IANS

Bangalore, Jun 19: Dan Brown’s claims in his controversial novel, ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ were criticised by Catholics at a symposium on Saturday. Convener Fr Adolf Washington said that Brown’s revelations were false.

He said that the author had abused the ignorance of the people to make false claims. "His claim that Jesus’ bloodline was perpetuated by French royalty was debunked in 1993 in a court of law," he said.

On the other contentious issue that the church had banned veneration of Mary Magdalene, Washington said that the Catholic scriptures explained clearly that Mary Magdalene had a pride of place.

On the question of Mary Magdalene’s marriage to Jesus, Washington pointed out that Dan Brown was wrong in his knowledge of the Essenes, whose members remained single, as they considered it an honour to God.

"This means bachelorhood was acceptable during the time of Jesus, quite contrary to what the author says. Furthermore, had Jesus been married he would have chosen to reveal it to his disciples.

The painting of the Last Supper in which apostle John is alleged to be actually Mary Magdalene seated next to Jesus, we must know that John image looked effeminate, as it was the style in Florentine painting and art at that time. Young men were often painted in a feminine form," he said.

Archbishop Bernard Moras asked people not to encourage such books and movies.