THE NUN WHO LED DA VINCI CODE PROTESTS MAY NOT BE A REAL NUN

In the ever-curiouser and curiouser story about what is fact and what is fiction in The Da Vinci Code, consider this news today from the BBC that Sister Mary Michael, the nun frequently seen in world TV reports leading protests against the Da Vinci Code (including recently at the Cannes Film Festival), may not be recoignized as a nun by her order. Here are excerpts from the BBC report:


Da Vinci code nun 'not genuine'
By Ben Davies
BBC News reporter

A woman who led protests against the Da Vinci Code dressed in a habit is not a real nun, says the Catholic Church. Sister Mary Michael appeared in the world's media denouncing the controversial book as "blasphemy".

The Catholic Church says Sister Mary is not "canonically recognised" even if she does do "good works".

She was connected to the Carmelites but left and is now a "maverick" and a "one-woman order", a spokesman told the BBC News website.

Sister Mary Michael hit the headlines in August 2005 after she mounted a prayer vigil outside Lincoln Cathedral while the Da Vinci Code was filmed there.

Asked about her status as a nun, Sister Mary Michael said: "I am attached to the Carmelites and that's it."

But the spokesman for the Nottingham diocese in which she lives, Rev Philip McBrien, said: "Her connection with the Carmelites ended a long time ago. She has never been professed by our bishops and she doesn't belong to any recognised order.

"She has no official connection with any order or any of the parishes. She's a one-off, a maverick.