China's Catholic church yesterday called for a boycott of the movie "The Da Vinci Code," saying the Tom Hank's film insults the feelings of clergy and followers.

U.S. actor Tom Hanks gestures on the red carpet before the world premiere of U.S. director Ron Howard's out of competition film 'The Da Vinci Code' at the 59th Cannes Film Festival May 17, 2006. [Reuters]

The movie made its global premiere in Beijing on Wednesday, hours before opening the Cannes Film Festival in France.

The movie and best-selling Dan Brown novel it is based on have generated criticism from Christians around the world who are offended by its premise that Jesus married and fathered children.

"The movie has many details that go against Catholic teachings or are even insulting," said Liu Bainian, vice-president of the China Patriotic Catholic Association.

"The association and the Bishops Conference of the Chinese Catholic Church are considering to release a notice warning all believers not to watch it," he said.

The Jinde Weekly, A Hebei Province newspaper sponsored by the China Patriotic Catholic Association, yesterday called on all Chinese Catholics to boycott the movie in a letter published on its Website.

Because the movie and the novel it is based on have greatly offended the Christian faith, it said, "We here call for all Netizens, priests and followers to resist them."

The paper's Editor-in-chief Zhang Shijiang complained: "It treats our religion in an unscientific way."

"Many people are concerned and talking about this," he said. "The contents contained in the movie have insulted and distorted our sacred faith."

"Such a fictional and misguiding thing should not be allowed the chance to hurt followers' feelings," Zhang said.

The Jinde Weekly, he said, has published a series of articles to reveal how overseas Catholics have reacted to the best-selling book and movie.

"We also plan to launch a petition to the government through normal channels," he said.

The danger of the movie, Zhang said, is that it wears an overcoat of so-called "science" and cites confusing materials, which mix the gospel with fiction.

Many movie fans don't understand what the controversy is about.

"There is no doubt that the movie is fictional and nobody would take it as a reflection of the truth," said Li Ling, a Beijing woman who saw the movie on Wednesday evening.

Xu Bing, a spokesman for China Film Group Corporation, the movie's Chinese distributor, said the movie is likely to take in more than 60 million yuan (US$7.5 million) on China's mainland.

Dan Brown's book has sold millions of copies around the world in several languages, including a Chinese version that has become a best seller on the mainland.