Nun upstages star Hanks

London Evening Standard ^ | 8/15/2005 | reallygone

[reallygone]

"When he walks on to a movie set, he usually gets star treatment. But as Tom Hanks arrived at Lincoln Cathedral yesterday, he found himself somewhat upstaged. A handful of protesters were making their feelings known about the decision to film scenes from The Da Vinci Code in the historic building. Led by a Catholic nun, Sister Mary Michael, they claimed the movie, based on the bestselling novel by Dan Brown, should be filmed elsewhere. She led a 12-hour prayer vigil to push the message home."

[reallygone]

Hanks, refusing to meet with the Nun who is protesting his callous portrayal of her religion, pushed past the protest without even acknowledging her presence. The media wonders why this man, characterized as so thoughtful and compassionate, can be so heartless to understand her concerns about the themes in his movie.

The Nun has been joined by a group of supporters that seems to grow with each passing minute. Supporters indicate that this protest is capturing the nations attention and focusing everyone on the issue of denigration of Catholics and their faith. This protest falls on the heels of Democratic partisan attacks on Judge Roberts, and other Bush nominees who were Catholics. The Democrats in the Senate have called Catholic beliefs "outdated" and "out of the mainstream". Hanks, a heavy contributor to Democratic candidates and to Move-on.org seems to be pursuing this same agenda in selection of his movies. While the protest has little hope of cancelling the production, the supporters hope that they will awaken the public to this new threat of attack on religious values.

[Sthitch]

If she were in Crawford the media would be all over her.

[the invisib1e hand]

tom who?

[SunTzuWu]

At first I thought the article was a joke.

Bush, refusing to meet with the Mother Sheehan who is protesting his callous portrayal of her son, pushed past the protest without even acknowledging her presence. The media wonders why this man, characterized as so thoughtful and compassionate, can be so heartless to understand her concerns about the themes in his movie

[SlowBoat407]

Meet with the nun, Tom!

[Borges]

What could he tell her? He didn't write the novel or the screenplay.

[stinkerpot65]

the issue of denigration of Catholics and their faith

This movie will denigrate all Christians.

[sonsofliberty2000]

I have never read the book, and won't watch the movie. I had awhile ago started reading Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, the first in the series and put it down after a rant against Christianity vs. science. Not interested in rants. Until then the writing was crisp and fresh. I hate being lectured in a book...

---

[Cincinatus]

Her beef is with the Dean of Lincoln Cathedral, who is permitting the movie to film there. Hanks is just an actor being paid for a job.

By the way, why is a Roman Catholic nun protesting filming a movie on the grounds of an Anglican (hence, heretical) Cathedral?

[sonsofliberty2000]

According to the Glenn Beck show yesterday they gutted it of all negative slants on the Catholic Church. Don't see how...

[Pikamax]

Anyone seen the Real Da Vinci code special on the Discovery channel? They just tore the book apart.

[SlowBoat407]

What could he tell her? He didn't write the novel or the screenplay.

He's cashing his check for starring in it, though. At least Bush met with Cindy Sheehan once. If Tom is a contributor to MoveOn.org, he should practice what they preach.

[fortunecookie]

This protest falls on the heels of Democratic partisan attacks on Judge Roberts, and other Bush nominees who were Catholics. The Democrats in the Senate have called Catholic beliefs "outdated" and "out of the mainstream". Hanks, a heavy contributor to Democratic candidates and to Move-on.org seems to be pursuing this same agenda in selection of his movies.

Excellent points! You nailed it. The book seems to have popped up at just the right time to add to the bashing. I always liked Tom, politics aside, but this hits home for me as a Catholic. So much for the tolerance and compassion of Dems. Where is his willingness to dialogue or share? Another Dem showing his true colors, at least as far as tolerance for someone he disagrees with goes. The book is marketed as fiction, and a lot of people say the book is fiction and not worth getting incensed about. But far too many folks are taking the 'fiction' as reality (the related games and tours and shows illustrating the 'truths' in the book) and an opportunity to bash Catholics and their 'outdated' beliefs.

[fortunecookie]

Ping. Enjoy, if you can.

[poobear]

I saw it. It made many references to the real agenda of writing the book in the first place. I hope it aires again.

[Borges]

He's just reading what's written for him. He doesn't necessarily have any insight into the subject whatsoever.

[Modernman]

What could he tell her? He didn't write the novel or the screenplay.

I'm not sure why people are so upset by The Da Vinci Code. It's clearly a work of fiction. Only the ignorant would consider it anything more than a fanciful yarn.

[HushTX]

I haven't read the book yet, but I intend to. I also intend to see the movie. I don't know that Hanks was right in his behavior, but then what do people expect him to do? It isn't his decision to film there. This is starting to look like a gripe fest against Tom Hanks simply because he supports Democrats and Moonbat.Org. I'm not saying that's for sure what it is, but if that's the case it's wrong.

Honestly, people who go all up in arms about movies and books like this don't realize how good they really are. I don't mean the quality of the piece, I mean the purpose they end up serving. A person's opinion is worthless unless it can stand up to scrutiny and survive being challenged. The same goes for a person's faith. If a person's faith is so weak that it cannot survive being challenged, the person had no faith to begin with.

That's not to say the nun should not be doing what she's doing. That's her lot in life. She is making a show of her disapproval of the message in the movie, which is fine. But those of the faith need to have the book and movie out there to provide the challenge that strengthens their faith, because that is how it stays healthy. It disappoints me that people don't seem to realize that.

[paul51]

This movie will denigrate all Christians

Calls for a fatwa

[Borges]

But, as we know, ignorance is generally the way of the world.