Church ‘unleashes’ a website to counter Code

With The Da Vinci Code running full house in many parts of the country, the Catholic Church has stepped up its efforts to fight ‘‘propaganda with facts’’.

With The Da Vinci Code running full house in many parts of the country, the Catholic Church has stepped up its efforts to fight ‘‘propaganda with facts’’. The latest is a website — jesusdecoded.com — where the Church attempts to rip apart the arguments of Dan Brown point by point. The site now forms part of the website of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India, the apex body of Catholics in India.

‘‘We need to set the facts right and this website will go a long way in countering the distortions and deceptions in the book and the movie,’’ Fr Babu Joseph, spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India told The Indian Express. The website is designed by the United States Bishops Conference.

The website contains various sections devoted to ‘‘factually challenge’’ the postulations of Dan Brown, both in his book and resources used for it.

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For example, a session proves ‘‘how ill-informed’’ Brown is about Renaissance art. ‘‘The Da Vinci Code is a veritable museum of errors where Renaissance art is concerned’’ and Brown’s observations about Leonardo is ‘‘at variance with what’s known about his life and work’’. Then, there are articles written by church leaders such as Archbishop George H. Niederauer about the ‘‘danger the book poses to the very foundation of the Christian faith’’.

There also sections for those who have seen the film or read the book, such as ‘‘what do you say to a The Da Vinci Code believer’’. It even provides answers to questions that can probably plague the viewer’s mind.

Those who have got doubts after reading the movie can also email their queries. ‘‘This website is comprehensive and aimed at dispelling the wrong notions the book intends to spread,’’ adds Fr Babu Joseph.

BANNED

MEGHALAYA: Bowing to pressure from the Church, Meghalaya has banned screening of the controversial film The Da Vinci Code. The Congress-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government took the decision after the General Administration Department Ministry analysed reports submitted by Deputy Commissioners of all districts. GAD Minister H D R Lyngdoh said, “There is an overwhelming opposition to screening of the movie in the state. The government has decided to respect this sentiment by banning it.”

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ANDHRA PRADESH: The Congress government on Thursday banned the screening of The Da Vinci Code in the state. “After taking into consideration the reports and complaints from minority community, particularly Christians, the government has come to conclusion that exhibition of the film is likely to cause breach of peace and hurt religious sentiments.”

PONDICHERRY: Chief Minister N Rangasamy said he has given an assurance to a delegation of Catholic Laity Forum which had met him earlier in the day that the government would soon initiate steps to ban or suspend the screening of the film. ”No religious sentiments of any section of the people should be hurt,” he said. Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Nagaland have already banned the movie. — ENS

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