This article is from page 3 of the 2006-05-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 3 JPG
ENNIS solicitor and member of Opus Dei, Brian McMahon, has branded Dan Brown’s novel and upcoming film The Da Vinci Code as destructive, fraudulent and dangerous, and warned Clare filmgoers not to view it as a work of fact.
Mr McMahon has been a member of Opus Dei since 1992 and is worried that some people way view some elements of the film as historical realities.
“The most destructive thing is that it holds itself up as fact but in reality it is a work of fiction,” said Mr McMahon.
“If you analyse the research it is all a puff of smoke, it is fraudulent and has no historic basis.
“It is taking people in and that is wrong and dangerous.”
Opus Dei is an international organisation within the Catholic Church comprising of lay people and secular priests.
Its stated mission is to spread Catholic teaching that ordinary life is a path to sanctity.
However, the organisation has been accused of secrecy, a right-wing political agenda and even cult-like methods.
“Opus Dei has been treated appallingly, (Brown) went absolutely bananas in his book. It is distorted and smacks of poor research,” continued Mr McMahon.
“He could have used any organisation he wanted, fictional or real, but he used Opus Dei. He thought we were a soft touch. It was malicious and done on purpose.”
While some sections of the Vatican have encouraged people to boycott the film, Mr McMahon welcomes the debate that its arrival has prompted.
“There is a lot of ignorance from the general public about the situation.
“A lot of people are lacking in information and are not encouraged to research it,” he said.
“We are living in a time where we accept whatever the soundbite says.
“I see this as an opportunity to stand up and disseminate the truth,” he added.
Mr McMahon is one of 12 Opus Dei members in Clare while the national membership is believed to be in the region of 1000.
He is particularly unhappy at the links drawn between Opus Dei and self-mortification, or self-harm, as a penance, which are drawn in The Da
. Vinci Code
“One of the book’s main characters is Silas who is portrayed as a monk, but there are no monks in Opus Dei,” concluded Mr McMahon.
“The self mortification has nothing to do with Opus Dei.
“It is historically part of the Church, like climbing Croagh Patrick.
“He exaggerated it to the point of being offensive.”
The Da Vinci Code open in the Ennis Movieplex on May 19.