first church in the world?

Our Jordan Times seems to print stories without any in-depth research or questions. The story about the finding of the first church in Rihab near Mafraq was taken up all round the world as a major news story.

Were the claims checked with the Department of Antiquities or any other established, recognised authority?

Two experts have now refuted the findings with their letters printed in the Jordan Times. So where does that leave Jordan?

Has this been a ploy to encourage tourism in the north???? Was it a fraudulous claim? Or just plain lack of knowledge? And bad journalism for printing a story without checking it first? T