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Code controversy continued.


How many people read books that are made into movies? People flocked to see Brokeback Mountain (Focus Features), but I've only met a handful of people who read the story written by Annie Proulx that gave rise to this film. And that's only a short story, not an entire tome!

The Da Vinci da Vinci Surgery A surgical robot for performing certain surgeries–eg, mitral valve repair and laparoscopic procedures–eg, cholecystectomy and gastric ulcer repair. See Laparoscopic surgery, Robotics, Surgical robot.  Code (Doubleday) might be the one great exception. Its staying power on the bestseller list for well over three years, a contemporary publishing phenomenon, witnesses to a book that's been widely read. And it hasn't stopped yet. Almost daily I still see commuters who give testimony to Dan Brown's bestseller by reading it on their way to and from work.

The film, awash in controversy even before its release, will likely further fuel book sales. But the film's the thing now. If it follows the book's hardback-to-paperback pattern, it might be years before it gets sprung from the theaters into take-home DVD format See VOB and DVD. . And the cottage industry of talks and workshops that developed in churches of every Christian denomination as an outgrowth of The Da Vinci Code book might well be poised for a second act, or, at least, a curtain call.

The film's release has already kindled kin·dle 1  
v. kin·dled, kin·dling, kin·dles

v.tr.
1.
a. To build or fuel (a fire).

b. To set fire to; ignite.

2.
 anew the firebrands Firebrands is the name of an emerging rock band based in Singapore. The group has been performing and recording a blend of Hard Rock, Funk, Rap and Electronica since early 2005.  of concern about what is fact, what is fiction, what is history, and what is fantasy in this story. The nation's Catholic bishops seem particularly concerned that people might lack the tools of critical discernment to differentiate among the many and varied threads of reality and imagination that are woven into the fabric of this film. So they launched a website to establish certitude cer·ti·tude  
n.
1. The state of being certain; complete assurance; confidence.

2. Sureness of occurrence or result; inevitability.

3.
 about The Da Vinci Code. Check it out at www.Jesusdecoded.com.

One section on the website, titled "Truth Be Told," contains questions a "believer" in The Da Vinci Code might ask. Scripted answers about the book follow. The "They say ..." and "You say ..." format of this section is reminiscent of pre-Vatican II apologetics apologetics

Branch of Christian theology devoted to the intellectual defense of faith. In Protestantism, apologetics is distinguished from polemics, the defense of a particular sect. In Roman Catholicism, apologetics refers to the defense of the whole of Catholic teaching.
. There is also a "Question Box" that will render definitive answers to questions not covered not covered Health care adjective Referring to a procedure, test or other health service to which a policy holder or insurance beneficiary is not entitled under the terms of the policy or payment system–eg, Medicare. Cf Covered.  in the "Truth Be Told" section of the website. Blogging bishops are very 21st century!

The inevitable question--Will the film be better or worse than the book?--will be discussed and debated by all sorts of moviegoers, many of whom have already read this book. Whether this film emulates the great success of the book remains to be seen. Will the filmmakers and stars of The Da Vinci Code stand on stage at next year's Academy Awards?

Something to pray about.

Peter Gilmour (Pgilmou@wpo.it.luc.edu) teaches at the Institute of Pastoral Studies of Loyola University Chicago Beginnings and expansions
Founded in 1870 as the St Ignatius College on Chicago's West Side. In 1908 the School of Law was established as the first of the professional programs.
.
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Author:Gilmour, Peter
Publication:U.S. Catholic
Geographic Code:1USA
Date:May 1, 2006
Words:436
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