Angels and Demons and Death Threats - Oh My!
I was late submitting this blog, in defense of Ron Howard and Angels and Demons, because of a death threat.
A friend of mine is fond of asking, every time this happens, "What the hell? Why do people want to kill you? It's not like you're Salman Rushdie or something."
Well no, I'm not. But what I am is the author of two-bestselling works of fiction, books which deal with controversial religious themes and are distributed in about fifty languages worldwide. My work is most often compared to Dan Brown's, and I am happily sharing front-of-the-store book displays all over America at the moment with his Angels and Demons. But there is a mixed blessing with this kind of national exposure and association. Like Dan Brown and Ron Howard, I have been accused of taking an "anti-Catholic" position in my art. And the majority of the threats I receive reference this alleged anti-Catholic sentiment.
When I originally set out to write in defense of Ron Howard, who is under attack from William Donohue and his reactionary Catholic League, the tone of my piece was going to be very different. I had planned on a semi-humorous, upbeat, "Welcome to the club, Ron!" kind of article. All of us who dare to point to the bloodier aspects of Church history, including the holocausts of the Inquisition and Crusades, get slapped with the scarlet "anti-Catholic" label. It's the Crucible witch hunt mentality, Abigail Williams shouting: "Goody McGowan is a witch! I saw Ron Howard dancing with the devil in Dan Brown's garden!" It's to be expected, and in the past I have also believed that it was to be laughed at. But the events of this week have changed that. There is nothing humorous about violence in the name of religion, whether it is threatened or actualized. Neither is there anything upbeat about religious intolerance -- on either side of the question.
I have grown sadly used to the periodic threats. They have been called in to radio stations and bookstores, and delivered via post and email, since the release of my first controversial book in 2006. While the threats are always disturbing, most of them turn out to be groundless. I received one that coincided with the release date of my latest novel, The Book of Love, which contained a pernicious virus that ate through my computer's firewalls. So while it killed some of my data, it didn't kill me. This week was different, containing as it did events sinister enough to make me believe that my life was seriously at risk. Serious enough that I am going to be in hiding for another few weeks. Maybe longer.
Let me be clear here: I am not blaming the Vatican for the death threats and attacks that I have endured over my work. What I am blaming is a misplaced notion of anti-Catholic bias, which has fueled these threats. I am reasonably sure that most of the intimidation does not come from people who have even read my books, but rather from those who have been told they are objectionable by some religious authority. This is similar to what Ron Howard has encountered: he is on the receiving end of the Catholic League's lacerating criticism, and yet his critics have not viewed the film they are condemning. I see little difference between this, here in the "progressive" 21st century, and the Inquisition, where one only had to be accused of any kind of anti-Church sentiment to meet with aggressive persecution.
We live in a nation where freedom of both speech and religion are cherished rights. We should therefore have the opportunity to openly discuss the challenges we face as a result of religious intolerance in the past, present and future -- without the threat of violence. During the last eight years in American history, I was openly critical of the Iraq War and just about every action taken by the Bush Administration. Does that make me anti-American? Or does that make me a concerned American? The same argument applies to the Catholic Church. Am I anti-Catholic because I choose to write about the blood-soaked injustices of history that were perpetrated under papal dictates? Let's keep in mind that this is really not the Church as a spiritual institution that we are talking about here. This is the Church as a super power. As a force of economic and political might that has dominated a majority of the history of Western Civilization.
Yet there is one major flaw in this comparison. Those of us who were critical of the Bush administration had democratic recourse. We campaigned for Barack Obama, we marched and chanted for change -- and we were victorious. There is no such recourse for Catholics who disagree with the hard line positions or with the indefensible cover-ups of the Church, both in this century and in ages past. Catholics cannot vote out Pope Benedict XVI, and they cannot demand an explanation into the historical genocides committed with Church authority. But this doesn't mean that they don't have the right to read, learn and discuss all of the issues which have shaped their chosen religion. And they deserve to do so without being barraged by propaganda from the likes of self-appointed watch dogs like William Donohue.
