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Title: Top Italian Cardinal Is Out to Break 'Code'
Source:
The Washington Post
URL Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/w ... 022-2005Mar16?language=printer
Published: Mar 17, 2005
Author: Daniel Williams
Post Date: 2005-03-17 07:00:06 by crack monkey
Keywords: Cardinal, Italian, Code
Views: 809
Comments: 58
Top Italian Cardinal Is Out to Break 'Code' By Daniel Williams Washington Post Foreign Service Thursday, March 17, 2005; Page C01 ROME -- As is just about everywhere else in the world, Rome is awash in editions of "The Da Vinci Code," the blockbuster whodunit with a narrative that includes a Vatican coverup of an explosive theological secret: Jesus was married! Despite the heretical plot twist, in which Jesus fathered a child with his wife, Mary Magdalene, Dan Brown's novel was on sale at the bookstore of Gemelli Polyclinic, the Rome hospital where Pope John Paul II underwent a tracheotomy last month and spent 18 days recovering before being released Sunday. Well, enough is enough. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, once a top dogma enforcer in Vatican City and currently archbishop of Genoa, broke the Vatican's virtual silence on the book this week and told Vatican Radio that nobody should read it and certainly Catholic bookstores should stop selling it. "Don't buy and don't read that novel," he said. And in remarks to Il Giornale, a conservative newspaper, Bertone declared: "There's a big anti-Catholic prejudice. It aims to discredit the church and its history through gross and absurd manipulations." Bertone explained why, two years after the novel's debut, the church ought to be putting its foot down: Too many people are taking the book's mix of art, architecture, secret societies, weird symbolism and hocus-pocus as -- if you'll excuse the expression -- the Gospel truth. "You can't be a modern youth without having read it. The book is everywhere," Bertone said. "There is a very real risk that many people who read it will believe that the fables it contains are true." Until two years ago, he belonged to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the official defender of orthodoxy in the Vatican. Brown has disputed criticism that his novel is anti-Christian. His agent in New York said the author is writing a new book and is not expected to respond to Bertone, according to Reuters. Stories about the life of Jesus have been popping up all over the mass media. Last year's gory mega-hit by Mel Gibson, "The Passion of the Christ," about Jesus's last hours before and during the Crucifixion, won praise at the Vatican, where it was privately screened for the pope. Vatican spokesmen said the pontiff gave it two thumbs up, but they later retracted that report and said he doesn't do movie reviews. In London, Madame Tussauds, the wax museum, mounted a Nativity scene with soccer star David Beckham and wife Victoria, aka Posh Spice, standing in for Joseph and Mary. Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" -- used as evidence of the Jesus-Magdalene liaison in Brown's book -- also took a hit. In an irreverent ad campaign by the French fashion house Marithe and Francois Girbaud, sultry women in chic casuals were arranged at a table in postures similar to the Apostles' in the painting -- except that in John's place, a shirtless man in low-slung jeans slouches. French Catholics sued because the poster "did great injury to Catholics" by representing the Last Supper "in denigrating conditions." A judge banned the poster as "an aggressive act of intrusion of people's innermost beliefs." Lawyers for the fashion company had argued that the posters were a parody of a painting, not a religious event, and wondered aloud why the judge did not also ban "The Da Vinci Code." In any case, the heretical horse is way out of the barn. Eighteen million copies of "The Da Vinci Code" have been sold worldwide. A movie starring Tom Hanks is in the works. Tourists pester guides at the permanent exhibit of da Vinci's "Last Supper" in Milan, asking them to point out the Mary Magdalene figure. Guides explain repeatedly that the figure is that of a youthful John. "There are two reasons the church needs to speak out on this issue," said Massimo Introvigne, director of the Center on New Religious Studies, a Catholic research organization in Rome. "Dan Brown talks about facts, and things in his book are not facts. And second, I am astonished by the number of Italians who tell me their faith has been shaken." Riffs on the life of Jesus outside orthodox teaching are nothing new -- in books, in Hollywood or, for that matter, in the most ancient of Christian documents. Of course, there was Martin Scorsese's film "The Last Temptation of Christ," in which Jesus on the Cross imagines an alternative life of married bliss and car pools with -- who else? -- Mary Magdalene. Before that, there was "Jesus Christ Superstar," the Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera that also hinted at an affair