The Catholic organization Opus Dei, which is vilified along with the Catholic Church in the film The Da Vinci Code, published Monday a new statement regarding the production, and at the same time sought attention for work that Catholics are carrying out in Africa.
"The Da Vinci Code presents a deformed picture of the Catholic Church, by portraying it as a 2000 year-old fraud. Despite repeated public statements that the movie is only fiction, Sony Pictures has refused the request of several Catholic organizations to place a disclaimer stating this fact at the beginning of the movie," begins the Opus Dei statement.
"What is more, Sony Pictures is heavily marketing the movie with the slogan 'Seek the truth,' implying that the movie is to be taken as more than mere fiction. This lack of sensitivity toward the religious beliefs of Catholics and all Christians is just as deplorable as a similar lack of sensitivity toward any other religion or any ethnic group," the statement read.
In Dan Brown's book and the film, Opus Dei is portrayed as a band of hardliners bent on covering up "the truth," with the villian in the movie an Opus Dei albino monk who is an assassin. Among other things, Opus Dei members are not monks.
In strong wording the Opus Dei statement noted that "As we have stated several times with respect to The Da Vinci Code, we are not interested in controversy. Any controversy there may be has been initiated by Sony’s grotesque portrayal of the Catholic Church, the Pope, bishops and monks."
The note added that "Nevertheless, we will continue to speak calmly, openly and constructively. We will continue to take every opportunity to explain the truth about Christianity, the Catholic Church and Opus Dei."
In that light, Opus Dei said that "to present the true face of the Catholic Church and counteract The Da Vinci Code’s false depiction, we propose to spread awareness of the service that Catholics are carrying out in Africa. We appeal to all Catholics and anyone of good will to aid the efforts of the many Catholic institutions who are devoted to providing aid to those in need in Africa."
In particular, Opus Dei said it wished to draw attention to Harambee, "which was started by members of Opus Dei in 2002 at the canonization of Saint Josemaría Escrivá. Harambee raises funds for proven educational programs run by Africans themselves. Harambee is currently trying to raise $1 million in countries of Europe and America to support four projects, one run by Franciscan friars, one by Canossian sisters and two by members and cooperators of Opus Dei."
"Besides raising funds for these four programs, we hope that today’s celebration of Harambee here in New York will call attention to the real activities of the real Catholic Church, in contrast to the caricature presented in The Da Vinci Code," Opus Dei said.
The Catholic organization added that it invites "those who feel pained by The Da Vinci Code’s lack of respect for Christians and the Church to express their feelings constructively, by spreading awareness about educational or charitable projects carried out by Catholics in Africa, or by making a small donation to support them."
"Beyond the real help such a donation will make, it will also symbolically recognize the dedication of countless Christians and Catholics serving in Africa. In this way, we hope that the public controversy about The Da Vinci Code will have a positive result and not be reduced to sterile polemics. As Pope Benedict XVI noted in his first encyclical, "Deus Caritas Est": “Love is therefore the service that the Church carries out in order to attend constantly to man's sufferings and his needs, including material needs” the statement read.
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