Was Mary Magdalene written out of an apostle role?

[ctolcher]

A Catholic friend of mine who recently challenged me on why women aren't priests told me he learned somewhere that Mary Magdalene was probably one of Jesus' closest disciples. This source claimed that there is some historical evidence that women were written out of a more prominent or authoritative role in the Scriptures by the men who wrote them!
What can I say in response to this feminist claim? Thank you.

[Fr. Charles Grondin]

The burden of proof is always on the one making the claim. It's up to your friend to prove his assertion. Most of what appears to give Mary Magdalene "more of a role" comes from later pseudo-Gospels and gnostic literature written much later than the 4 canonical Gospels. St. Paul, who gives us the earliest Christian writings, never mentions Mary Magdalene. If she played such a prominent role in the early Church it seems odd that St. Paul would make no mention (good or bad) of her .