"Angels & Demons" Banned From Churches

(AP)  Rome's diocese said Monday it has barred the producers of "Angels & Demons" from filming in two churches for the prequel to the "The Da Vinci Code," the popular book and film that angered many Catholic leaders.

Producers of the film, directed by Ron Howard and starring Tom Hanks, were turned down because the movie "does not conform to our views," said Monsignor Marco Fibbi, a spokesman for the diocese.

The crew had asked to film in the churches of Santa Maria del Popolo and Santa Maria della Vittoria, two architectural jewels in the heart of Rome that include paintings by Caravaggio, sculptures by Bernini and a chapel designed by Raphael.

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Photos: On Location "Angels & Demons"

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Permission was denied in 2007, but the issue surfaced only now that filming is ongoing in Rome, Fibbi said. The Sony-produced film was put on hold during the Writers Guild of America strike that ended in February and is now scheduled for release in May 2009.

Fibbi's comments first were reported this week by the Italian entertainment magazine "TV Sorrisi e Canzoni.""It's a film that treats religious issues in a way that contrasts with common religious sentiment," Fibbi told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "We would be helping them create a work that might well be beautiful but that does not conform to our views."

Fibbi acknowledged that the controversy over writer Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" and its blockbuster movie version had weighed on the decision.

The story drew anger and prompted calls for boycotts by church leaders worldwide with the idea that Jesus married and fathered children and by depicting the conservative Catholic movement, Opus Dei, as a murderous cult.

"This is a prequel to 'The Da Vinci Code' and it's clear that the theme is similar," Fibbi said. He added that the ban would not stop the crew from filming the exterior of the churches.

Brown's "Angels and Demons" is a religious thriller combining an ancient secret brotherhood called the Illuminati, code-cracking, a papal conclave and a high-tech weapon threatening to destroy the Vatican.

It features Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon of "The Da Vinci Code" fame, played by Hanks in the movie.

Calls to Sony Pictures in London and Rome were not immediately returned Monday.

By Ariel David

[avigil2]

To dapex: THE DAVINCI CODE was "the worst you''ve ever seen"? Check out MEET THE SPARTANS or EPIC MOVIE or DRILLBIT TAYLOR or THE HOTTIE AND THE NOTTIE. Those might change your mind.

[barbaraf4]

"And, it is the freedom of the church that allows them to say NO because it conflicts with their beliefs, so lay off the Catholic church." Posted by lovemy3boys
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Have your 3 boys been molested by a priest yet? Gotta love that Catholic Church with it''s selective beliefs.

[dapex-2009]

The reason the Church should have given is that they don''t want to be a part of another god-awful movie like The DaVinci Code. It was the worst I''ve ever seen, and that''s not based on my religious outlook but the acting and plot.

[lovemy3boys]

The Vatican''s job is to protect the teachings of the Catholic Church via Jesus. Why should they think they should be allowed to film a "Christian bashing" film in a church? It''s private property and the church has the right to not let them film.

By the way, just because you think you have higher-level thinking, doesn''t mean you''re right. It just means that you think you''re better than God. You will regret that decision some day, but it''s your choice.

This country is so self-centered and thinks they are so "enlightened" and yet our value system is so eroded people don''t even know what''s right and wrong anymore. God gives us "free will" to choose to obey him or not.

If you ditch religion (which means you basically ditch God), then what''s the point of life? There is none, zero, zip. I would rather be wrong now by believing in God and following the teachings of Jesus Christ, than to find out I was wrong when I die. Think about it..

But, it is a free country and we can choose what we want...we all just have to play together nicely in the sandbox. And, it is the freedom of the church that allows them to say NO because it conflicts with their beliefs, so lay off the Catholic church.

[likeitis5050]

Ah...the Church...living up to the stereotype...excellent. My way or...to he11 with you. This COULD be why, as people evolve into beings with higher thinking and reasoning skills, they ditch religion all together.

[dobbershome]

I''m Catholic and read the book.I really enjoyed the book and it didn''t change my opinion of what I believe in. The church should not be so narrow minded.

[bhrater-2009]

In Old French legend, the exiled "Magdal-eder," the refugee Mary who seeks asylum on the southern coast of France, is Mary of Bethany, the Magdalen. The early French legend records that Mary "Magdalen," traveling with Martha and Lazarus of Bethany, landed in a boat on the coast of Provence in France

Now they celebrate this in the town, so somebody went there??
In tracing the origin of the Bible, one is led to AD 325, when Constantine the Great called the First Council of Nicaea, composed of 300 religious leaders. Three centuries after Jesus lived, this council was given the task of separating divinely inspired writings from those of questionable origin.
The actual compilation of the Bible was an incredibly complicated project that involved churchmen of many varying beliefs, in an atmosphere of dissension, jealousy, intolerance, persecution and bigotry.
At this time, the question of the divinity of Jesus had split the church into two factions. Constantine offered to make the little-known Christian sect the official state religion if the Christians would settle their differences. Apparently, he didn''t particularly care what they believed in as long as they agreed upon a belief. By compiling a book of sacred writings, Constantine thought that the book would give authority to the new church.

I won''t therefore take my pick thank you!
And as far as I am concerned the church makes a fool of itself when it confuses fiction with fact. But the church has done that for many years hasn''t it!

[random_radar]

denn034,

Considering that Jesus was nailed to a cross and didn''t get to write his own version of the story, it is possible that John chose not to mention the wife for various reasons--not the least of which could be her own safety and the safety of the children of Jesus. Doesn''t that make sense?

[denn034]

One wonders what Dan Brown, the author of The Da Vinci Code (a book that suggests Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene), thinks about John 19:25-27, KJV: "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother''s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home"? Why did Jesus fail to provide for Magdalene after his death? One would think that his failure to provide for Magdalene after his death would mean that he wasn''t married to her. It''s either that or Jesus was a rotten husband. Take your pick!

[lorinkundert]

Maybe they should check Italy''s discrimination laws.