Ron Howard points out that Mr. Donohue's booklet condemning Angels and Demons accuses him of lying because that movie's trailer says the Catholic Church "ordered a brutal massacre to silence the Illuminati centuries ago." This is a neat trick by Donohue, a sleight of hand by a man who is fully aware as he makes this point that the Illuminati referenced here is a fictional creation of Dan Brown. If you are distracted enough by Donahue's histrionics as he shouts down the obvious fiction element, perhaps you won't realize that the rest of the statement is true. The Catholic Church did, in fact, order a series of brutal massacres throughout the Middle Ages which ended hundreds of thousands -- arguably millions -- of lives through torture and otherwise horrific and violent means. The rest is semantics.
The great personal tragedy for me and my family in all of this is that the manufactured, anti-Catholic label which has caused me to endure acts of violence could not be further from my personal truth. I am married to a practicing Irish-Catholic, our son attends a Catholic school, and just over two weeks ago on Good Friday I spent three hours on my knees at the tre hore service in an historic Catholic Church near my home in Southern California. I attend all holy day services here with my family, in the same Catholic edifice where I was taught the Lord's Prayer at three years old. I have contributed to this church's restoration fund and a number of other "Catholic" projects in my community.
So now that we have established that I am not anti-Catholic, let's move on to establish what it is that I am. I am anti-genocide. I am anti-pedophilia. I am anti-AIDS. I am anti-intolerance. I am anti anything that restricts the rights of women. And I am anti cover-up. Therefore by default I am anti many of the political positions that the Catholic Church has taken over the last two thousand years. The actions of the Catholic Church have contributed to these issues that plague our planet and we, the Catholics and non-Catholics among us, have an obligation to discuss all of these subjects openly. I would like to think that we also have the right to do so without the risk of death.
Because most of all, I am anti-silence. Particularly when I believe that injustice has been allowed to occur without any kind of accountability -- or even proper discourse amongst concerned citizens.
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I'm coming into the middle of all of this. I haven't read The Expected One, but recently finished The Book of Love and must say that it was truly enjoyable. Another trip to Chartres is on my list as a result, with a renewed perspective. I looked up Kathleen's website while I was reading the book, and now that I want to go back and read The Expected One, it seems the website is gone? Kathleen, if you're reading this, please keep up the good work!
REVISED
If someone makes death threats against a person, even if the threats are made in cyberspace, it is illegal and a Federal offense. If the threats were made in another State or another country, the police would have to be notified in the jurisdiction where the threatened person resides. Investigations into such threats are often made public by the police. In fact publicity is often used as a further deterrent against the perpetrators to let them know they are under investigation.
Many internationally famous people reside and work in Los Angeles, where Kathleen McGowan resides. The police are very diligent about investigating such threats. It is unheard of that anyone would go into hiding unless the circumstances were very extreme, and that would become public information very quickly.
If allegations of death threats are a publicity hoax, there is little one can do except make the public aware of that fact. Without police substantiation and other credible proof, there is the possibility that such announcements are without merit.
In statements above by Kathleen McGowan, she claims to have endured acts of violence and death threats. Yet investigations have not uncovered any police or public records to substantiate her claims.
Beliefs that would attract negative attention might be personal, political, or religious. This is not in question. Her beliefs are not under discussion here.
What is in question is the validity of claims that appear to be totally unsubstantiated by the police or anyone for that matter.
I find it very hard to contemplate that anyone would be making death threats towards the author of a book that doesn't rise to the literary quality of the lowest ranking Harlequin Romance series, and that has a risible grasp of history, as well of the actual contemporary facts of the featured locations. It adds insult to injury by defending itself as "fiction", while simultaneously whispering "but it's all true, you know, it's based on myself!".
That would be according entirely too much importance to such drivel, unless the "threatening" party is as loopy as the author.
Chimpmaster you too are holy. Need not to chimp. When it is fiction you would not have a problem would you? Cause fiction = lie. So why bother. When it is no fiction, you feel attacked. Your lifelong truth feels attacked. Therefore there must be truth in this fiction. That is what makes it so hard for you. And that is good. Cause every change is painful but worthwhile.
Don't panic, you are normal.
