Well now if the Catholic Church worldwide can be held legally and economically liable for a few pedophile priests , bishops and cardinals shouldn't Dan Brown and Tom Hanks be held legally and financially responsible for the actions of crazies after they see his movie?

Al J, Ft Myers, USA

The book was written for entertainment. Brown does note a couple facts in the beginning of the novel, for example, that the Illuminati existed. The rest are far fetched assumptions by the readers.

If you're looking for a copy you'll find it in your local book store's FICTION section.

Jason, Bloomington,

I'm sorry, but blaming the book, author and publisher is very narrow minded and ignorant.

However, it is unfortunate that three innocent people have become the victims of this lunatic with issues beyond what is said in a clever novel.

Matt, London, UK

Eugenia, you realize that Dan Browns books are in the fiction section everywhere you buy them? They are fun reads, its like saying the columbine kids did what they did cause of the music they listen to. No, this guy, the columbine kids, the Virg Tech kid, murderers and terrorists alike r irrational

James, northport,

"Police said Mr Luzi, a former medical student with a history of psychiatric problems"...
I suppose Dan Brown is responsible for Mr. Luzi's past insanity, too?
Why not sue the doctors that knew he was mentally ill, for not telling him not to watch movies?
Or his mother for giving birth to him?

Ron Reale, Fort Lauderdale, Fl, USA

It is a valid take on history - do the research. Holy Blood, Holy Grail; The Gnostic Gospels; The Magdalene Legacy; etc. While Brown's work is purely fiction, it does raise valid questions about the life of the Christ and Magdalene, and asserts many truths. Its not rubbish, its just a question...

Ali, Portland, OR, US

Cheers to the many selfless people who risked personal injury in order to protect others... from the old parisioner - whose actions probably saved the priest's life - right down to the policemen who chose to engage the guy on hand to bloody knife rather than risk accidently shooting a bystander.

Will S, So Cal, USA

The Da Vinci Code is as valid as The Bible.....two great works of fiction!

Dr Jimmy, New York,

I'll be really worried when the number of Catholics killed on the impetus of a work of literary fiction, equals the number of people murdered by Catholics on the impetus of their work of literary fiction.

Mark, Staines,

The guy watched the film the night before where as all the Christian paraphernalia had been in his possession for some time. The chap is obviously a lunatic but it’s the bible (and his mental illness) that has driven him to this, not the Da Vinci Code.

Ben Hayes, London,

I must admit I find it surprising the Da Vinci Code hasn't provoked more attacks. Yes its claims of history are blatantly erroneous, but many people don't know history, and Dan Brown claims in the foreword it is all fact. People who aren't insulate by history reaction aggressively to its distortions

Hanery, Aberdeen,

The Catholic church has condemned those who don't believe as they do. Their actions (i.e. Crusades and the Inquisition) have been conspiratorial and anti-freedom of religion. Many things they have done have offended me. But I just chose not to go instead of telling others how to live their lives.

Marie, Miami, FL, USA

I feel awful for the Priest, but give me a break to everyone blaming Dan Brown for writing a work of fiction that some deranged person had in his possession. Lets also blame all of the Koran, Bible, and Talmud for the Islmic, Christian and Jewish wackos who use that to their own means... Grow Up!

Franklin, Ipswich, UK

I know of another fictional book about Jesus that has caused untold suffering on this planet for the last 2000 years. We've stopped counting the murders in its name now.

Perhaps that should be banned too...

Julie, Reading, Berks

"This is, in part, the physical result of the constant anti-Christian [especially anti-Catholic vitriol from so many quarters these days."

Could not agree more, Sir. And WHO is behind ALL of this virulent anti-Christian propaganda. As in virtually all things, THEY have blood on their hands.

Angelica, Raleigh, USA

People, get a grip, it's FICTION.

Rod, Los Angeles, USA

Sadly the religious bunch here do not care for this priest's wellbeing much and use it merely to attack Dan Brown's own attack on their fanatacism.

So in response to Jim's (Kuwait) own logic, the Bible should not be taken seriously because it's a book and it's a film! Clever religious people!

Kazuki, Tokyo, Japan

Mental Illness is serious and not religious or political. Just as an exercise read the Bible or Koran on LSD. Get the 'picture' now, mental illness sees what it wants to see, believes what it wants to believe. Chemical imbalance happens, thank God for that!

Erick Johnson, Toronto, Canada

You don't have to be crazy to enjoy the laborious plotting, the clunking exposition, the rice-paper characterisations, and the third-hand conspiracy hokum of The Da Vinci Code, but it sure helps. Not having read any decent books in your life is also a good start.

Tim Footman, London/Bangkok,

Kazuki you are way off base. The author says its fiction but you say its "valid" FYI, the book and the movie are sheer story telling. Its to be read as mystery, not a historical novel. As a Catholic I find the book and movie offensive, to become violent over it is the result of mental illness.

Falyn, Port Richey, FL, USA

Defenders of the Da Vinci Code need to see the hypocrisy involved. That blasphemous work slanders the Christian faith, positing such things as psychopaths who are raised up by the church to kill those who would expose 'the truth'. And now the Da Vinci Code has produced its own psychopathic killer.

Christopher Witmer, Tokyo, Japan

Suing Dan Brown for the actions of an insane man is ludicrous. Perhaps God could be blamed for Luzi's insanity, but I doubt He could be sued.

Soon: Rated MS: For mentally stable audiences only. The subject matter in this film may cause a violence break with reality.

Vince, Phoenix, USA

Of the millions who've read/watched the Da Vinci Code, this guy went off his rocker. The story is not at fault - the man has a mental problem which retards his ability to distinguish fiction from reality. Just b/c some are too immature for art (broad sense of the term) doesn't mean art is to blame.

Istvan, Lincoln Park, United States

The "Da Vinci Code" is fiction, entertainment.
That being said, the Church wants to exert control over people's minds, and occasionally they draw the attention of a violent lunatic mind. I guess it's part of the job.

Matt, Berlin, Germany

This is, in part, the physical result of the constant anti-Christian [especially anti-Catholic vitriol from so many quarters these days. Add a little mental difficulty and you have the recipe for violence. The Davinci Code is just more anti-Catholic than most.

T N McCoy, New Haven, USA

That's the Entertainment Industry today! They expect us to hear them condone the Presidential Election when they have no idea of the realities of life! I don't allow my kids to see movies or shows that don't fit our lifestyle, simple, I won't support an industry with unrealistic values.

leila, wasilla, usa

What would Eugenia, San Francisco, have us all do? Outlaw insanity? My prayers to the priest and his rescuer. As for Mr. Luzi, he needs an extended stay in the local mental institution...perhaps for life. He should also be fitted with a straightjacket so that he never harms another person.

davenjan, Cottonwood, CA USA

We have just watched this film on dvd. Unfortunately I fell asleep about half way through, maybe I should watch it again? However, I do hope the victims involved fully recover from their ordeal, and I hope the perpetrator is taken off the streets. I realise he is very sick but we need protection.

Veronica, Manchester,

Another example of how a work of fiction has been the catalyst for an act of violence. I wonder if Dan Brown has any idea how his yarn about Jesus and the Church has really maligned the truth. I don’t know how any sane person could believe his lies but it seems that so do.

Robert, Burleson, USA

I hope Tom Hanks and Ron Howard are happy. Bringing this crap to the screen is entertainment for some, but for those of us anchored in reality, it is a ridiculous conspiritorial anti-Catholic screed more suited to Tony Alamo or some other religious nutball.

Richard, Indianapolis , USA

Thanks Ron Howard and Tom Hanks for bringing this piece of garbage for mass consumption.

david, alex,

Where are all the Times BAN Man Hunt and Grand Theft Auto BRIGADE then??!??
Surely this monstrosity of a film should be band as well, look what it did!!!...And while we're at it lets ban the book as well!!

Proof that it's unstable people that go out and do crazy things, not forms of entertainmen

Gareth, Bristol, UK

"A valid take on historical events.." Are you kidding me?

You might want to check the harbor for Godzilla. It was in a book and movie. It must be true.

Jim Mc, Fintas, Kuwait

The Davinci Code has been proved false and misleading. It is fiction and was admitted to be so by its author.

roz, virginia,

Where were you when Jim David Adkisson attacked Unitarian in Knoxville after listening to years of hate speech from Hannity, Rush,O'Reily and the like. Should they be sued for spewing hated as well?

Bill, Lincoln, USA

Well, I read two books which have had a profound impact on me: "Saint Maybe" and "How To Win Friends And Influence People". I should sue those authors, or their foundations, because as a result I've been too giving.

Mark, Jersey City, USA

This is why people should read, "Quelle", the anti-DaVinci Code book. I saw it on Createspace.com and then on Amazon. It's by Peter J. Fusco. At least his book doesn't make you want to kill people.

Danny Manzi, NYC, USA

funny isn't it that God gave man free will yet it seems that everyone in life is looking for one person to be help responsible for the worlds problem be they religious or not.

Eugenia, dallas, texas

Yes Eugenia, we must censor anything that might set some nutcase off. The blame rest squarely on the shoulders of the people who have an world view that doesn't match our own.
It's called fiction. There is always going to be someone who goes off in the wrong direction.

Kim, Detroit,

Eugenia, I do believe that Italy (and Rome in particular) has universal healthcare, so there's no real reason to sue. Having said that, we can't be accountable for everyone's reactions to us in the world. Just because you write a book, doesn't mean you're to blame if someone takes it literally...

Ali, Portland, OR, US

Regretable, but a price we all must pay for literary freedom. We simply cannot be limited in what we see or read to that which fails to set off the most unbalanced among us.

Dennis, Amarillo, USA

Kazuki's comments just go to prove how precariously thin the line between the rational and irrational truly is. The Da Vinci Code is no more an accurate portrayal of history than are the National Treasure movies. So were Kazuki's comments really that out of touch or merely poorly chosen?

Liam, Dallas, TX, USA

Dan Brown and the makers of this movie should be sued in behalf of this priest for all medical, emotional and psychological harm he suffered and for the blatant inaccurate and malicious portrayal of the Catholic Church and her history. Enough is enough of Dan Brown persisting in such malice.

Eugenia, San Francisco, USA

"There should be strict regulations to stop this sort of book being published..."

What sort of book, novels? How about just teaching people to understand the difference between historical fact and pulp fiction?

Larry, San Antonio, Texas, USA

Sorry Kazuki - the Da Vinci code's subject matter IS NOT a valid take as any true historian would tell you. Do the research. This is pure fiction that has been debunked many times over.

Art, Palm Coast, USA

I agree with Kazuki. Lunatics are triggered by so many things; it's hard to blame a book, song or film.

However, violence has been inspired by the teachings of many different forms of media. The distinction is very vague, I suppose...

Chad, Panama City, USA

A "valid take on historical events ?" Are you serious ? Try reading about five minutes worth of real history and you'll find out otherwise. No serious student of history -- however much a skeptic he may be on matters religious -- would make such a ridiculous statement.

p sarsfield, bardstown, USA

What sick kind of people read these type of books? What mind could write this rubbish? There should be strict regulations to stop this sort of book being published and the people making money out of them.

Well that's what they'd say if it was music or video games.

Vince Tartrazine, London,

I hope the priest survives. Whilst the Da Vinci Code's subject matter is a valid take on historical events, such reactions by this lunatic are not a cause of the film. These are the actions of a mad man. Remember, you get mad men on all sides of the spectrum.

Kazuki, Tokyo, Japan