between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, although not so much as to offend. Vatican officials declared it acceptable entertainment for the Vatican's millennium celebration. In the early centuries of Christianity, religious leaders grappled with various accounts of the life of Jesus, some of which were at odds with each other and with newly accepted orthodoxy. Was he man, prophet or God, or all of the above? In the 4th century, Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, ordered scores of manuscripts attributed to followers of Jesus destroyed. But disobedient monks buried the versions in clay jars and some were discovered centuries later. Among them was a manuscript called the Gospel of Mary, attributed to Mary Magdalene. It suggests she was one of the chosen followers of Jesus and an equal, at least, to the (all male) others. No mention of marriage is made in any of these, nor in the orthodox Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John, and it is the titillation aspect of "The Da Vinci Code" that, in part, upsets church leaders and scholars. "Scandal is what such books are all about," said Bernardo Estrada, a teacher of the New Testament in Rome and a member of Opus Dei, a worldwide Catholic lay organization with strong Vatican connections. Opus Dei is one of the villains in "The Da Vinci Code." It is portrayed trying to suppress knowledge that Jesus left a lineage on Earth and meant for Mary Magdalene to be head of the church. "It's an attack on the church as obscurantist, and Opus Dei is just a vehicle for the attack," he said. But Estrada doesn't think "The Da Vinci Code" ought to be banned. Rather, priests need to read it so they can talk about it. "Anyone with a historical and religious base can refute it. I rather liked it, it's a good thriller," he said. © 2005 The Washington Post Company
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#18. To: crack monkey (#0)
The Catholic Church needs no help in any effort intent upon "discrediting" them. The Catholic Church, has left a graven image of Christ hanging, bleeding and suffering on the Cross in every one of its churches around the world. This is contrary to the teachings of the Bible which reveal that Christ ascended into the heavens PHYSICALLY for the purpose of fulfilling the HIgh Priests duties of taking the sacrificial blood physically into the HOLY OF HOLIES ! [The Old Testament traditional and symbolic Act for the forgiveness of Israelite sin completed by Christ the Eternal High Priest !] Whether anyone believes the Bible or not has nothing to do with the Catholic Church claiming to be Christ's representative on earth, and then doing everything Christ said was taboo. One of the most substantive statements ever made by Christ was that you may tell a tree by its fruit. A good tree produces good fruit etc., and a bad tree ... bad fruit. The Catholic Church is crumbling under the weight of the "fruits" [homos] it produces and we have been calling priests. This is not a new fad or trend, this has been going on since the establishment of the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is another branch of elites that are held to a far different standard than the average Joe. They, like satan, roam the earth seeking little boys that they can devour. This is no joke, this is the Twilight Zone of reality on the earth today. I wouldn't be surprised if the Vatican was the secret publisher of this book, or has a financial interest in it. Every Catholic Church is filled to capacity with graven images and ritual voodoo magical masses that are sternly recommended against by the Master, Jesus Christ, who I would rather address by His real name ... Yashua !
The circle is dwindling rapidly. At least here, anyway :P If I don't comment on religion, sex, or give my views on marriage, though, I seem to do OK.
Now there's a tributary I'm familiar with...
Heh. You wouldn't even be safe discussing the weather ... global warming and all ...
so, in terms of sex, the AMA advocates outsourcing... as truman capote said, the greatest thing about masturbation is that you don't have to dress up. plus, masturbation is only bad if you're doing it wrong.
God no...weather control, don't ya know? How 'bout them Cowboys? Pre-season football starts in five months.
See?? There are no safe subjects for me to discuss here. I'm gonna go cook breakfast. Ham, eggs, and homemade biscuits.
The above photo clearly demonstrates the spiritual release that is nearly "orgasmic" and obtainable every Sunday afternoon and Monday Night ... through the Miracle of the Hail Mary Pass ! The NFL ... America's Religion of Choice !!!
Wait! We could talk about cooking and how to take red wine stains outta carpet. So long as you promise not to bring up Martha's name.
I've seen your dinner menus. Your palate is way more cultured than mine. ;) I'm more of a "grill outdoors" sort, marinading the cook liberally with adult beverages. Scotch meets Jack Daniels, wine meets longnecks, medallions of veal meet rare T-bones. This could be fun...
