Gospel itself.

The Gospel of Judas presents a newly discovered account of the life of Jesus Christ. But how can its authenticity be verified? When was this gospel written and by whom? The research and documentary will uncover fascinating details contained within the document as well as key sections translated from its ancient Coptic script. It will also examine the modern history of the document since it was found, including the exhaustive restoration and conservation process.

Those seeking a catholic perspective on the show may be interested in this editorial by James martin of the Boston Globe, or this article, from Findinggod.org. The gist is:

The discovery of the Gospel of Judas is a notable find for helping us understand Gnostic teaching. But what is unfortunate is its sensationalist presentation in the media as if it was written with the same authority as the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Gospel of Judas sheds no new light on the meaning of Jesus. It sheds a lot of light on the elitist Gnostic communities who saw themselves as the only ones worthy of being saved, and the rest of humanity could be left to a hell of nothingness.

So, my good Catholics, don't expect to see any "Gospel of Judas" in the New Testament any time soon.

Further information about the show is available here from National Geographic Channel (NGC). It will air again on NGC on Thursday, April 13 at 8pm central.