Vatican wise to ignore 'Demons'
Mr Donahue seems to have little more to worry about than the portrayal of the Church in the blockbuster movie 'Angels & Demons', based on a book by Dan Brown, which opens in Rome tonight.
Like its predecessor book and movie, Mr Brown's 'The Da Vinci Code', the work is evidently a jumble of enjoyable nonsense. Most viewers will recognise it as fiction, and see the events it portrays as unbelievable. But it has offended more considerable persons than Mr Donahue.
One is the Bishop of Nottingham, the Right Rev Malcolm McMahon. He fears that it could stir up anti-Catholic sentiment. In the Vatican, high officials are more relaxed. Archbishop Velasio De Paolis mildly warns against giving the producers free publicity.
As he says, that is their game; and the Vatican has more important things to think about.
Making a fuss about a movie can only detract from its profound statements on issues that really matter.
It is also a good idea to keep things in perspective. Mr Donahue thinks "they wouldn't dare treat any other religion like this." In fact, in the not-so-distant past the vilest insults have been flung at all the major religions. By far the most sensible thing is to ignore them.
