Catholic Church fights Da Vinci Code novel

BBC ^ | Mar. 15, 2005

[Crackingham]

The Roman Catholic Church in Italy has spoken out against what it says are "shameful and unfounded lies" in the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Archbishop of Genoa, broke the church's official silence on the controversial book.

Its story about the Church suppressing the "truth" that Jesus had a child with Mary Magdalene has convinced many fans.

But the cardinal's spokesman denied reports that the clergyman was asked by the Vatican to hit back at the book.

Carlo Arcolao told the BBC's News website that it had been the cardinal's own decision to make a public statement about the book.

Mr Arcolao confirmed that the cardinal told an Italian newspaper: "It astonishes and worries me that so many people believe these lies."

The archbishop told Il Giornale: "The book is everywhere. There is a very real risk that many people who read it will believe that the fables it contains are true."

[E. V. Republitarian MD]

The archbishop told Il Giornale: "The book is everywhere. There is a very real risk that many people who read it will believe that the fables it contains are true."

Am I the only one who sees the GLARING IRONY in this statement?

[cowboyway]

The Roman Catholic Church in Italy has spoken out against what it says are "shameful and unfounded lies" in the best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Archbishop of Genoa, broke the church's official silence on the controversial book

It's interesting that the Church would speak out about a 'novel', a work of fiction. Or is it?

[steve8714]

Hello--- IT'S FICTION!
The religious equivalent of Whitley Streiber.

[Skooz]

No.

[Terriergal]

Cyrano you read it- your comments? From what you read me of the sequel the writing itself was pretty lame.

[Xenalyte]

The more attention the Church pays to this work of FICTION, the more mental midgets will believe "there must be something to it."

[An Old Marine]

Another conspiracy theory....

Here's a rule on life. If more than three people know a secret then its no longer a secret. Hence there is almost nothing to the idea of any of these conspiracies.

[Terriergal]

Am I the only one who sees the GLARING IRONY in this statement?

No, pray tell, what exactly ARE you thinking? Is it the parallel to reading and believing modern publick screwel science and history textbooks?

[EA_Man]

No I caught that too.

As a Christian I'm disappointed that the Catholic Church doesn't use this opportunity to open a dialogue and communicate Truth rather than just oppose.

[Thorin]

A priest friend of mine put it well: the only fact in "The DaVinci Code" is that the Louvre is in Paris.

[Skooz]

An historian fried of mine says he has read better history in Mad magazine.

[KC_Conspirator]

Yes it is fiction, but you would be surprised by the amount of people who either really believe the book to the letter or somehow hope or speculate that its the truth in order to satisfy their hatred of Christianity.

[Old Grumpy]

I read it and didn't care for it. Thank goodness I didn't actually BUY it, but borrowed it from a friend.

[meandog]

...but while it is obviously fable that Christ had a child with Mary; it is also palpably plausible that he had a very special relationship with her. After all, according to every one of the synoptic Gospels as well as the Gospel of John, she is the first person to see the risen Jesus!

[Jaded]

There are people who think it is fact because it is a book. A person I know suggested I read it to get "the real truth about Jesus and the Church". I haven't read it yet.

There have been plenty of people speaking out since it came out. This is nothing new.

[Terriergal]

The more attention the Church pays to this work of FICTION, the more mental midgets will believe "there must be something to it."

Yeah well, those Rick Warren books are catching on even though no one in the news paid attention to it. And if you ask me, it's not worth the attention it's getting either. In fact, Purpose Driven Church has done more damage than good.

The only thing you can do with heresy is to confront it with Truth. People who are going to believe it are going to believe it no matter whether you talk about it or not, because they don't know and believe the TRUTH.

[BikerNYC]

The archbishop told Il Giornale: "The book is everywhere. There is a very real risk that many people who read it will believe that the fables it contains are true."

Yes, ironic and very funny. Who writes his material?

[EA_Man]

Same here.

Very predictable and written on about an eigth grade reading level.

[Skooz]

Some posters on FR have posted that yes, it is a work of fiction, but the history contained in the book is accurate.

No amount of counter-argument and evidence to the contrary can divest them of this belief/hate.