New Dan Brown movie banned from filming in Rome’s Catholic churches

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Comments: 9

Actor Tom Hanks, who is starring in Dan Brown's latest film

Rome, Italy, Jun 16, 2008 / 07:17 pm (CNA).-

Vatican officials and parish pastors in Rome have banned filmmakers working on the movie “Angels & Demons” from filming scenes both in the Vatican and in any church in Rome. Diocesan officials said the movie, which is based on a previous book by “The Da Vinci Code” author Dan Brown, is “blasphemous,” poisons the faith and is untruthful. One parish priest compared the filmmakers to sensationalist tour guides.

The movie concerns a secret society’s plot to seize control of the papacy during a papal election. It is directed by Ron Howard and stars actor Tom Hanks, who reappears in his Da Vinci Code role as Harvard professor Robert Langdon. The film sets key scenes in the Vatican and in two churches in Rome, Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria della Vittoria. In both churches cardinals are murdered and mutilated with mysterious symbols.

According to The Times, Father Antonio Truda, parish priest at Santa Maria del Popolo, said that there was "no question" of allowing scenes to be filmed there. "It's bad enough having to put up with tour guides explaining the scene to tourists," he said.

Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, head of the Vatican's Prefecture for Economic Affairs, said that Dan Brown had "turned the Gospels upside down to poison the faith. It would be unacceptable to transform churches into film sets so that his blasphemous novels can be made into mendacious films in the name of business."

Father Marco Fibbi, spokesman for the diocese of Rome, said: "Normally we read the script, but this time it was not necessary. The name Dan Brown was enough."

"When a film is about the saints or about stories regarding the Church's artistic values, then we give permission without any doubts," Father Fibbi told the TV listings magazine Sorrisi e Canzoni (Smiles and Songs). "But when it is a question of content which does not relate to traditional religious criteria, then our doors are closed."

Vatican officials said they have been unable to prevent the filmmakers from shooting exterior shots of St. Peter’s Basilica and the surrounding medieval streets of the Borgo. The Times reports that the filmmakers are using the marble halls and staircases of the former Royal Palace at Caserta near Naples to double for Vatican interiors.

Dan Brown’s “The Da Vinci Code,” which suggested that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had children, also prompted criticism when it was made into a movie.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, who was Archbishop of Genoa at the time of “The Da Vinci Code” movie’s release, called it a "phantasmagorical cocktail of inventions" and "a pot-pourri of lies." The Catholic organization Opus Dei also protested the movie for using as its villain a murderous Opus Dei monk. Opus Dei has no monks.

Like “The Da Vinci Code,” “Angels & Demons” has been criticized for making basic mistakes concerning the locations of historic buildings, artistic conventions, and the meaning of historical symbols. One of the ridiculed claims in “Angels & Demons” states that the oculus opening in the domed roof of the Pantheon is known as the “demon’s hole.” The book also misstates the famous inscription on the Pantheon’s facade.

Comments: 9

Subscriber comments:

Published by: C. Snow
CA 12/12/2009 10:55 AM EST

The filmmakers have such great courage, let them make a movie about Mohammed. Telling his story, even if factual, will result in fearful cave-like existences for the filmmakers for the rest of their lives. Nothing could underscore the differences between the values of Christianity and other religions more than the reaction you would get from telling these vicious lies.

Published by: ELisabeth Read
Hengelo 11/29/2009 11:56 AM EST

This is fiction but fiction that makes you think.Of course the church is scared; ignorance and fear have been its weapons for centuries. That the church was founded by a couple of sun worshippers and they decided what would make it into the bible is enough to make even the dumbest amongst us take note. However, as an ex I can say "there is more between heaven and earth...". Those poor deluded idiots in Rome, wearing there dresses and jewels, be scared, be very scared because the people are opening their eyes and ears and seeing the church (catholic, reformed,mormon, they are really all the same) for what it is, the way to keep people from a direct relationship with God. An intelligent God, a loving God. Not the jealous, coveting, angry, murderous creator of all the ism's that exist today but the loving, caring God that created the most amazing universe and all that it holds within it.

Published by: Michael
San Rafael, CA USA 11/23/2009 03:55 PM EST

OK, I'm sorry if religious people are offended by Dan Brown's books and movie. But, IT'S FICTION PEOPLE. It's no different than any other storytelling. Dan Brown is the first to admit that his stories do not depict reality. They may be based on some factual beliefs, but he has never claimed his stories to be factual. Are we going to have politicians screaming next because political thrillers are based on actual political beliefs, but do not depict reality with 100% accuracy? Why are people so offended by a work of fiction, anyway? This seems to be a recurring theme within many religions. Are the leaders of these religions so insecure in their beliefs, and those of the followers, that they feel the need to lash out at an author of a fictitious novel? Speaking of politicians; why don't religious leaders put this much effort into stopping these politicians who are advocating a war for their own egos or genocide in Africa and other countries? Seems to me those would be much more worth the effort than some guy writing a piece fiction they don't like. Things that make you go hmmmm.

Published by: Peter
New Zealand 10/25/2009 10:01 PM EST

As a cradle Catholic I saw the novel and film as entertainment value only. With the Church stating the facts anyone who's interested and looks further might well come to know Christ and his Church. As the truth with the Holy Spirit at work is far more compelling than the entertainment of a human author.

Published by: PA
MA 05/15/2009 07:32 AM EST

This work is fiction... it's not meant to be historically accurate.

Published by: JEAN
NY, NY,USA 02/03/2009 03:29 PM EST

The atheist, Dan Brown, is stating his own version of the Catholic religion. One woman said she watched it 8 times to learn about the faith. WHAT!?
These upside-down, inside-out pieces of garbage do not tell the truth about the Catholic faith.
But, Dan Brown, Ron Howard, Tom Hanks and the others make their mone.

Published by: Lyndsey
Derby 12/19/2008 04:02 PM EST

Just because they are not Catholic doesn't mean they are atheists for goodness sake. Have u people never heard of 'artistic license'? He's an author and the fact that people like you get so stressed over his books states more clearly than anything that he is doing his job by telling a 'story' so well, people will believe it is fact. But while were on the subject, the idea that a Jewish man would follow the traditional path of a Rabbi, marry, have children and perhaps gain some note as a prophet seems infinitely more plausible than a virgin birth and 'miraculous' resurection.

Published by: Janet Tabinski
London, England 06/19/2008 11:37 AM EST

Apart from the objections stated in the article, the most serious defect in this book is Brown's ignorance (or willful misstating) of Catholic doctrine regarding how the priest's child was conceived. The character stated there was no "sin" involved because it was done by artificial means, not intercourse. But the Church teaches that all forms of artificial conception are a grave sin, including artificial insemination, IVF and all the other means of creating an embryo outside the womb. All Catholic priests would know this teaching, so Brown again didn't do his homework.

Published by: DK
PA 06/17/2008 02:59 PM EST

I'm glad to read this! A great day that the Vatican stood up to those atheistic Hollywood filmmakers. It will show them that Catholicism is alive, well, and will not be undermined by anti-Catholic films that they want to produce.

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