Opus Dei Response to Director Ron Howard re 'The DaVinci Code'

Zenit News Agency ^ | May 15, 2006

[NYer]

"Catholics Are Victims of an Offense"

ROME, MAY 15, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The press office of the Opus Dei Prelature sent this statement to ZENIT on Friday in response to comments by the director of the soon-to-be-released film "The Da Vinci Code."

* * *

On Thursday the Italian press published interviews with Ron Howard, director of "The Da Vinci Code" film. In statements attributed to him, Howard said that "to deny the right to see the film is a fascist act," and also "to tell someone not to go see the film is an act of militancy and militancy generates hatred and violence." The Opus Dei is mentioned several times in these interviews. The phrases seem to refer to recent statements by Church authorities.

I would ask Ron Howard to keep calm and express himself with respect.

It is not wise to lose sight of the reality of the situation: This film is offensive to Christians. Howard represents the aggressor, and Catholics are victims of an offense. The one offended cannot have his last right taken away, which is to express his point of view. It is not the statements of ecclesiastics or the respectful request of Opus Dei -- to include a notice at the beginning of the film that it is a work of fiction -- which generates violence. It is rather the odious, false and unjust portrayals that fuel hatred.

In his statements, Howard also repeats that it is simply a film, an invented story, and that it must not be taken too seriously. But it is not possible to deny the importance of the movies and literature. Fiction influences our way of seeing the world, especially among young people. It is not right not to take it seriously. Artistic creativity certainly needs a climate of freedom, but freedom cannot be separated from responsibility.

Imagine a film that says that Sony was behind the attacks on the Twin Towers, which it promoted because it wanted to destabilize the United States. Or a novel that reveals that Sony paid the gunman who shot the Pope in St. Peter's Square in 1981, because it was opposed to the Holy Father's moral leadership. They are only invented stories. I imagine that Sony, a respectable and serious company, would not be happy to see itself portrayed in this way on the screens, and that it would not be satisfied with an answer such as "Don't worry, it's only fiction, it mustn't be taken too seriously, freedom of expression is sacred."

In any case, those who have taken part in the film's project have no reason to be concerned. Christians will not react with hatred and violence, but with respect and charity, without insults or threats. They can continue to calculate tranquilly the money they will make on the film, because the freedom of financial profit seems to be in fact the only sacred freedom, the only one exempt from all responsibility. They will probably make a lot of money, but they are paying a high price by deteriorating their prestige and reputation.

I hope the controversy of these months will not be sterile but serve to reflect on the relative character of financial profit when high values are involved; on the importance of fiction; on responsibility, which always supports and protects freedom.

[The statement added:]

The plan of Opus Dei's Communication Office in regard to this case may be found on the Web page www.opusdei.org, which explains in detail its position over these months.

[From] Manuel Sánchez Hurtado, in charge of relations with the international press, at the Opus Dei's press office in Rome

[Victoria Delsoul]

I would like to have seen this level of condemnation over their pedophile priests - whom they have known about and protected for generations and only took some action after being forced too. (There were many "victims of an offense" - little victims - for decades and decades...and they were not protected. Only the perpetrators and the Church were protected, with the perps simply shifted to other, unsuspecting parishes.)

While I agree with you in condemning pedophile priests... better yet, kicking them out of the Church as soon as the Church finds out resonates with me, you're confusing the actions of some in the clergy or the actions of some Catholics with Catholicism. We need a notice here for the purpose of clarification: “the actions and views expressed by some clerics and some Catholics in general, do not necessarily convey the Catholic teachings instituted by Jesus Christ.

Confusing and perverting the teachings of Jesus Christ as the Catholic Church faithfully follows God’s written word - the purpose of this movie - is the crux of the problem.

As the Catechism says: “the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence'."

Tradition meaning: Priesthood, Confessional, Mass, Penance, etc. which by no means contradict Scripture.

People are free to see the movie, and those who don't agree with it are free to express their opinion.

[CatholicLady]

"Opie, if that's his real name"

Of course it is not his real name. His real name is Ron Howard. We adored him in his role as Opie as a child - but it was scripted, it was not him. We were even found of him as Richie in Happy Days, but again it was scripted and not really him. Perhaps growing up in tinsel town has made him blind to what is real and what is not - I sure if he were actually Opie - Andy would give him a talking too and if he were Richie, the Fonz might take him down a peg.

But Opus Dei, I think has done just the right thing by responding and not remaining silent on this - they have been portrayed as the villan - and opus dei monk - they don't even have monks.

