Opus Dei wants disclaimer on 'Da Vinci Code' film

The Roman Catholic group Opus Dei has asked Sony Pictures to put a disclaimer on the upcoming movie The Da Vinci Code stressing it is a work of fiction.

Such a disclaimer would be a welcome show of respect towards the church, the conservative group said in a letter posted Good Friday on its website.

"An eventual decision of Sony in this direction would be a sign of respect towards the figure of Jesus Christ, the history of the Church, and the religious beliefs of viewers," the group said in the letter.

Opus Dei objects to its portrayal in Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code, where it is seen asa secretive group that has worked for centuries to obscure truths about Jesus Christ.

An Opus Dei member is the main adversary in the thriller. Opus Dei and other Christian groups alsohave objected to the book's premise that Jesus Christ married Mary Magdalene and they had a child and their bloodline survives to thepresent day.

They fear that many readers are taking the fictional story astruth. With the movie starring Tom Hanks due to premiere at Cannes in May, Opus Dei is among the groups trying to disclaim the message of The Da Vinci Code. It had earlier called for the film to have an "adult only" rating.

Its website devotes a page to disproving both historical and modern references made in The Da Vinci Code. Other websites, such as thetruthaboutdavinci.com and davincioutreach.com, also debate the issues.

Sony Pictures is also supporting a Web site, thedavincidialogue.com, where interested people can read expert opinions about issues raised by the book and movie.

Sony has not said whether it will include a disclaimer on the movie.

Sony Pictures always viewed the movie as"a work of fiction ... a thriller, not a religious tract," spokesperson Jim Kennedy told Reuters. "We believe the filmmakers are going to deliver an exciting movie that will delight audiences, not offend them."