When you make the other who is very connected to you and me, when you make him an enemy the world that we together create tends to be killing. We all are in the dark. We all are connected in love. There is no difference, until you think there is. Then events will tend to be dark. But that all is an illusion. Death to is an illusion. You and I and the other,we are all in the light. Never have been out, but we think we are n't. Listen carefully: We cannot die by anyones hand or wish. Every death is just going back in the reality of light, every death could not happen without your angels consent. So do not worry and love the other.
In true love Pieter
Dear Kathleen, Who are you NOW! Perhaps you immediately start thinking what you have done, reached etc. But that is not who you are. You are love. That is what Jezus learned us. At this very moment you are love. As soon as you start to think you start to worry, plan,etc. But that is not who you really are. In fact love does not claim anything. Love IS! And from this point, noting else is! All you start to think is devastating to love.
It is good that people are angry, threatening, because the people who are ignorent are more into the dark as people who are angry. They consider and choose not yet to turn for the light. But they are going to. In fact when we are love, we can have compassion with
the other. He is struggling the same way as we do. He is thinking and worrying. That in fact is contrary to love. That too is violence. The other is not an enemy until you think he is. Pure thinking is a servant to love.
So many are small-minded and short-sighted and don't want to think beyond what is in their own little world. I have read "The Expected One" and loved its take on the Jesus story. I haven't read "The Book of Love" yet, but I have it and know it will be great too. Thank you for having the guts to put it out there for people to challenge the dogma. I give my full support to you and others willing to help people open their minds to other possibilities.
People who believe in and love Jesus threatening others in his name?
What do these people believe? And why do they think that threats and harassment are appropriate responses to different thoughts or beliefs. Is it because they do not truly believe Jesus’ core teachings or because they cannot relate to them?
Jesus’ own teachings (not the elaborate self serving creations of some, definitely not all, of those in the church developed during the lifetime of the Catholic Church) are about love (not hate), acceptance (not exclusion or judgment), forgiveness (not revenge), teaching through the example of his life and the beautiful lessons through parables intended to lift us to a higher level of existence. Jesus expects more of us than to be singling out those who think differently, then threatening and attacking them verbally and/or physically. And to do so in his name…..ouc
Thank you Ron Howard for having the strength and belief in your work to step out again with the truth in these movies, in spite of the reactions you have received from some. Thank you Kathleen McGowan for continuing to research, write and experience the truth of the books you are writing and sharing with the world despite the danger to yourself.
I pray you will both continue to remind us of who we truly are, and aspire to be, in the embrace and elevation of Jesus’ Great Eternal and Universal Love.
Much love to you both,
Gail Heron Sterling
I am a reader, a thinker, a seeker, but not a writer. I do not have the gift of words possessed by Ms McGowan. After reading this post, there is nothing I can add except the following:
Here here! I have made my choice, and I choose faith. For those with ears to hear, let them hear it.
Bail ó Dhia ort
Same trouble - new day aye? Love vs. Fear......
Churches in general have had us believing that by giving more to the church we will get closer to God.
We are the church. God's creation. His children. That is the church. Serve each other and you serve the church. Give to each other and you give to the church. Love each other and you love the church. and the church will grow.
The opposite of Love is fear. So...if there is fear present...
Great topic Kathleen!
This is a great article, full of topics we all need to give serious thought about. I choose to be informed and educated so that I can make conscious, informed decisions. What I have learned by being open to information from many sources is that religions began with principles of love and forgiveness. The fact that through history we as a humanity have separated, world-wide from those principles and made religion a planetary excuse for war and violence does not match up with the original purpose of religions. No one, from any race, religion, culture, planet has the right to commit violence on another human being. Differentiations in thought and practice do not justify this.
There are many people on the planet right now who are actively pursuing a more unified and loving means of living together. I choose to be one of those people. There are many books, writers, religious and other leaders who are providing sources for those of us who want to learn, grow, and become our real selves. Kathleen's books are on my list of the books that have inspired me to stretch and grow in these avenues. I have no problem with anyone disagreeing with her, Ron Howard, or anyone else putting forth their "truth" - the right to disagree is part of our human, divine right. Yet violence and threats is not acceptable.