If someone defiled me or my family or those I love and said it was fiction, I certainly would respond - LOUDLY

[HereInTheHeartland]

Now Op, your Aunt Bee is mighty disappointed in you. You have really let her down with your movie stunt.

[Victoria Delsoul]

How is Opus Dei whining about the Da Vinci Code any different from liberals whining about the Passion of the Christ? IMO, both groups look pretty silly...

The Passion of the Christ was faithful to Scripture, the Da Vinci Code isn't but is trying to pass as real:

People who ask this question usually have not read the page of The Da Vinci Code titled Fact, where the author, Dan Brown, asserts that «all descriptions of [..]documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate» and are based specifically on the fact that «in 1975 Paris’ Bibliothèque Nationale discovered parchments, known as Les Dossiers Secrets» which reveal the story of the Priory of Sion.

There is no doubt that both Les Dossiers secrets and the parchments are false documents, compiled in the year 1967, and all the people involved in the falsification have admitted it, even after a few years had passed. Gérard de Sède, who published them for the first time in his book L’Or de Rennes, in a book published twenty years later defined them as «apocryphal», inspired by a «market sensationalism»

More here.

[DManA]

Fine. Ronny's little movieis a silly piece of fluf dumber than Happy Days. Thanks for warning me Ronny before I wasted 12 bucks.

Howard also repeats that it is simply a film, an invented story, and that it must not be taken too seriously.

[Doe Eyes]

Haven't seen the movie, or read the book, but who is the chick at the Last Supper?

[maine-iac7]

The Passion of the Christ was faithful to Scripture

except for all the little gratuities Gibson threw in from his very strange mind - like the spirit or ghoul or whatever lurking in the background with worms coming out his eyes, mouth etc - just one example of things I don't have in my Bible - I was thoroughly disappointed in the movie...and wont' watch it again.

The best ever "Jesus" movie, my favorite anyway, is Zeffirelli's "Jesus of Nazareth" - even tho' he depicts MM as the prostitute - that's the only misstep I can think of.

The casting was superb, The photography museum quality (another thing that was ultra depressing in "Passion")...I've watched and re-watched it. About wore out my VCR tape and now have it in DVD.

His "Jesus" (Robert Powell) was the best casting I have ever seen for that role.

This movie depicts the whole life of Christ - if someone who had never heard of Jesus saw the movie, they would know the whole story and understand who He is, what He tried to teach us...

I have many photos from the movie that I have as a slide-show screensaver...

[maine-iac7]

who is the chick at the Last Supper?

it ain't no male "youth" ;o)

[Victoria Delsoul]

except for all the little gratuities Gibson threw in from his very strange mind - like the spirit or ghoul or whatever lurking in the background with worms coming out his eyes, mouth etc

Just from his nose, and that scene lasted a split-second and it conveyed the devil's evilness in a very sublet and powerful way. Funny how a split-second scene made you so uneasy regarding the whole movie.

I bet you like Jesus Christ Superstar a lot. ;-)

[irishjuggler]

it ain't no male "youth" ;o)

Ah, yes, you're the one who bought into Dan Brown's nonsense hook, line and sinker. Why don't you go watch some old Disney films for clues about Mary Magdalene? After all, old Walt was Priory of Sion guy, right?

[kstewskis]

You should take the time to get the facts. It might change your opinion.

So what are those "facts?"

I haven't seen anything here but attacks and opinions.

Can you provide links? references?

[onyx]

Ah, GOOD eye, K!
Ping me if he replies.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Can you provide links? references?

Tic toc tic toc.

[kstewskis]

will do ;o)

[Victoria Delsoul]

We'll wait... time means nothing to us. :-)

[Accygirl]

I know many Catholics who don't find the Da Vinci Code offensive, because they understand the difference between fiction and non-fiction.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Howard said that "to deny the right to see the film is a fascist act," and also "to tell someone not to go see the film is an act of militancy and militancy generates hatred and violence."

It's "fascist"??? You wonder what planet this guy is on sometimes. Sounds like sock puppet therapy time in Hollyweird.

This would be a guess but it might be the case that Opie is still smarting that Cindy Williams wouldn't have sex with him in the back seat of that car in American Graffiti and, in his warped emotionally unbalanced mind, blames the church for that indignity to his high school-level manhood.

[Accygirl]

"Let's just postulate that I'm planning on making a movie about you - in it you will be portrayed as a self destructive lesbian, and your mother will be shown as a crack whore. I will introduce the film my stating that everything that is about to be shown is true...

...but claim it's just fiction when challenged."

But it is fiction. The only people who believe that it's the truth are probably locked up in mental institutions. Frankly, it's incredibly sad that the Catholic Church is afraid that people will turn to a summer popcorn flick for their religious instruction.

