A leading cardinal wants the bestselling 'The Da Vinci Code' removed from Catholic bookshops.
Written by Dan Brown, 'The Da Vinci Code' first published in 2003 is a work of fiction and a global publishing phenomenon. Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone says the book aims to discredit the church and is a gross and absurd distortion of history.
25 million copies have been printed in 44 different languages.
Details in the book are far from the Catholic Church teachings. One claim in the book is that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had children. Theologian Gina Menzies describes the book as containing bad theology but believes it should be read as a work of fiction.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone is hosting a seminar in Italy tonight where he says he will unmask the lies told in 'The Da Vinci Code'.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 16 March 2005. The reporter is Anna Murphy.
