Opus Dei  First posted to New Diaspora Forum in Jan05 The 'Opus Dei', the influential 'secret society' of the Catholic Church, has attracted interest in the UK in late 2004 for two reasons - it features prominently in the Dan Brown's blockbuster 'Da Vinci Code' and the new British Education Minister (Secretary), Ruth Kelly, is an Opus Dei member. The (London) OBSERVER (26Dec04) had this to say:  1. Secular groups have reacted with alarm to the news of Kelly's appointment, arguing that someone with such conservative Catholic views should not be in charge of education policy. But Andrew Soane, Opus Dei's communications officer in London , reassured readers that she is not a full member. "She is in touch. She has attended meetings.. You don't change persona when you go into the office.' 2. Conspiracy theories about Opus Dei (Latin for 'work of God') abound. Founded in 1928 by a Spanish priest, Josémaría Escrivá de Balaguer, Opus Dei attracted several leading members of General Franco's fascist government. Conspiracy theorists in the US three years ago discovered that Robert Hanssen, the FBI agent who sold secrets to the Russians, had links with the movement. Former FBI director Louis Freeh is also reputed to be a member, and possibly several justices in the US Supreme Court. 3. Adding to the movement's image as a quasi-masonic elite is the fact that some celibate members, or 'numeraries', practise 'self-mortification', in which they whip themselves or wind a wire chain - a 'cilice' - into their legs, to remind themselves of the sufferings of Christ. [also mentioned in Da Vinci Code.] 4. The Pope was so taken up with Escrivá's work he canonised him in 2002, a mere 17 years after his death. [Whereas India's much revered Joseph Vaz who died in 1711 is languishing - the Eurocentric Vatican is less moved by Asian sanctity.] The Opus Dei was made a 'personal prelature' - effectively a diocese without borders which operates outside the control of the Catholic hierarchy. It was this, more than anything else, that made Catholics suspicious of the movement's powers. 5. Opus Dei has only 84,000 members worldwide. They are choosy. In the UK it boasts a meagre 500 members and a similar number of supporters. It has two colleges in London, four in Manchester and three in Glasgow. Opus Dei is extremely well funded. The movement's New York headquarters is a $50 million office block in Manhattan. A network of wealthy supporters, known as co-operators, dig deeply into their own pockets to bankroll Opus Dei projects. ======================================== Opus Dei RESPONSE to Da Vinci Code: The US branch posted a 12-page reposte on their website www.opusdei.org. Here are some bits: 1. Da Vinci Code is a work of fiction and not a reliable source of information. The book's bizarre depiction of Opus Dei (OD) is inaccurate. - the book presents OD is hostile to the modern, secular world - it is not. (The OD says it fully supports the church's teachings, including those of the second Vatican Council.) - the OD has unenlightened views on women and their role in the church and society.  (Response: the reality is otherwise.) - the OD focuses on wealth and power. ( Response: Not true. The OD has great concern for the poor.)  [The church also claims concern for the poor but in truth it has always allied with the ruling classes against the weak and powerless. It is against the Theology of the oppressed that seeks to liberate them from the capitalist system. Neither the OP nor the church support this theology.] ================================================= A more controversial site on the Opus Dei is www.mond.at/opus.dei, run by Franz Schaefer, a disaffected Catholic. His FAQ webpage is worth reading. For example, he says the OD does not espouse equality [neither does the church], they forge alliance with the elites of society, they have no regard for other religions, they are secretive, they wield disproportionate political influence and so on. Do read and judge for yourself. ================================================= A final observation: On 05Sept 2000, the Vatican issued a major document (authored by Cardinal Radzinger, fundmentalist head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (formerly the Inquisition) re-affirmed that salvation is possible only with the Catholic faith. Among those present at the news conference was Msgr Fernando Ocariz, Vicar General of Opus Dei. The document (called Dominus Jesus) declared that  - other religions are defective  - sacred writings of other religions are not inspired by God like the Christian ones  - prayers and rituals of other religions do not have a 'divine origin' and contain 'some superstitions or errors'. The document was branded by progressives as fundamentalist and racist but the Opus Dei had endorsed its  arrogant sentiments.