The Da Vinci Code: Clergy and Faithful Take Different Approaches
The Richmond Times Dispatch carried an article last week that intentionally or not, had some pretty funny lines.
It seems that over 100 clergy members of the Virginia Council of Churches took a field trip to see the "Da Vinci Code" Friday, May 19th.
Meanwhile, (not reported in the RTD article referenced above) some of the "people in the pews" (we'll call them the Faithful in the interests of truth and brevity), took quite a different approach.
Answering a call for a visible presence to defend the Lord and his teachings initiated by the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, they assembled that evening at the Commonwealth 20 in Chesterfield and at Regal Short Pump on West Broad St. to pray quietly while holding signs. (I offered to donate this one but there were no takers.)
Both groups reported a majority of the responses from people driving in and out of the theatre parking lots was positive and uplifting. A group of Thomas Dale High School students joined the Chesterfield people and over in the west end a group of "goth" teenagers walked over to support the Faithful.
Later, the participants agreed that the local television media who interviewed them at both locations did a good and fair job reporting their position on the Da Vinci Code phenomenom.
Perhaps hoping to get some face time on TV, a group of young teenagers showed up at both locations that Friday evening. In the 15 to 17 year old range, 15 to 20 kids per group, they carried hastily made signs which were for the most part obscene.
One of the few fit to print said "It's Just a Movie!" That would have been a good opening for conversation but other signs had crude pictures representing various sex acts. One particularly nasty sign referenced the Mother of God ... well, I just don't want to go there description-wise. Both groups of teenagers were loud and unashamed.
The following evening there were no TV cameras and the mall rats (do they still call them that?) did not show up. Maybe their parents found out about it and they were grounded.
The Faithful met to pray again at the Regal Short Pump this Saturday and will also be there next Saturday evening, June 3rd.
Video on Channel 8
It seems that over 100 clergy members of the Virginia Council of Churches took a field trip to see the "Da Vinci Code" Friday, May 19th.
Before the movie started, the Rev. Jonathan M. Barton, general minister of the Virginia Council of Churches, asked the clergy to think about what people in the pews are yearning for. "What is going on that Hollywood has been successful with this type of movie. What are they addressing that is not being addressed in our churches?"(Ummmm... maybe it is the PG-13 rating for disturbing images, violence, some nudity, thematic material, brief drug references and sexual content.)
The Rev. Pasquale J. Apuzzo, pastor of St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Chesterfield, said: "The book was very enjoyable. The movie is superficial and kind of silly. If Christians are using a book and a movie to learn about God, the church and Jesus, they are looking in the wrong part of the library. The movie is fun and entertaining but certainly not a source of faith and theology," he added.(That is a strange take on what used to pass for blasphemy but we'll just move along.)
Apuzzo added: "We should stop giving this movie so much attention and not assist the money makers in putting more money in their coffers."(Whew! I was afraid they had just spent a bundle on one hundred tickets, popcorn, sodas and junior mints. My bad.)
Meanwhile, (not reported in the RTD article referenced above) some of the "people in the pews" (we'll call them the Faithful in the interests of truth and brevity), took quite a different approach.Answering a call for a visible presence to defend the Lord and his teachings initiated by the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, they assembled that evening at the Commonwealth 20 in Chesterfield and at Regal Short Pump on West Broad St. to pray quietly while holding signs. (I offered to donate this one but there were no takers.)
Both groups reported a majority of the responses from people driving in and out of the theatre parking lots was positive and uplifting. A group of Thomas Dale High School students joined the Chesterfield people and over in the west end a group of "goth" teenagers walked over to support the Faithful.
Later, the participants agreed that the local television media who interviewed them at both locations did a good and fair job reporting their position on the Da Vinci Code phenomenom.
Perhaps hoping to get some face time on TV, a group of young teenagers showed up at both locations that Friday evening. In the 15 to 17 year old range, 15 to 20 kids per group, they carried hastily made signs which were for the most part obscene.
One of the few fit to print said "It's Just a Movie!" That would have been a good opening for conversation but other signs had crude pictures representing various sex acts. One particularly nasty sign referenced the Mother of God ... well, I just don't want to go there description-wise. Both groups of teenagers were loud and unashamed.
The following evening there were no TV cameras and the mall rats (do they still call them that?) did not show up. Maybe their parents found out about it and they were grounded.
The Faithful met to pray again at the Regal Short Pump this Saturday and will also be there next Saturday evening, June 3rd.
Video on Channel 8
posted by f mcdonald at 1:06 AM
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