Cardinal warns against 'Da Vinci Code'

VATICAN CITY -- If you're not among the millions who have already read "The Da Vinci Code," an Italian cardinal has a plea for you: Don't read it and don't buy it.

Genoa Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who previously was a high-ranking official of the Vatican's office on doctrinal orthodoxy, told Vatican Radio on Tuesday that the runaway success of the Dan Brown novel is proof of "anti-Catholic" prejudice.

Allegations in the novel that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and has descendants have outraged many Christians and have been dismissed by historians and theologians.

"The Da Vinci Code" was published two years ago this month and is available in 44 languages. Booksellers expect the novel to remain a best seller well into this year."

For two years American feminists who dare call themselves Catholic have been floating this book around here like it was their bible. It did not matter to them that this evil fiction challenged Sacred Scripture, and not a whisper was heard from the pastors or my bishop. But then he's already said publicly that the Old and New Testaments are not accurate, so I really didn't expect to hear him take exception to a book his office personnel made THE water fountain buzz.

Now, two years after the fact, comes a single voice from within the Vatican: "Don't read and don't buy the book" says he.

Far be it for me to question the timing and motives of those who think themselves wiser, and by a vow to God Almighty dedicated their lives to converting the heretics, barbarians, and pagans to accept The Blessed Trinity as their One True God, and His Word as Sacred Truth.

The barn's been empty for a long time. I'll just close the doors.

two years after the fact

Hey, in "Church time" that's practically instantaneous!

I've never understood something, if Jesus is not who he claims to be in the Gospels, why would anybody care about him or his descendants?

I think the deal is that Christianity is just too darned hard, carrying your cross and all that. The human mind will grasp at anything, anything at all, rather than trusting God to do what appears impossible.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.