Opus Dei Response to Director Ron Howard re 'The DaVinci Code'

Zenit News Agency ^ | May 15, 2006

[NYer]

"Catholics Are Victims of an Offense"

ROME, MAY 15, 2006 (Zenit.org).- The press office of the Opus Dei Prelature sent this statement to ZENIT on Friday in response to comments by the director of the soon-to-be-released film "The Da Vinci Code."

* * *

On Thursday the Italian press published interviews with Ron Howard, director of "The Da Vinci Code" film. In statements attributed to him, Howard said that "to deny the right to see the film is a fascist act," and also "to tell someone not to go see the film is an act of militancy and militancy generates hatred and violence." The Opus Dei is mentioned several times in these interviews. The phrases seem to refer to recent statements by Church authorities.

I would ask Ron Howard to keep calm and express himself with respect.

It is not wise to lose sight of the reality of the situation: This film is offensive to Christians. Howard represents the aggressor, and Catholics are victims of an offense. The one offended cannot have his last right taken away, which is to express his point of view. It is not the statements of ecclesiastics or the respectful request of Opus Dei -- to include a notice at the beginning of the film that it is a work of fiction -- which generates violence. It is rather the odious, false and unjust portrayals that fuel hatred.

In his statements, Howard also repeats that it is simply a film, an invented story, and that it must not be taken too seriously. But it is not possible to deny the importance of the movies and literature. Fiction influences our way of seeing the world, especially among young people. It is not right not to take it seriously. Artistic creativity certainly needs a climate of freedom, but freedom cannot be separated from responsibility.

Imagine a film that says that Sony was behind the attacks on the Twin Towers, which it promoted because it wanted to destabilize the United States. Or a novel that reveals that Sony paid the gunman who shot the Pope in St. Peter's Square in 1981, because it was opposed to the Holy Father's moral leadership. They are only invented stories. I imagine that Sony, a respectable and serious company, would not be happy to see itself portrayed in this way on the screens, and that it would not be satisfied with an answer such as "Don't worry, it's only fiction, it mustn't be taken too seriously, freedom of expression is sacred."

In any case, those who have taken part in the film's project have no reason to be concerned. Christians will not react with hatred and violence, but with respect and charity, without insults or threats. They can continue to calculate tranquilly the money they will make on the film, because the freedom of financial profit seems to be in fact the only sacred freedom, the only one exempt from all responsibility. They will probably make a lot of money, but they are paying a high price by deteriorating their prestige and reputation.

I hope the controversy of these months will not be sterile but serve to reflect on the relative character of financial profit when high values are involved; on the importance of fiction; on responsibility, which always supports and protects freedom.

[The statement added:]

The plan of Opus Dei's Communication Office in regard to this case may be found on the Web page www.opusdei.org, which explains in detail its position over these months.

[From] Manuel Sánchez Hurtado, in charge of relations with the international press, at the Opus Dei's press office in Rome

[Dave Burns]

Right on! Liberals found the Passion of the Christ offensive and Catholics find the Da Vinci Code offensive. See you later on DU.

[nothingnew]

Didn't get too far into this article...seems to me both parties are being ridiculous. Go read the book or see the movie if you want. If you don't want to, don't. What's the frikkin' problem here?........oh yeah....I know...most pipples need to be told what to read and watch because their minds are mush.

Sheesh.

FMCDH(BITS)

[RKV]

With respect the the activities of the Catholic Church you should read the "Catholic Encyclopedia" which clearly states that the Inquisition used torture on heretics as authorized by Pope Clement V and other popes and bishops. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08026a.htm

[nothingnew]

Pinging you to #22...

FMCDH(BITS)

[RKV]

Yep.

[jscd3]

How is Opus Dei whining about the Da Vinci Code any different from liberals whining about the Passion of the Christ? IMO, both groups look pretty silly...

Let's just postulate that I'm planning on making a movie about you - in it you will be portrayed as a self destructive lesbian, and your mother will be shown as a crack whore. I will introduce the film my stating that everything that is about to be shown is true...

...but claim it's just fiction when challenged.

Based on your above comment I have no doubt that you would protest not at all - it would just look silly...

By the way, I would do no such thing, of course; you are probably a fine upstanding person (the fact that you are at FreeRepublic indicates above average intelligence) and it would be wrong to slander someone for money.

As long as you are asking for differences, those that protested the Passion stated that the film was a slander against Jews (it wasn't) and that it would lead to pograms (it didn't) and that the film indicated the need for Christians to rewrite the New Testaments and abandon their false anti-semetic faith (it isn't and we didn't).

Critics of the Code note that the film is a slander against the Catholic Church in particular and Christianity in general - which it is - that is based on a combination of old Gnostic B.S., new feminist B.S. and as many hoary old anti Catholic myths that can be packed into a book/film at one time without making it look like Jack Chick was the head writer (true), and that argues that Christians abandon their false anti-feminist faith (it isn't and we won't)

I think that sums up both differences and similarities in the criticism

[taxesareforever]

Howard said that "to deny the right to see the film is a fascist act," and also "to tell someone not to go see the film is an act of militancy and militancy generates hatred and violence.

I guess Ron would have a problem with parents telling their children what they can't do. He also may have a serious problem with authority in general. Sure sounds like it.

[franky]

Opie:

You would have half empty theaters if this picture came out when the Church had us take oaths in not viewing C for condemned movies.

Another discipline the liberals did away with.

[Vision Thing]

Cool!

It is Opie vs Opus Dei.

Opus Day will long outlive Opie.

