Da Vinci film too spurious to merit a ban: Goan Catholics
NT News Service
Mapusa, May 11: A cross-section of Goan Catholics reacted with
dismissive disdain to the controversial, soon-to-be-released film The Da
Vinci Code, with some saying it is too spurious to merit discussion or a
ban. The members of the Catholic Secular Forum, Mumbai have reportedly
threatened to go on a fast unto death if the central government fails to
stop the release of anti-Christian films in India, particularly The Da
Vinci Code.The former Rajya Sabha member from Goa, Mr Eduardo Faleiro
termed the themes of the book as “speculations” but refused to condemn
it saying “we respect the right to differ”. In a written statement, Mr
Faleiro said, “Da Vinci Code revolves around three central themes —
Jesus is not God, he married Mary Magdalene and the Catholic Church
concealed these and other events in the life of Jesus. There is nothing
new about any of these speculations.”
“The myth that Jesus married Mary Magdalene has been in circulation at
least since the fifth century. For us, Catholics, such views are
theologically unsound. However, we do not burn heretics at the stake
anymore. In this age, we respect the right to differ. Da Vinci Code is
admittedly a work of fiction. Discussion and condemnation of such
fiction will only increase the sales and serve admirably the purpose of
the publisher of the book and of the producer of the movie,” Mr Faleiro
said.
The well-known Goan writer, Ms Maria Aurora Couto attributed “commercial
motives” for the movie. Said Ms Couto, “The ban on the film does not
merit endorsement in this age of secularism, freedom of speech and
expression. The current tendency is for publishers and media managers to
sell products which are sensational and with more than a touch of
scandal especially when the victims are objects of veneration and
respect. Truth is the first casualty of such propaganda and by truth is
meant not only an expression of intellectual opinion without malice or
without an eye on the commercial prospects but an endeavour to analyse a
situation or a hero or even a religion dispassionately.”
Ms Couto said, “The Da Vince Code as book and film is a tissue of
specious arguments based on admitted forgeries and has been unverified
even on the basis of so-called rumour. It brings into its net all the
great figures of history, divine and human. The object is obviously to
defame and to make the product sell with more than a touch of prurience.
This is not a justification for protests but there should have been a
disclaimer by the producers (Sony Entertainment) that the film is
fiction. This disclaimer should really now be propagated by the media
and the press. The very fact that Sony has refused to include a
disclaimer shows the blatant commercial motives of the film in which
nothing is sacrosanct.”
The former vice-chancellor of Goa University, Dr Olivinho Gomes, who has
read the novel pointed out that the author, Dan Brown has admitted his
work is fiction. “But even fiction should be based on verisimilitude
(believable situation). This is a blasphemous story. The whole thing is
sensationalism of the most spurious kind. If it concerned another
community, there would be violence and arson. But Christians do not
react that way. People should boycott the movie in protest,” Dr Gomes
said.
The former speaker of the Goa legislative assembly, Mr Tomazinho Cardozo
has not read the book but opined that religious feelings of any
community should not be hurt. “If the book and film contain the things
which it is accused of, then the government should definitely ban the
movie. Religion is based on faith and if the movie upsets the set norms
and creates tensions in any religion, then the government should not
allow such a movie,” Mr Cardozo said.
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