Opus Dei urges Sony to include disclaimer in Da Vinci film

Apr 17, 2006 / 22:00 pm

Opus Dei made another attempt earlier this month to urge Sony to include a disclaimer at the beginning of the Da Vinci Code film, indicating that it is a work of fiction, reported E! Online. The film, directed by Ron Howard and based on the best-selling book by Dan Brown, will be released in theatres May 19.

"Such a decision by Sony would be a gesture of respect toward Jesus Christ, the history of the Church and the religious beliefs of viewers," Seizo Inahata, Opus Dei's information officer in Japan, wrote in the letter to Sony.

Opus Dei is worried that moviegoers will accept the Brown’s view of the life of Jesus, the Church and Opus Dei as truth.  

"The novel mixes reality and fiction, and in the end, one doesn't know where the lines are between true deeds and invented deeds, so that the reader who knows little history can arrive at the wrong conclusions."

Inahata’s letter also warns that Sony's stock price may suffer if the studio fails to add the disclaimer.

Sony released a statement in response to the letter, indicating that they: "have no plans to reveal any details regarding what is or isn't in the film until the release. [The Da Vinci Code is] a work of fiction, and at its heart, it's a thriller, not a religious tract."

In a Good Friday sermon at St. Peter's Basilica, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, speaking before Pope Benedict XVI, attacked the book and the upcoming film as "pseudo-historic" works aimed at undermining the Church's authority

Without mentioning Brown or publisher Random House by name, Cantalamessa lashed out at those who seek to profit by smearing the Catholic Church.

"Christ is still sold, but not anymore for 30 coins, but to publishers and booksellers for billions of coins," he said.