Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010

WCR Letters to the Editor

Searching for answers

Thank you for the article "Boycott Da Vinci Code - Vatican official" (WCR May 8).

I found it both interesting and somewhat frustrating. While I have read the book, I have had doubts about the content. There are, however, few places to go to get the "other side."

I agree with Cindy Wooden's article in which she quotes Archbishop Angelo Amato as saying "if the book or film had been written about the Quran or the Shoah, they rightly would have provoked a worldwide uprising." Further Amato is quoted as saying "one must consider the extreme cultural poverty of a good portion of the Christian faithful who often do not know how to give the reasons for their hope."

While I agree with Amato in this regard, I also believe there are many non impoverished and even affluent Christians who have difficulty answering questions about their hope.

I support the notion that Brown's book and the movie are in fact teachable opportunities. The opportunity must be seized not only by the Catholic press, but the Catholic media must be more assertive if not aggressive. There is however a responsibility that lies which each diocese, each parish and each Catholic community.

Why can't a parish or two hold an evening of debate about the book, its flaws and inaccuracies? An evening debate to learn to discuss and develop a better understanding of our faith, our Church and our community.

University students and youth would welcome an opportunity to discuss a current movie and challenge what they know and believe to have been misrepresented, all the while learning more about their own faith as well as meeting other like minded peers.

While I would love to hear Cardinal Marc Ouellette speak on separating truth from heresy and at the same time support the Priests Retirement Fund, not many of us can afford $300 per ticket, least of all those in "extreme cultural poverty."

As a Catholic eager to learn more, perhaps as a voice for others, I am asking our knowledgeable local theologians and religious leaders to do more than ask us to boycott the movie, help us learn more, to understand our hope and most of all to be able to articulately defend our beliefs and be good disciples.

Pat Matusko
Beaumont

Editor's Note: Full Catholic responses to The Da Vinci Code can be found at the websitewww.jesusdecoded.com and Amy Welborn's book, The Da Vinci Code Mysteries: What the Movie Doesn't Tell You.

Letters to the Editor

The WCR welcomes your letters. Please write 300 words or less and tell us your name, address and daytime phone number. All letters are subject to editing.

Opinions expressed in letters to the editor do not necessarily represent the views of the WCR.

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter