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Vince Marshall claims Satan’s hand is busy at work. As the Curia avoids the embarrassment, Marshall runs a website and collects signatures… Great conversion indeed. He is now out to exorcise the whole islands
Karl Schembri
Suspecting the hand of the devil behind controversial novel The Da Vinci Code, former Satanist Vince Marshall will be convening all the witnesses of Christ to protest against the “blasphemous” film starring Tom Hanks on 20 May, the day of its release in Malta’s cinemas.
It’s been a great conversion for Marshall – from the years of darkness when he worshipped the angel of evil in the form of a Satanic bishop’s skull, to the frontline crusader carrying a statue of the holy virgin in the capital, chanting the rosary and accusing the very same old ally in sin of masterminding this serious sacrilege.
The man knows a devil when he sees it, and it is clearly here, in this worldwide bestselling piece of popular historical fiction by the same author of – make no mistake – Angels and Demons.
“Wherever there is evil, like in this attack against Christ himself, there is obviously something Satanic,” he says.
“Do you think the Madonna in Birzebbuga cried tears of blood for nothing?” he elaborates, referring to the resin statue in a private house that was found with drops of blood earlier this year, provoking a Curia inquiry.
It’s a double offence for the converted Marshall and his more than 500 signatories of the petition against the film he wants banned for suggesting Jesus and Mary Magdalene had a child – a minor sin next to the real subversive literature satirising Christ that has been churned out globally for centuries.
“It’s a disgusting defamation of Jesus Christ and to make things worse it was filmed in my home country,” he says.
The couple of scenes in the film were the cherry on the cake for Marshall, although the book did generate controversies around the globe – from loony Christian fanatics to otherwise mainstream cardinals denouncing Dan Brown’s bestselling novel.
On the other hand, the Dean of Lincoln Cathedral in England, the Very Reverend Alec Knight, openly allowed production of the film there for a donation reportedly to be in the region of £100,000.
“It’s (the book) been attacked as blasphemous because it argues the notion that Jesus’s humanity included an element of sexuality,” an unfazed Knight told the BBC. “My view is that the book isn’t blasphemous, it doesn’t denigrate God in any way, but it is speculative, far fetched and heretical. It has clearly touched the public imagination, and the Church needs to open up a debate about it rather than throw one’s hands up and walk away from it.”
Just as he was speaking, outside the Cathedral, a 61-year-old Roman Catholic nun gained some media attention for breaking a Guinness World Record: kneeling in prayer outside for 12 hours to object to the production of the film.
“When I face almighty God at my final judgement, as we all will, I can say I did try my best. I did try my best to protest,” Sister Mary Michael said.
Turns out she is the former Maltese Satanist’s major inspiration for action on the island of St Paul. “When I read her slogan I was moved,” Marshall says. “I felt encouraged to do something. I can’t be an accomplice to this defamation. These people were authorised to shoot parts of this film in our country, behind everybody’s back. Somebody gave them permission to do so. Do you think I can let them hurt me and insult me like that and just sit on a fence?”
That’s just what the Curia is doing on this one, clearly steering away from embarrassment as it leaves the street battles to its zealous horde, to the amusement of a wider flock that is, really, indifferent to the controversy.
“Look at how Muslims reacted when they were offended by the cartoons,” Marshall protests, hitting back at “those whitewashed tombs” who defend this work on the grounds that it’s just fiction.
“I don’t condone the Muslims’ violence but I’m starting to think I had better been a Muslim as they clearly defend what is dear and sacred to them,” he says.
The Prime Minister has definitely proved to be holier than the Archbishop. While Mgr Mercieca has not even acknowledged Marshall’s repeated pleas for endorsement of the anti-Da Vinci demonstration, the prime minister’s assistants have assured him there will be someone to collect the petition demanding a ban on the film on 20 May, as he will march with his Madonna-bearing legion from City Gate to the Curia and ending the day’s battle with mass at St Publius Church.
The logistics seem quite impressive. Marshall has been running a website, collecting signatures, spreading the message by word of mouth and getting some prominence on the media over the last weeks. Great conversion indeed. He is now out to exorcise the whole islands.
kschembri@mediatoday.com.mt
Links: www.freewebs.com/protestdavinci/index.htm
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