Hello Roxanne,

I ask: "But why should this be a problem for anybody outside of the Church?

You reply: "Because civilized people do not approve of lies that contribute to prejudice and hatred against any group - even one they don't belong to?"

Er, have you read the book?
We're talking about a not particularly well-written adventure novel. For goodness sake, its not as if we are dealing with a modern day Martin Luther!

I wrote: "It's not as if Christians are running amok and torturing and then burning at the stake anybody who believes any of the background to Brown's book."

You respond: "The fact that it feeds anti-Catholic sentiment is of course entirely moot."

What! When did the age old practice of criticising a religion that you don't agree with become illegal or unethical?

I wrote: "Surely, people are free to take seriously anything they like. The only proviso being that in doing so they do not cause harm to anybody or anything."

You respond: "And there we come to the sticking point. I think this does do harm. Would you argue that a novel based on the 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion' was just 'harmless fiction'? I promise you the Anti-Defamation League wouldn't!"

So, what do you suggest? Do we start burning in the streets any book or publication that says something that any group of people claims offends them? Does Germany, 1930s-40s ring any bells...?
And in answer to your question re the Elders of Zion, broadly speaking YES. Read up on the Jack the Ripper murders of 1888 and you should see what I mean.

You write: "The Catholic Church has every right to take offense at this novel that depicts their faith as an organized lie and their hierarchy as murderous criminals. They have every right to debunk it and try to get their version before the public. Not to mention darn good reason to!"

Which part of: "why should this be a problem for anybody outside of the Church?" don't you understand. Or don't you identify Roman Catholics with the Church?
BTW, can you provide evidence that their faith is not an organized lie?
As for 'murderous criminals'. Read the book for yourself. If you have read it, then read it again. And then come back and explain which part of the story , repeat story, makes some people who have read it now think of the Pope and his Cardinals as murderous sociopaths.

Regards,

Alex