HOUSTON, May 13 (UPI) -- Religious groups plan U.S. theater protests when "The Da Vinci Code" opens next week, but even Texas critics say more talk about spiritual issues is good.
A Roman Catholic group, the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property, says it plans 1,000 peaceful prayer vigils when the movie based on the controversial book opens Friday in the United States.
Authors disputing assertions in "The Da Vinci Code" have been cross-crossing the nation -- speaking to numerous religious groups on the hot subject.
Author Darrell Bock, a professor at Dallas Theological Seminary, recommends people see the film based on Dan Brown's book, but also read his own book, "Breaking the Da Vinci Code."
Amy Welborn, author of "De-coding Da Vinci," recommended people skip the movie starring Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou.
"If you must see it, don't go on the first weekend, because that's important for the box-office results," Welborn told the Houston Chronicle.
"Whether you love (The Da Vinci Code) or hate it, it has caused people to talk about spiritual issues," The Rev. William Vanderbloemen, a Houston Presbyterian minister, told the newspaper.
