The Diocese of Camden is sponsoring special “Da Vinci Code Discussion Nights” on June 1 at St. Joseph Parish in Somers Point and June 15 at St. Agnes Parish Hall in Blackwood.
The discussion nights will feature a presentation revealing the truth behind the claims of the best-selling novel and now motion picture and will give parishioners the opportunity to ask questions about the historical basis for the Catholic faith.
The sessions, which run from 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM and are free to the public, will be presented by Bill Donaghy, founder of Mission Moment, a lay-run Catholic evangelization and catechetical organization. He has also worked in the fields of mission and evangelization for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
According to diocesan spokesman Andrew Walton, the sessions are an opportunity for Catholics to reconnect with their faith and to become educated in order to be able to critically assess the book and movie. “The claims of the ‘Da Vinci Code” have been firmly debunked, but many Catholics still want to know the facts behind the fiction. As it turns out, the truth is more provocative and exciting than the fiction.”
As part of its plan to seize on the teaching opportunity that has arisen from the interest in Dan Brown’s novel and the movie release, the Diocese of Camden also has produced a special website with books, pamphlets, articles, audio and video resources, homily helps and other links.
The diocesan site also includes a link to “Jesus Decoded,” a web-based initiative undertaken by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to help separate fact from fiction and to foster a deeper appreciation for the Catholic faith (see www.jesusdecoded.com).