Reply to Dr. Tom Ryan’s

Position on the De Vinci Code

Appearing in the Florida Catholic

             I read with dismay and then horror the position that Dr. Tom Ryan of St. Thomas University took on the De Vinci Code. He begins by thanking Dan Brown, for writing the novel! He says “it’s good for the faithful”,- “everyone loves a conspiracy” (unless of course they are the target on the conspiracy).

            Besides being ludicrous, this book is extremely harmful and dangerous. It is an absolutely outrageous and erroneous position for Dr. Ryan to take on this ‘novel’, defending a despicable and misleading book loaded with deceptions and falsehoods.

            How many Catholics and others ignorant in their faith will be led astray by Dr. Ryan’s position? How many Catholics and others, unaware of biblical truths and biblical times in history will be led astray? How many Catholics and others, unlike Dr. Ryan, not well educated and trained on their religion will be led astray?

            It’s absolutely impossible to measure, or estimate, the number of faithful whose faith may be diminished by his article, written in the Florida Catholic, the prestigious and official newspaper in Florida for Catholics. How incredible!

            Dr. Ryan regards Dan Brown’s look as a public service. Who needs such a service? He says he did us a favor. A favor for which we should thank him! I say no thank you.

            Dr. Ryan says “it incenses the faithful”- the only comment he got right. It does incense the faithful on a very negative fashion. It should very much incense those who know the truth about this book.

            I am in total agreement with Father Sean Sullivan of Little Flower Parish. He is absolutely right! It is a travesty of our sacred symbols and it should concern us all. Quaker Edwardo Diaz regards it literature and not theology. No literature could have generated such a controversy. Dr. Ryan’s view is utterly wrong, without justification and only compounds the damage done by Dan Brown.

            In the article, Pricilla Whitehead, says she is grateful for one thing; she says it’s no longer inappropriate to talk about Jesus at a cocktail party. Tragically, it’s not about being in your comfort zone so one can speak about Christ at a cocktail party. It is all about telling the truth about Christ, portraying the truth about who Jesus was and is. It’s all about telling what Christ stood for, his character, has person, his mission and his message. Reality is the on going struggle of evil vs. good, truths vs. falsehood. Christ’s true nature vs. the scoffers. Let’s not let the deceivers win in this case.

            In actual fact, Dr. Tom Ryan has joined with Dan Brown in rendering an erroneous disservice to the faithful and to the Church and to Christ.

            So what’s in the book that’s so objectionable? Here are just a few things.

            What the De Vinci Code says

1. The new testament is false testimony, etc.

This is just to mention a few of the host of errors in this book! Fabrications and distortions are throughout the book! Unfortunately we have so many Catholics and non Catholics who are not as well educated and well trained as Dr. Ryan. Such books only serve to weaken their beliefs…not a good thing.

            I respectfully submit a spokesperson for the Archdiocese refute Dr. Ryan’s ‘take’ on this horrific book and let it appear in the Florida Catholic.