Churches prepare to rebut 'DaVinci'

    Area churches are preparing to counter unorthodox claims about Jesus Christ in the movie "The Da Vinci Code," which opens in theaters later this month.

    Dan Brown wrote the best-selling novel, "The Da Vinci Code," published in 2003. Its film adaptation, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, will premiere in theaters May 19.

    The fast-paced, fictional novel reads like a giant Christian conspiracy theory, with a plot built on claims that Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, that they had a daughter named Sarah and that their bloodline still exists.

    The book also states early Christians never claimed Christ was divine and that the Catholic Church has covered up such information. Though the book is a work of fiction, those statements and Mr. Brown's claim in the prologue that certain details in the book are authentic have alarmed area clergy.

    The book and upcoming film have triggered a far different response from organized religion than that created by the 2004 release of "The Passion of the Christ," Mel Gibson's version of Christ's crucifixion, which prompted some churches to rent out theaters and hold special screenings of the R-rated film.

    This time, churches are educating their members about how to respond to the story, but there is little encouragement to go see the movie.

    Web sites hosted by the Catholic bishops group and Campus Crusade are dedicated to addressing aspects of Mr. Brown's book, including questions regarding Renaissance art, biblical texts and the origins of the Holy Grail.

    Concerns about the book and film have even arisen in schools. The Rev. Terry Specht, a priest in the Diocese of Arlington, recently told about 70 students in a special chapel session at Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax that the book's descriptions of church history and artwork are grossly inaccurate.

    "The danger is so many Christians are so ill-informed in Scriptures and history that they take what is said without any consequences," said Father Specht, who earned a master's degree in church history. "I see it as an opportunity. It's not a bad thing to have these things talked about."