Vatican says No to Ron Howards' Movie

"We are delighted that Ron Howard and his Hollywood minions have been denied the opportunity to exploit the Catholic Church again."

NEW YORK, NY (Catholic League) - A movie adaptation of Dan Brown's book, Angels and Demons, is now in production; it is the prequel to the film, "The Da Vinci Code." There are reports today that the Vatican has banned those associated with "Angels and Demons" from shooting in Catholic churches in Rome or in the Vatican itself.

This is important because there are scenes in the movie that are supposed to take place in the Vatican and in two churches in Rome.

"Angels and Demons" stars Tom Hanks in his role as Robert Langdon, the symbologist. This time he is trying to unravel a plot by a secret society, the Illuminati, to blow up the Vatican during a papal conclave.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue defended the Vatican today:

"We are delighted that Ron Howard and his Hollywood minions have been denied the opportunity to exploit the Catholic Church again. Any movie about Catholicism which draws on the specious work of Dan Brown is bound to offend Catholic sensibilities, so it was only fitting that Howard was shown the gate.

"According to Brown, his latest effort purports to reveal 'a lot of inside information about the Vatican' that is 'unflattering.' Right away we know he's playing fast and loose: How would he have access to 'inside information about the Vatican'?"

"Moreover, it goes without saying that anything he writes about the Catholic Church would be 'unflattering,' so much so that it explains his defensiveness. 'It's certainly not an anti-Catholic book,' he says. Could it be pro-Catholic?"

"Just as revealing is Brown's comment that 'Separating Illuminati fact from fiction can be difficult on account of the massive quantities of misinformation that has been generated about the brotherhood.' This is vintage Brown: mix fact and fiction together, stir well, and throw the stew on the screen. Then hope the gullible bite.

"In any event, Howard will now have to drop a few dimes to find some other churches to rip off."

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The Catholic League is the nation's largest Catholic civil rights organization. Founded in 1973 by the late Father Virgil C. Blum, S.J., the Catholic League defends the right of Catholics – lay and clergy alike – to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination. It is led by its' President, William A. Donohue, Ph.D.