Benedictine monk on personal crusade to debunk 'The Da Vinci Code'

Published: 2004-10-28

DENVILLE, N.J. (CNS) -- If you want a good read, by all means, indulge yourself in "The Da Vinci Code," a best-selling novel by Dan Brown, Benedictine Father Gerard Lair told a crowd at St. Mary's Church in Denville. "Just don't believe a word of it," he said. "This book misrepresents facts and history over and over again, that's why it's so dangerous," said Father Lair. "It's like he's singing off-key throughout the novel." The Benedictine made the comments in a recent speech to about 100 people at the church. His presentation was part of an ongoing Catholic education series at the parish. "Even the title of the book is incorrect," said Father Lair, who noted that artists of that time were generally referred to by their first names, like Raphael and Michelangelo. The book should really be "The Leonardo Code," he said. "Da Vinci only means 'from the town of Vinci.'" Father Lair is the former abbot of St. Mary's Abbey in Morristown, in the Paterson Diocese. Currently, he coordinates continuing education for the Benedictine monks at the abbey. He has spoken on "The Da Vinci Code" at various places and has made debunking the book his personal crusade.

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