I was thinking of upgrading to a Tec-Infra-Red [1084-square-inch total cooking area]... but I like steak so rare ... a match would suffice.
Damn...that's spectacular. I need a moment alone. I share your taste in the degree of doneness for beef.
He should be after "Holy Blood, Holy Grail." That is, by far, the better of the two, on the topic. Even Margaret Starbird's "The Woman with the Alabaster Jar" is superior.
Wasn't Truman Capote a queer?
The "Magdalene Chronicles" could potentially destroy the Christian Church.
You've outdone yourself on this thread today 2T. Thanks for the laughs.
not to mention the protection of their pedophile priests...hypocrites.
When you do your meat, do you use a rub?
WAIT! Let me rephrase that ... do you use any kind of a preparation?
WAIT! WAIT! Let me re-re-phrase that ... when you BBQ do you use any kind of an herbal/salt preparation? I'm serious now ...
Yup. When I smoke a brisket or ribs, I use a dry rub.
I discovered this incredible "rub" that is made locally ... it is to die for ... I'll have to send you some. Just enuf garlic, onion, pepper and spices without getting too outrageous. I also found this stuff made in Italy called: Sale Alle Erbe delle Marlunghe "VIGNALTA" ... contains sea salt fresh rosemary, basil, garlic, pepper ... mixed with virgin olive oil. Tres cher ... but great on fish, lamb, and veggies.
Imagine what the vintners of Rome made of that. IMO, Pilate was acting for the Wine Lobby of Rome who were threatened by this character turning water into wine. What would you have done to preserve the vineyards of Roma?
Ask Bill O'Reilly!
Both those sound wonderful, but I'd modify w/ dried habaneros. :D I like it outrageous. Jaw numbing fiery hot.
You said the band you played with was called the B.I.T.C.H. ....[Bringing Integrity To Christian Homemakers] ... now that part about firing jews .. I dunno...
Christ's favorite word to describe the "priests" that he at other times refered to as ... snakes, vipers, adders, children of the devil, and shitheads ... OK, so he didn't say adders !
he was about three galaxies beyond queer. flaming, flamboyant, all the way gay.
I think I am too young for this website.
There would be no "Bible" if there had been no Roman Catholic Church, at least not the Bible you have today. They're the ones that collected the supposed writtings of the Apostles and created the New Testament. Without that, all there'd be is the Torah (Old Testament), along with some scattered writings of dubious authorship.
Agreed.. for Martin Luther wouldn't have translated it into German so the people could have access to it in their language. (of course though commoners couldn't afford to own a copy.. til much later)
I am an EX-Catholic, Ex-Latin Speaking Altar Boy, and was raised in a family of 5 children all of which attended Parochial Elementary School. None are Catholic today. If your reference to the Catholic Church's influence on the Bible's existence refers to the First Nicene Council of 325 AD, my opinion differs from Catholic Poopaganda. The Books of the Bible were determined at this council. The council members were being influenced by Constantine, a PAGAN. It was at this Council that many pagan rituals were blended into what we today call Catholicism. Holydays and Times were changed. Christmas is a pagan holiday, just as Easter and others. While I applaud the Catholic Church's stand on abortion, I deplore their bullshit sense of salvation being dependent upon being a Catholic. That is just the most blatant lie ever told. [Beside the one about modern Jews being Israelite descendants]. Another blatant anti-biblical statement, made repeatedly by the Catholic Church since its inception is that Christianity is founded upon the "ROCK" / "PETER" . This alone is enough ignorance of Biblical truth to excommunicate Catholicism because Peter was the least reliable and most impulsive apostle of them all. The conversation between Christ and Peter is taken out of context. When Jesus asks Peter who does Peter think that Jesus is, Peter replies that some think Jesus is a variety of reincarnated personages such as Elias/Elijah ... so Jesus asks Peter again "who do YOU say that I AM, Peter" ? Peter then answers that he believes that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Then Jesus says UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH ! The rock upon which the true Church is built is the "cornerstone not shaped by man's hands" Christ being the Son of God. And finally, I want to say that GOD doesn't need the assistance of man through the Catholic Church to complete His mission or to save His Word. As a matter of fact the Bible has defied all attacks upon it throughout history in spite of men. The Catholic Church actually forbade the study of the Bible for centuries, instructing the people to believe the priest's horseshit. The Reformation, brought about by Catholic "Inquisitions", resulted in a revived interest and ability to study God's Word, however most Christians today live under the Roman Catholic Doctrines and observe them even while calling themselves Protestants, because they're brainwashed followers of men, to lazy to study the Word itself, which accounts for Bush being the choice of those calling themselves Christians.
