Posted on 05/17/2006 5:24:30 AM PDT by 2Jim_Brown
Betty Christensen doesnt know how many people will join her, but she plans to stand in protest Friday outside the Elk Grove Theatre as The Da Vinci Code debuts.
Rain or shine, she will pray the rosary, sing religious hymns and hold a sign that says, Stop Blasphemy.
Im going out there in defense of our Catholic faith and beliefs, Christensen said. What the movie and the book said its all lies. Its very offensive.
Dodie Przybycien will do the same at the Woodridge Theater Friday, although the Clarendon Hills woman also will hand out fliers about Jesus and the Catholic Church.
There are a lot of Catholics who will be going to see this, and theyll say, Oh, its just another way of looking at it. No its not! Its blasphemy! Jesus did not marry Mary Magdalene. Get a grip, folks! she said.
These protests or prayer vigils, as organizers call them will occur across the Chicago area this weekend. Some 1,000 demonstrations are planned nationwide.
Leading the effort is The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, a Catholic organization whose members believe Dan Browns The Da Vinci Code mocks Jesus and the Catholic Church.
Were not going to allow these types of attacks on religion in our case on Catholicism to go unchallenged, said Preston Noell of Park Ridge, who coordinates the campaign in the Chicago area.
Listed among the targets is Regal Cinemas Round Lake Beach 18.
Come Friday, The Da Vinci Code will air on five screens for a total 18 showings at the theater. That eclipses the four screens afforded Mission: Impossible III but is fewer than the six screens for Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.
Protests with prayer, hymns and rosaries might do more to fuel interest in the highly anticipated film rather than dampen it, manager Rick Roberts said.
If people drive by and see people protesting, I think they would turn around and go, Maybe we should see this, Roberts said.
While the protests are expected to be peaceful, local police departments say they will send an officer to make sure neither protesters nor moviegoers get out of hand.
Protests are just one way many Catholics and other Christians are countering the films controversy. Theyre also coordinating educational campaigns, creating Web sites, publishing books and videos, and providing speakers for community groups. The idea is to spur discussion and make it a teaching opportunity.
Hype about a movie that rewrites the story of Jesus convinced Przybycien to say, enough and stand up for her faith.
By being out there, Im hoping people will think twice about seeing the movie, she said. They should realize its a story. Its fiction.
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dailyherald.com
Look do what the Christians did to that stinky movie about Jesus 20 years ago. Tank it, don't make people want to go to see it . The only thing that Opie and Forest Gump want is the money, they could care less what Catholics think. They are looking at cold hard cash, they insult us ,we don't put any more money in their pockets. With their life style, can you say the word ,bankrupt. It may sound like it can never happen, but believe me it can.Soon God willing this movie will tank.
Good point.
Not a chance. But I hope Opus Dei sues Sony, Ron Howard, and Dan Brown for slander and defamation to the tune of oh, say, $300 million dollars ... and collects every last dime.
Look do what the Christians did to that stinky movie about Jesus 20 years ago. Tank it, don't make people want to go to see it . The only thing that Opie and Forest Gump want is the money, they could care less what Catholics think. They are looking at cold hard cash, they insult us ,we don't put any more money in their pockets. With their life style, can you say the word ,bankrupt. It may sound like it can never happen, but believe me it can.Soon God willing this movie will tank.
It's not protecting God, really. There is a special level in hell reserved for those that willingly mislead others spiritually. Unfortunately, those that are misled also suffer for eternity, as ascribed by the Bible.
While the perpetrator of blasphemy deserves their fate, many of those who would be misled may be saved by the identification of the falacious teachings.
Please note - I am only discussing the basis for determining something to be blasphemous, but only identifying a rational basis for the religious crime of blasphemy. What one church or another decides is egregiously misleading from the "truth" has often been beyond me.
As others have pointed out, this is fiction - and held forth purely for entertainment. It is plainly labeled and portrayed as such. It takes a peculiar twist of literary-luddite logic to be offended.
Amen.
Sounds like SHE needs to get a grip. It's F-I-C-T-I-O-N. It's a movie.
Yes indeed, amen to that!
What if it's all true? Wouldn't we as Christians want to know that and extend our knowledge of Christ by further research? Listen to others regardless of whether you agree and you may find your position strengthened either by more knowledge or by confirming your own knowledge. If you only listen to those you agree with you become poorer in soul, spirit and mind.
That's what I heard and that's what I think folks should do with this movie. Why give it more attention than it deserves?
woah! That is an open minded statement! I agree 100%...And i am pretty sure "god" does too!
Best regards.
Very tongue in cheek, lol!
I wonder if the media that will surely report on the opening of the film will even mention the protesters. Or if they will treat them as kindly and deferentially as they treated the Muslims 'outraged' by the cartoons. But I think we already know the answer to that...
Check out the Tomatometer; it's a lousy film anyway.
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