Rome, Italy - Controversial Catholic group Opus Dei has called for the forthcoming film version of "The Da Vinci Code" to be given an adult rating to prevent children being influenced by its "insidious" lies about the Catholic Church.
"Just as we protect children from explicit sex and violence, it would seem to make sense to protect them from violence that is more subtle and thus more insidious," said Marc Carroggio, a spokesman for the body in Rome.
"Any adult with a minimum of education can distinguish reality from fiction. But when history is manipulated, you cannot expect a child to make proper judgements," he added.
"Merely adding a disclaimer that says 'fiction' is not enough."
Carroggio told the Catholic news agency Zenit in an interview he did not believe the film, which will be released in May, would impact negatively on the organisation, but would be "a sort of indirect publicity for us."
"An effort is being made to take advantage of the great interest aroused ... in Jesus Christ," the agency quotes him as saying.
"Although the story is absurd and at times somewhat humorous, it produces a hateful image of the institution and it is well known that hateful images like this produce feelings of hatred in those who lack a critical sense," Carroggio said.
But he said Opus Dei would make no "declaration of war" against the film as it would only help its marketing.
"No one is going to make threats or organise boycotts, or anything like that," he said.
Opus Dei members would react like other Christians to the film and would "use the lemon to make lemonade".
Opus Dei, which has a chiefly lay membership estimated at more than 80,000 worldwide, has aroused controversy because of charges that it is secretive and socially ultra-conservative.