Well, we have somthing in common.
Well, we have somthing in common. I threw the "baby out with the bath water" so to speak for a very long time until I was able to find a key that allowed the Bible to make nearly perfect sense. No, I don't have all of the answers, but I'm hot on the trail, enthusiastically pursuing a study of God's Word, not doctrinal crappola spewed by hypocrits and liars every SUNDAY ... which by the way has never been the Sabbath ! [They make merchandise of your souls]! I'm glad we have something in common and would be overly optimistic to believe we would ever have absolute agreement with any other human. It's OK to agree to disagree.
The Bible is nothing more than a collection of books written by men that the Church claimed to have been Inspired. In fact, there is quite a bit of info on the web describing exactly how each piece of the New Testament came into being, where hardly ANY of it appears to be genuinely written by the claimed author.
There are many that would agree with you, I'm just not one of them.
Spoken like a true gentleman. We'll just have to agree to disagree.
There are a few who feel as you on this subject ! Thanks ! We won't disagree on everything ... hopefully !
"Don't buy and don't read that novel," he said. And in remarks to Il Giornale, a conservative newspaper, Bertone declared: "There's a big anti-Catholic prejudice. It aims to discredit the church and its history through gross and absurd manipulations."
#19. To: Jethro Tull (#12)
#20. To: 2Trievers (#15)
#21. To: Samuel Gray (#19)
#22. To: 2Trievers (#8)
#23. To: 2Trievers (#21)
global warming and all ...
#24. To: gengis gandhi (#22)
#25. To: Samuel Gray (#23)
How 'bout them Cowboys? Pre-season football starts in five months.
#26. To: 2Trievers (#25)
#27. To: 2Trievers (#25)
#28. To: Samuel Gray (#26)
#29. To: 2Trievers (#28)
#30. To: Samuel Gray (#29)
#31. To: 2Trievers (#30)
#32. To: crack monkey (#0)
#33. To: gengis gandhi (#22)
#34. To: crack monkey (#0)
#35. To: 2Trievers (#16)
#36. To: noone222 (#18)
#37. To: Samuel Gray (#31)
#38. To: Samuel Gray (#31)
#39. To: Samuel Gray (#31)
#40. To: 2Trievers (#39)
#41. To: Samuel Gray (#40)
#42. To: gengis gandhi (#6)
Jesus could turn water into either wine
#43. To: 2Trievers (#37)
When you do your meat, do you use a rub?
#44. To: swarthyguy (#43)
#45. To: 2Trievers (#41)
#46. To: Samuel Gray (#45)
#47. To: christine (#36)
hypocrites.
#48. To: SKYDRIFTER (#33)
#49. To: 2Trievers (#38)
#50. To: noone222 (#18)
Every Catholic Church is filled to capacity with graven images and ritual voodoo magical masses that are sternly recommended against by the Master, Jesus Christ, who I would rather address by His real name ... Yashua !
#51. To: FormerLurker (#50)
There would be no "Bible" if there had been no Roman Catholic Church, at least not the Bible you have today.
#52. To: FormerLurker (#50)
There would be no "Bible" if there had been no Roman Catholic Church,
#53. To: noone222 (#52)
I am an EX-Catholic
#54. To: CAPPSMADNESS (#53)
I am an EX-Catholic
#55. To: noone222 (#52)
And finally, I want to say that GOD doesn't need the assistance of man through the Catholic Church to complete His mission or to save His Word. As a matter of fact the Bible has defied all attacks upon it throughout history in spite of men.
#56. To: FormerLurker (#55)
The Bible is nothing more than a collection of books written by men that the Church claimed to have been Inspired. In fact, there is quite a bit of info on the web describing exactly how each piece of the New Testament came into being, where hardly ANY of it appears to be genuinely written by the claimed author.
#57. To: noone222 (#56)
#58. To: FormerLurker (#57)
Spoken like a true gentleman. We'll just have to agree to disagree.
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