It is the year 2009 and we need to grow beyond religious wardom!
I just want to let you know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am writing to say I never came away from reading either one of your books thinking that you were anti-catholic. Every organized religion has skeletons in their closets for the simple reasons no one is perfect. I do believe the Catholic Church is keeping secrets from the world for the reason that they dont think that the lay person can handle the truth.
I as a catholic have issues with the catholic church but I am not looking to the church for my salvation but to God. Maybe it is time for the church to come clean with the information that it has hidden in the vaults
dear kathleen,
all my thoughts and support are with you and ron howard and all that are dedicated to the truth! (wish they had all those little smiley face guys). you are a most awesome person. thank you!
love,
jamie jo
have you seen the movie "bigger than the sky"...whi
Kathleen,
I hope nothing but safety for you and your family. I am not religious in the way that most are, however I am very spiritual, and your books have changed the way I look at religion in such a positive way. There are a few quotes I want to leave you with, I am sure you are familiar with them, at least for the most part. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do", “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”, and "Who are you to judge me? I am not perfect, but I don't live my life to be. But before you point your finger, make sure YOUR hands are clean". These are a few that I keep with me to remember that yes, I am in fact human, but so are those who like to say I am wrong in my choices, and they are no more perfect or better than I.
I am going to your site to leave you further comment and hopefully catch your attention.
I wish you well,
Danielle
I was raised as a Southern Baptist where fire and damnation was the threat to make you a God fearing person. I never continued my families choice of religion simply because why should I fear God? No matter what religion you believe in aren't we praying and love a higher power that no matter what you call him, God, Jesus, Jehovah, Allah, Budda are simulary the same? Reading The Expected One raised my spirituality to an all time high because I have always believed Love was the way. It opened up what I have believed all along. I have never in my heart believed that God meant for any religion to hold its beliefs higher than another because they were different and did not have same beliefs. We are all reaching him in different manners. I think it is harder to walk a different path and have deep rooted beliefs to what you know in your heart is YOUR TRUTH than it is to follow the masses. God meant for everyone to have love in their hearts for self, and all people no matter what, even if they dont share the same for you. I belong to no denomination or religious group, I am spiritual. I find that we are all connected in some manner to all living things including the universe. Love is not prejudice. Where shall you seek beauty and how shall you find her unless beauty herself be your way and your guide.
I
Kathleen, I am dismayed, but not surprised to hear the threats against you and others, like Dan Brown. I have read his works, and I have read both of your. I must admit, I enjoy your the most. I converted to the Catholic Church at a young age because after years of "forced" attendance at a community church, I actually found some spiritual presence in the local catholic church. I no longer attend mass on a routine basis. I love my religion, hate my church. I knew about a number of the "crusades" atrocities, and your novels have only added to that. Your first book has inspired me to travel to Carcassonne France this June, and now I will be traveling other areas because of your second novel. My thoughts for safety are with you and your family, and I eagerly await "The Poet Prince".
No, Dan Brown never said anything about any death threats, nor did Haward, nor others. Please be careful not to disseminate rumors. Things can get strange if the gossip is not tempered, sewing seeds of bad things. Catholic church criticized the movie and novel, but there were not threats reported at all. Don't put in their mouths what they didn't say.
I am not Christian an don't hate any church. (Or anyone). Did Christians have : "don't give false testimony against...
Again, don't spread the rumors about death threats against those people.
you are very wrong and terribly misguided.
love,
jamie
Elizabetta you need to go back and re-read the article. Kathleen does not say that Ron Howard or Dan Brown have received death threats.
Kathleen also says in the article "While the threats are always disturbing, most of them turn out to be groundless" which infers that they have been investigated. So can we move on from the whole "Has she gone to the Police?" topic, please?
This article is not about how to deal with death threats. It is about the fact that there are threats at all, when people should have the right to believe, write and talk about what they have discovered and live and practice on daily basis.
The article and topic is, in my understanding, about the difference between living a life based on spiritual understanding and a life based on the intellectual understanding of men. Love vs. fear.
Let's talk about that.
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