Manila bans Da Vinci Code but archbishop dismisses the fuss

-26/05/06

Manila city council in the Philippines has banned public showings of the Da Vinci Code movie, Maurice Malanes reports on Ecumenical News International. But theatre-goers have been streaming to neighbouring cities, in other parts of Metro Manila, since the film was first screened on 18 May 2006.

The movie "is undoubtedly offensive and contrary to established religious beliefs, which cannot take precedence over the right of the persons involved in the film to freedom of expression", the Manila city council said in a resolution, which took effect on 19 May.

But for a more relaxed and open-minded Catholic Church authority, the controversial Da Vinci Code novel ñ now in its movie version ñ is nothing but an entertaining thriller, days PIA International.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said recently that he saw nothing wrong with either reading the novel or seeing its movie version.

He declared that he had read the book and found no offensive material to the Church. ìIt was a novel, a fiction, a thriller,î he said, admitting that he was entertained, and read the book in just a few hours.

Meanwhile Manila council cited a provision in the penal code that made it "a crime to exhibit films which offend religion". The council particularly referred to the movie's claims that Jesus married his follower Mary Magdalene and sired children, whose descendants the original book by Dan Brown claims have survived till now.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines has also deplored such claims as "blasphemous" as the movie began showings worldwide drawing angry responses from Christians in some places.

Despite the ban in Manila and the Philippines' movie review board's giving the film an R-18 rating, meaning only those older than 18 years can watch the film, reports say that people in cities near Manila have been queuing for it.

The debates on the Da Vinci Code have also stirred interests in the Catholic organization Opus Dei which was once accused of being furtive and secretive.

Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper writer Maria Ceres P. Doyo, recently wrote reports about Opus Dei and how it spread in the Philippines through the three well-educated Filipinos who studied in the United States.

Doyo reported there are about 3000 Opus Dei male and female members in the Philippines, including 70 priests, although the organization says it is only open to lay membership.