fallingblood

Opus Dei is the most controversial group in the Catholic Church today. Many Catholics claim to know very little about this influential group though.

Opus Dei was founded on October 2nd, 1928 by Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, a Spanish priest. Some of the group's spirituality can be gleaned from Escriva's numerous writings, most notable his 1939 book, The Way.

This group spread rapidly from Spain to other European countries. Then in 1950, it recieved recognition from the Holy See as the first "secular institute." Over the next two decades, they would spread to Latin America and the United States.

In 1982, Pope John Paul II granted Opus Dei the status of "personal prelature," which means that jurisdiction covers the people in Opus Dei rather than a particular region. Or in other words, it orders juridically much as religioius orders do, without regard for geographical boundaries.

escriba died in 1975 and was beatified in 1992. The beatification was controversial because it leapfrogged over figures like Pope John XXIII.

Opus Dei counts 77,000 members including 1,500 priest and 15 bishops in over 80 countries. In the U.S. alone, there is 3,000 members.

Opus Dei is veiled in secrecy. For one thing, the Opus Dei's constitution is written in only Latin (technical "church" Latin at that). Also, a former member claims that they play by their own rules. She also states that during classes, she was encouraged to take notes "in code" in case non-members should read them.

The way they attract new members comes under the most vigorous attacks by critics. One way that they recruit members is by having a current member become your friend.

This is all the information I have found about Opus Dei so far. I was just wondering if anyone else knows anything about them?

Toto

This is a GRD topic, so I am moving it.

Chris Weimer

church Latin = ecclesiastical Latin, Opus dei = work of god, opus dei believes in sticking big needles in your leg, so I try to stay away.

penumbra

Didn't Opus Dei figure prominently in the mystery novel "The Genesis Code"? I think they were doing all the killing, IIRC.

That's the only time I've heard of them.

fallingblood

Toto- Sorry about that.

penumbra- They were also mentioned in The da Vinci Code. They seemed to be a bad group when I read that, but after a little research, they came out to actually to be some nice people.

Toto

Opus Dei is a conservative cult-like organization.

There is an unofficial page for them here.

penumbra

Hmmmm...... I may have to break down and read The DaVinci Code after all. From the reviews I've read and what you've posted, it sounds like a compilation of stuff from "The Passover Plot", "HBHG", "The Genesis Code", and maybe one or two other books. I like a good fantasy mystery.

Mat Wilder

I would say if you read it, do so only to know what everyone else is talking about. I personally didn't think it was very good - too many stock mystery devices and gratuitous plot turns. Also, the ending was anticlimactic and one is left wondering why the "Holy Grail" was so sought after in the first place. My friend put it well when he said, "Its the kind of book that people read when they want to read something intellectual but aren't smart enough to read any real literature."

Mosor

I have some catholic friends and none of them have every met a member of opus dei. But they have heard rumours that Opus Dei are convinced there will be a final showdown between Catholicism and Islam and are trying to prepare the "faithfull".

Strangeways

My ex-girlfriend joined Opus Dei (after we broke up) so I did a little research on it. Not a ton, but nothing I've found has been positive. I've spent my whole life in Catholic schools, so I know several extremely religious people and they all say Opus Dei is nuts. My uncle is a priest and he is opposed to Opus Dei. It's got some very cult-like beliefs and traditions and there seems to be quite a bit of brainwashing going on there. It's not something I would ever recommend getting involved in, that's for sure.