"Based on your above comment I have no doubt that you would protest not at all - it would just look silly... "

It depends... If I were a celebrity or a major institution like Catholic Church, I'd probably just ignore them.

"As long as you are asking for differences, those that protested the Passion stated that the film was a slander against Jews (it wasn't) and that it would lead to pograms (it didn't) and that the film indicated the need for Christians to rewrite the New Testaments and abandon their false anti-semetic faith (it isn't and we didn't)."

I agree that the Passion of the Christ didn't lead to pogroms against Jews nor was it anti-Semetic. However, I don't think that the Da Vinci Code is going to cause any riots against Catholicism.

"Critics of the Code note that the film is a slander against the Catholic Church in particular and Christianity in general - which it is - that is based on a combination of old Gnostic B.S., new feminist B.S. and as many hoary old anti Catholic myths that can be packed into a book/film at one time without making it look like Jack Chick was the head writer (true), and that argues that Christians abandon their false anti-feminist faith (it isn't and we won't)."

I don't think that the MSM is trying to get anyone to abandon his or her faith; the studios just want to makes lots of $$$$ off of a summer thriller.

As for the Da Vinci Code, while I don't agree with many of its conclusions, I do like the fact that it has sparked a reexamination of early Christianity (especially the role of women in the early Church).

[Accygirl]

"It's not funny when someone is beaten and/or murdered because of such influence. Recall that the cartoons that upset so many Muslims did in fact influence violence in Nigeria against Christians who had nothing to do with the cartoons printed by non-Christians in Europe."

Radical Muslims don't like anyone (including other Muslims) who disagree with them. They don't need an excuse to start rioting. They've probably never even heard of the Da Vinci Code nor, due to their hatred of women, would they be inclined to accept it as fact.

"Why is this little girl the victim of violence? Because someone got angry over a diabolically inspired lie. Maybe in this particular case it was over a girl's best friend (diamonds), but the lies of what defines happiness don't really matter to the little girl, or us, or Happiness."

The best way to stop wars in Africa is to not buy diamonds. I frankly refuse to buy any diamonds because that money ultimately goes to support terrorists and heinous warlords in Africa. But I fail to see what an obvious work of fiction has to do with African blood diamonds.

"The lies are "silly", but it's not really funny. I wish people would change their opinion on what they consider entertainment because this is murder. All participating and/or defending such work are playing a diabolic roll. Victims of the ensuing violence...and yes, there WILL BE VIOLENCE because of this movie...should considering wrongful death law suits against this satanic "entertainment" industry. We now have plenty of evidence of what lies bring to the world. Denying complicity and lack of apology for reconciliation most likely denies personal Salvation. Sony has a lot of money to lose and there ought to be plenty of lawyers representing the victims' survivors if even if just one innocent person is murdered over this publicized and popularized heresy."

Just like all that anti-Semitic violence after the Passion came out??? Most people can separate FACT from FICTION.

(BTW, heresy went out of fashion in the early 18th century around the time they stopped burning witches..)

[Northern Yankee]

Good Morning!

Let me say this...

If the Catholic Church is as corrupt and power hungry as you claim it is, it would not have lasted 2000 years. Something built upon evil doesn't last long.

People would have left a long time ago. No.... the church is based upon love of God.

The church is built upon spreading the belief, faith, and this love of God. That is its mission.

Yes it has not been perfect, but we strive to follow the commandments and devote ourselves to that love which God has required. Sure some atrocities have been committed, but only because those responsible strayed from the message that Jesus had commanded to his disciples of honoring God, and loving thy neighbor. These are the basic foundations of the church, not power, or domination. The Catholic Church continues because the love of God is at its heart.

I am glad you received the Eucharist, but you missed my point. I/we adore the Eucharist because as Catholics believe it is the true presence of Christ. I/we don't base the adoration of the Eucharist on the history of the church. we base the adoration on it being the true presence of Christ! we believe it to be the true body and blood of Christ. This has been something that has been taught to us through our Catholic faith. It is central to our beliefs. It is central to our faith.

We don't adore it as a way to gain power, wealth, our domination over others. We adore it because Christ himself said it was his body and blood, and that whenever we celebrate the Mass we do in memory of him, and his last act with his Disciples. This is central to our beliefs. That is why we go to Mass, and continue our faith within the Catholic Church.

Yes... at times members of the church have not been kind, but again that is because they have strayed from the message and mission that Jesus had given to his Disciples.

I dare say you will find abuses from other Christian religions as well. But let's not condemn an entire faith of people because of some acts that were committed by those who did not follow the teachings of God, or the church.

Blessings to you.