DAN BROWN - RELIGIOUS GROUP BLAMES THE DA VINCI CODE FOR 'DEFAMATORY' BBC PORTRAYAL

Religious group Opus Dei has slammed the depiction of the controversial Catholic organisation in a new BBC TV drama series, blaming DAN BROWN's blockbuster novel THE DA VINCI CODE for inspiring the "defamatory" portrayal. Opus Dei, which was formed in Madrid in 1928 by now canonised priest JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA De BALAGUER, objects to two episodes of the British TV crime series WAKING THE DEAD, screened in the UK on Saturday (20JAN07) and Sunday (21JAN07), which shows members of the religious organisation embroiled in a gruesome double murder. The Da Vinci Code also portrayed the organisation in a negative light - as a power-hungry group determined to cover up the truth about Christ's bloodline. The organisation claims the episodes of Waking The Dead break the BBC's editorial guideline to "ensure the religious views and beliefs of an individual, a religion or religious denomination are not misrepresented." Their statement reads: "The three characters portrayed as members are self-serving hypocrites whose main reason for belonging to Opus Dei is depicted as being their wealth. This portrayal is lifted from The Da Vinci Code, a book and film which claimed - against all evidence - to be based on fact." A BBC spokeswoman says the broadcaster has yet to receive an official complaint from Opus Dei.