AP News, January 31st, 2007
The Vatican on Wednesday defended the choice of Doubleday to publish Pope Benedict XVI's new book in North America, responding to an Italian newspaper's barb that the company is part of the publishing giant holding the rights to "The Da Vinci Code," which was assailed by the church.
Benedict, a theologian and prolific author as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, is coming out with his first book as pontiff this spring, titled "Jesus of Nazareth."
The conservative daily Il Giornale ran a front-page story Monday headlined "A `Ratzinger Code' by Dan Brown's Publisher."
Doubleday is an imprint of Random House, the publisher of Brown's worldwide best-selling novel. It was heavily criticized by church officials for contending that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and had descendants, and that Opus Dei, a conservative religious organization, and the Catholic church were at the center of covering it up.
Several cardinals warned that the book would turn people against Catholicism.
In November, the Vatican's publishing house announced it had signed an agreement with Italian publisher Rizzoli for the worldwide rights to Benedict's book. Rizzoli then reached a deal with Doubleday for North America.
In its statement Wednesday, the Vatican Publishing House noted that Doubleday has previously published works by Popes John XXIII and John Paul II as well as "The Catechism of the Catholic Church."
It did not mention Brown's book but made clear it approved of the choice.
"On account of this respectful editorial curriculum, Doubleday deeply desired to publish also the first book by Benedict XVI," the statement said.
"Finally, it is important to note that Doubleday has always published the most important documents of the American Bishops Conference before the establishment by the latter of its own publishing house."
Benedict has said the book is a purely personal work about Jesus Christ that is meant for general Catholic readers. In a preface released by the Italian publisher, Benedict said it is "absolutely not an act" of church authority and "therefore, everyone is free to contradict me."