[SHOOT THE MOON bat]

The names of the Catholic atrocities are listed in your tag line.

[jscd3]

While you are at it, your research would also show that the various Inquisitions were the fairest courts in the world at the time, far less likely to use torture or administer the death penalty than civil courts in Europe or any court in Asia.

You would also find that when the witch craze swept Europe in the 17th century, civil authorities were more likely to condemn people as witches then ecclesiastical authorites (Protestant or Catholic) and that those parts of Europe that were by far the least touched my the mania were those with an active Catholic Ecclestiastical court - Inquisition - because those courts required a far higher degree of evidence of guilt than other courts in Europe and were far less swayed by Emotion.

Obviously I'm not suggesting that the Church was perfect - it's made up of people, after all. However, it's judicial system was a lot fairer and more humane than the actual alternatives at the time.

[nothingnew]

I'm not offended by the movie as I know it is a F..I..C..T..I..O..N..A..L piece of work.

Reminds me of "The Name of the Rose" with Sean Connery. Excellent mystery movie involving Monks and the Inquistion.

If people think they'll be insulted or be the subject of ridicule or worse...don't read/listen/view these things.....or has personal "choice" been removed from the populace?

Put on the full armor and buck up folks. Don't be whiny little crybabies.

He gave us free will for a purpose...use it for His and your own sake.

FMCDH(BITS)

[Right Wing Assault]

My wife brings me the latest action/adventure/slasher books from the library when they first come out. I read DaVinci Code the day it came out. I thought it was a ho-hum book with a religious chip on the shoulder. I saw the ending coming.

Then a few months later, I see this thing has shot to the top of the lists. I was amazed. I have read many books better than it. The only thing that keeps it going is the Magdalene angle. And that is nothing new, either.

My guess is that it has been pushed pretty hard to get where it is. It will be interesting to see how the movie plays out.

[Gerish]

I have read so many forams on this stupid movie, but it is especially disheartening to read people defend this piece of trash.

If people are really interested in knowing Our Blessed Lord, then sacred scripture is all you need to read. In the sacred writings of the Bible we become acquainted with Our Lord. We hear His words. We see His sanctity. His love and compassion shine forth from the inspired pages. I wish people would look for books and films of inspiration, tranquility and a deepening of the love of God and neighbor. Yes, this film may be so-called "fiction," but it is not inspirational and will only accomplish confusion and untruth. Please people, don't waste your money on such garbage. Hollywood as well as Ron Howard are only interested in your money, not your soul.

[billorites]

The book was boring tripe, IMHO.

I tried to like it, but puleeze.

Then again, the Catholic church can be a little "over the top" as well, now and a again.

A pox on all there houses.

[little jeremiah]

The film sounds like an offense to anyone who values the Bible as spiritual truth, no matter what they call themselves.

[Bob Eimiller]

The Inquisition is a "blip" in time. Sure it happened but it's insignificant in the totality of Catholic History... A history full of human frailty.

So I have to say in response to your comment....."Big Deal"

[Bob Eimiller]

You are absolutely correct... but what you miss in your comment is the obvious fact that these people are not leaders of the Catholic church.. they are Catholic in name only and... as I suggest in my tag line... they... every one of them should be excommunicated...

[SaltyJoe]

"look pretty silly..."

It's not funny when someone is beaten and/or murdered because of such influence. Recall that the cartoons that upset so many Muslims did in fact influence violence in Nigeria against Christians who had nothing to do with the cartoons printed by non-Christians in Europe.

"Satan" means "accuser". Whether it's a thoroughly conceived lie or a slip of gossip, it produces ill.

When you become a victim of gossip you won't have the same opinion about lies. Being the victim of constant accusations (that aren't true) results in a wildly chaotic environment.

This is an example of how people violently react to lies and gossip in another African country.

Sierra Leone

Why is this little girl the victim of violence? Because someone got angry over a diabolically inspired lie. Maybe in this particular case it was over a girl's best friend (diamonds), but the lies of what defines happiness don't really matter to the little girl, or us, or Happiness.

Why hands and feet? Because we become the Hands and Feet of Jesus Christ to do The Father's Divine Will.

Promoting such "fiction" as this present Dan Brown work as entertainment in our part of the world will have tremendously disastrous real world consequences elsewhere.



People walk pass burnt dead bodies on the ground in a street in Onitsha, Nigeria, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006. Gangs of rioters armed with machetes and shotguns poured through the streets of the mainly Christian southern city of Onitsha on Wednesday as the death toll from days of Christian-Muslim violence across Nigeria rose to at least 76. (Photo: AP / George Osodi)

The lies are "silly", but it's not really funny. I wish people would change their opinion on what they consider entertainment because this is murder. All participating and/or defending such work are playing a diabolic roll. Victims of the ensuing violence...and yes, there WILL BE VIOLENCE because of this movie...should considering wrongful death law suits against this satanic "entertainment" industry. We now have plenty of evidence of what lies bring to the world. Denying complicity and lack of apology for reconciliation most likely denies personal Salvation. Sony has a lot of money to lose and there ought to be plenty of lawyers representing the victims' survivors if even if just one innocent person is murdered over this publicized and popularized heresy.

The mastermind of murder carries the heavier burden of guilt for causing others to sin.

John 9: 11
Mark 9: 42
Revelations 18: 21-24

[RKV]

I have to say in response to your comment - "you don't know your Catholic history." The Catholic Church got political power and started killing and torturing people who disagreed with it's theology early on. Stop treating the murder of hundreds of thousands of people as a blip.