Last week a Catholic Exchange staff member and her husband went out for a movie date night. Lisa and Tim went to see the new film, Firewall , but they were not surprised to see a preview for The Da Vinci Code .
A Stunning Response
They were not surprised either to see that the preview featured two minutes of fast-paced, heart-pumping excitement and suspense. They knew that the book was considered a real page-turner. They were not shocked to see a murder scene and what was supposed to be an Opus Dei monk whipping and cutting himself. They already knew that there was murder in the book and that the author, Dan Brown, misrepresented Opus Dei — which, by the way, has no monks.
But they were beyond surprised — they were stunned — when the preview ended and the audience erupted in rousing applause with some people even standing in enthusiastic appreciation. That is not good news. Not for anyone who cares about truth.
For Truth-Seekers
Responding to The Da Vinci Code by defending the biblical record of the life of Christ is the responsibility of all Christians. But The Da Vinci Code is especially an attack on the Catholic Church, her history and her institutions. Catholics are rising to the defense of the faith and Catholic Exchange is leading the way by authoring another powerful cultural book and joining forces with other leading Catholic groups, including Ascension Press, the Catholic League, Human Life International, and others. This Catholic Coalition is entering the fray in the mainstream media, with appearances on the Today Show, Inside Edition , CNN and MSNBC. We are getting attention with materials designed for those who really do want to seek the truth.
Our 130-page book, The Da Vinci Deception , features 100 questions and answers on all the major themes, issues and errors in The Da Vinci Code . Special bulk discounts make it possible for you to get this book for as little as $2 each, a low enough price to make it the perfect book to give away to family, friends and fellow parishioners.
We are also making available FREE study guides and everything you need to plan and conduct discussion groups to respond to the movie. Materials for free download include:
• A plan for diocesan DREs and Adult Faith Formation Coordinators to effectively spread the truth about The Da Vinci Code within the diocese.
• Homily helps for priests and deacons. These points may also be used for a compelling bulletin article.
• A plan for your parish with five steps to effectively spread the truth about The Da Vinci Code for your pastor, DRE, and/or Adult Faith Formation Coordinator.
• A discussion guide for a "Da Vinci Discussion Night."
• A four-week study guide designed for parishes and groups that want a more in-depth study of The Da Vinci Code .
• A ready-made guide for Youth Ministers or anyone working with teenage youth. These are self-contained "Youth Nights" complete with games, lessons, and more!
• Also available are posters and promo materials to help you advertise your Da Vinci Code discussions and events.
All these materials and more are available at www.davinciantidote.com for free download.
The Ripple Effect
The U.S. bishops' Catholic Communication Campaign is stepping up to the plate as well by supplying NBC-TV with a documentary, Jesus Decoded , to provide accurate information about the life of Jesus and the development of the early Christian Church. Their accompanying website [ www.jesusdecoded.com ] will help answer questions raised by the documentary, which will air the third week of May. But we have a lot of ground to cover before then.
Every one of us knows people who have been affected by The Da Vinci Code novel and will be affected by this movie. Each one of those people will go on to influence others through remarks and conversation. While we cannot stop The Da Vinci Code from being spread, we can do our best to administer an antidote to as many people as we can. With trust in God and a willingness to go forth in defense of our faith — along with willingness to put a bit of time and money into the effort — we can create a positive ripple effect that will spread from person to person.
© Copyright 2006 Catholic Exchange. Reprinted with permission in abbreviated form.
Mary Kochan, Senior Editor of Catholic Exchange, writes from Douglasville, Georgia. Her tapes are available from Saint Joseph Communications .
