Catholics respond to Da Vinci Code craze
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Philadelphia, Pa., May 2, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- Several books and resources have been developed by Catholics to set the record straight about the false claims made about their faith in Dan Brown’s bestselling fiction novel, The Da Vinci Code, the film version of which will be released in theatres May 19.

The Catholic Church has given its imprimatur to “The Da Vinci Deception: 100 Questions and Answers about the Facts and Fiction of The Da Vinci Code,” published by Ascension Press.

The 144-page book counters allegations made by The Da Vinci Code. An imprimatur is an official declaration that a literary work is free from errors in Catholic doctrine and morals. It was granted by Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia.

Carl Olson of Eugene, Oregon has also written “The Da Vinci Hoax,” a 340-page, heavily footnoted book that seeks to debunk many of Brown’s assertions about Jesus, Mary Magdalene and the Catholic Church. Olson and his co-author Sandra Miesel have been giving talks around the country to mostly Catholic audiences.

In Malta, the Catholic Church will issue a manual that responds to questions raised by the novel in mid-May. The Institute of Pastoral Formation will organize other events and initiatives on themes raised by the book.

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Subscriber comments:
Published by: Kevin
USA 05/03/2006 09:03 AM EST
You see Helen, your comment is EXACTLY what the Church is responding to by denouncing this nonsense. You say Dan Brown "has written an entertaining novel which could have more than just an element of truth to it." First, if you study the issues raised by Dan Brown in his fictional work, you will see that it is wrought with error. You seem to have some relationship with the Church, and are possibly even practicing. So yes the Church is worried about you as a lay person not telling the difference between fact and fiction and apparently from your comment, rightly so. Read the DV Hoax and DV Deception listed in the article above and you will understand. Also, I would recommend that you read the writings of the early Church Fathers, those persons that experienced direct relationships with the Apostles and their immediate successors. This will give you a good insight into the Truth that has unchangingly been believed since the beginning of our Church. Why put stock in an author whom most literary critics have claimed to be a poor writer at best, when we have 2000 years of the greatest minds in the world studying and writing on the subject.
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Published by: Helen
Scotland 05/02/2006 01:22 PM EST
What on earth is the Church so afraid of. I feel totally offended that certain members of the Hierarchy think I as a lay person am too stupid to tell the difference between fact and fiction. Dan Brown is not 'making assertions about Jesus'. He has written an entertaining novel which could have more than just an element of truth to it.
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Published by: Mike McCaffrey
Yarmouthport, MA 02675 05/02/2006 10:44 AM EST
Lord deliver us from the Da Vinci Code craziness and that includes the looney reaction to it. I expect that pretty soon there will be a spate of action heroes in toy stores of Jesus, Mary Magdalen, and maybe Tom Hanks. Then we can produce tiny plastic priests and bishops to fight the Da Vinci Code heretics!
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