The Associated Press reports that the Roman Catholic Group Opus Dei has started a blog to challenge the evil image of them portrayed in Dan Brown's novel, The Da Vinci Code.
The conservative organization has spent the last few years trying to escape the best seller's shadow, after the novel portrayed Opus Dei as a murderous sect fixated on power and self-mutilation.
But now the low-profile spiritual community is starting a drive to improve its image ahead of a major film based on the book -- and that campaign begins at the group's front door, where a sign invites fans of the Dan Brown novel to learn about "the real Opus Dei."
"The unfortunate thing is there are going to be tens of millions of people who will read the novel and see the movie and have that be their only exposure to Opus Dei," said Brian Finnerty, a spokesman for the group. "Because the book is marketed as being in some ways factual, it's difficult for people to tell where the lines between fact and fiction are."
The blog is written by Fr. John Wauck, a priest of the Opus Dei Prelature. In this post Fr. John Wauck says that a real cilice is not as painful as the one in the book.
It must be said immediately, however, that the reality in Opus Dei is quite different from what one finds in The Da Vinci Code. In fact, I'm a little afraid that, should someone who's seen the movie happen upon a real cilice and discipline they'd just laugh -- like someone who shows up for a duel expecting to see a .44 Magnum only to face a water pistol instead.
In The Da Vinci Code, the cilice is a notched leather belt studded with metal barbs which cut the flesh and cause Silas to bleed profusely.
In reality, the cilice (pronounced "sillis") is a small metal chain with sharp points facing inward. No leather, no belt, no notches. Of course, it's uncomfortable (this is penance, after all), but it shouldn't cut the flesh or cause bleeding. The version used by members of Opus Dei is worn around the thigh, and the custom within Opus Dei is to wear it two hours a day -- except on Sundays, feast days, and certain times of the year.
The film is due in theatres May 19th, 2006 and stars Tom Hanks as Harvard Professor Robert Langdon. The Opus Dei group will also have to deal with the possibility of millions of new readers of the novel as a paperback edition of the book will be released on March, 28th, 2006.
