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Defenders of the faith: Protesters will be there when 'Da Vinci' code opens
The Daily Herald ^ | Wednesday, May 17, 2006 | Jamie Sotonoff

Posted on 05/17/2006 5:24:30 AM PDT by 2Jim_Brown

Betty Christensen doesn’t 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.”

“I’m going out there in defense of our Catholic faith and beliefs,” Christensen said. “What the movie and the book said … it’s all lies. It’s 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 they’ll say, ‘Oh, it’s just another way of looking at it.’ No it’s not! It’s 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 Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code” mocks Jesus and the Catholic Church.

“We’re 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 film’s controversy. They’re 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, I’m hoping people will think twice about seeing the movie,” she said. “They should realize it’s a story. It’s fiction.”

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

dailyherald.com


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: catholic; church; davincicode; itsjustadumbmovie; protest
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To: 2Jim_Brown

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.


21 posted on 05/17/2006 6:35:46 AM PDT by betsyross1776
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To: Gone GF

Good point.


22 posted on 05/17/2006 6:36:13 AM PDT by MplsSteve
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To: Tulane
I wonder if the Catholics will riot, burn Ron Howard in effigy, destroy the Danish embassy, and kill innocent on-lookers.

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.

23 posted on 05/17/2006 6:37:10 AM PDT by Campion ("I am so tired of you, liberal church in America" -- Mother Angelica, 1993)
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To: 2Jim_Brown

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.


24 posted on 05/17/2006 6:38:16 AM PDT by betsyross1776
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

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.


25 posted on 05/17/2006 6:44:49 AM PDT by MortMan (Trains stop at train stations. On my desk is a workstation...)
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To: 2Jim_Brown
"What the movie and the book said … it’s all lies. It’s very offensive." Talk about confused. A lie requires knowledge of a falsehood, intent to deceive, and a deliberate communication of said falsehood, holding it forth as truth.

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.

26 posted on 05/17/2006 6:49:22 AM PDT by DK Zimmerman
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To: 2Jim_Brown
Good morning sir,
thanks for showing me how to save my money...I won't go out and see the movie, I'll buy the book instead! I made my research and will actually also buy "angels and demons".

God...who what and where, not to forget how? None of these questions can be answered or even asked...that is why i still believe in "him" or should i say "it" or "all"... I don't believe in church because it was made by man, i don't believe in religions, made and invented by man...I believe one must be good towards the other, love his enemy, love himself, love the planet... Love.

That is why i am interested in Dan Brown, because he gives another "view" of what could have happened back then as we do not have any clue of what really happened...Yes faith is the only way to see in the past, but faith was invented by man also...I would believe the information in the bible as much as i would believe the info in Dan brown's "bible", in the Koran, etc... There is no such thing as infidel, or heretics. No such thing as blasphemy. All invented by men not by "god".

Do you really think god wants us all the same way? The same thinking mind? If so, his will his against his own nature he created...

Best regards.
27 posted on 05/17/2006 6:56:07 AM PDT by astoundedlib
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To: Gone GF

Amen.


28 posted on 05/17/2006 6:58:03 AM PDT by LIConFem (A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi.)
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To: Gone GF

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!


29 posted on 05/17/2006 7:02:40 AM PDT by astoundedlib
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To: LIConFem

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.


30 posted on 05/17/2006 7:04:46 AM PDT by sneez
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To: sneez
"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."

I don't necessarily disagree. And I never said anyone should or shouldn't read the book/see the movie. I just don't generally look to Hollywood for history lessons, and I don't quite understand why someone would be so afraid of this work of fiction.
31 posted on 05/17/2006 7:08:04 AM PDT by LIConFem (A fronte praecipitium, a tergo lupi.)
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To: Reaganesque

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?


32 posted on 05/17/2006 7:09:15 AM PDT by Sister_T (Kenneth Blackwell for Governor of Ohio!)
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To: sneez

woah! That is an open minded statement! I agree 100%...And i am pretty sure "god" does too!

Best regards.


33 posted on 05/17/2006 7:24:48 AM PDT by astoundedlib
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To: Tulane
I wonder if the Catholics will riot, burn Ron Howard in effigy, destroy the Danish embassy, and kill innocent on-lookers.

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...

34 posted on 05/17/2006 8:36:36 AM PDT by fortunecookie
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Comment #35 Removed by Moderator

To: 2Jim_Brown

Check out the Tomatometer; it's a lousy film anyway.


36 posted on 05/18/2006 4:52:18 AM PDT by fzx12345 (Three lefts don't make a right; they invent one.)
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