Opus Dei

[Monica4316]

I first wanted to say, I have absolutely nothing against Opus Dei. I have a book by St Josemaria Escriva and I really like what he says. However recently, I learned that some people criticize Opus Dei… either it’s because it tends to be morally conservative (fine with me), or that women can’t be priests there (obviously! that’s the Church teaching), or because apparently some use corporal mortification (so did the Saints so I don’t think that’s an issue) - but then some also criticize it for being very “secretive”. For example, I read an article saying that until the 1950s, people couldn’t tell others they’re part of Opus Dei, etc. I think though, that maybe the article didn’t provide more details or explain this enough to make it clear. I was wondering if anyone knows about Opus Dei and how would you answer this claim? btw my intention here is not to criticize Opus Dei, but quite the opposite, - to find an answer to a criticism of it. I know that it was approved by Pope Pius XII and the founder is a Saint so that’s good enough for me. Thanks

 

[benjohnson]

If you do anything in this worldly life other than exactly what society expects you to do, you’ll be unfairly criticised. Given that Opus Dei receives unfair criticism, and given that the organisation is good, the unfair criticism is more of an indictment of regular society than of Opus Dei.

 

[tafan]

I read John Allen’s excellent book, objectively addressing all of the criticisms. As to the issue of Opus Dei’s secrecy. It is way overstated. Members are not (and to my knowledge never have been) prohibited from telling others they are members. However, Opus Dei as a policy does not divulge members names. There are two reasons for this: most importantly it is because it is a private matter of the individual and it is up to the individual to decide who they inform of their membership and when they do so. This attitude towards their members is not just with regards to membership disclosure, but the organization stresses individual decisions on everything: they give very good formation and spirtual direction and then tell their members they have to make decisions.
A second reason why they do not disclose membership names is because it is a large and decentralized organization (which is a surpise to many) and they maintain have no central database or list of all members. Those are only at the local centers. This is what Mr Allen says in his book, IIRC.

Another reason they are accused of secrecy is because many, if not all, of their apostolates do not bear the explicit name of Opus Dei. The centers are not typically called Opus Dei centers. Their schools are not called Opus Dei schools. So people accuse them of hiding their involvement. This too is not really a fair accusation. Go to any of their apostalate activities websites, brochures, etc and you will always find terminology similiar to the following

On the About page of the Youth Leadership Foundation website in washington DC:

YLF operates in connection with the Washington, D.C. study centers of Opus Dei, a Catholic institution with the mission of helping people turn their work and daily activities into occasions for growing closer to God, for serving others, and for improving society

Or the Heights school in Maryland:

Opus Dei
The School’s Christian orientation and spiritual formation are entrusted to Opus Dei, a Personal Prelature of the Catholic Church. Opus Dei’s purpose is to foster among men and women of every walk of life a profound awareness of the universal call to holiness and apostolate, pursued freely and on their own responsibility, in their ordinary work and place in society.

Finally, and this is my own personal opinion based on historical readings. To the extent there was (I think it does not exist at all now) a “culture” of secrecy inside of Opus Dei it is understandable considering the time an place Opus Dei started. In the early 1930s Spain, they certainly would not have wanted to let the radical government know what they were doing. So it had to start out secretive to a certain extent. Well, with any organization, elements of its “culture” will almost always take on a life of its own and outlive its usefulness.

 

[Bookcat]

Not a member of the Work myself I have a friend who is and it is a fine vocation in the Catholic Church. Much hay is made that is unfounded. The Church has approved them and canonized their founder…

(one aspect to remember is the early days of Opus Dei where spent in the midst of a great persecution (Spanish Civil War) so one had to be rather careful …

 

[tafan]

I found this independent FAQ on Opus Dei, written by a former supernumery, to be very informative and helpful. It will also debunk the myth that former members have such a dislike of Opus Dei (I happen to have known a couple of former members, and they do not speak negatively of it at all).

(note: I have no idea why this is on the website it is, and I cannot vouch for its authenticity besides saying it reads very consistently with my experience and with Mr Allen’s book)

american-buddha.com/rome.mattopusdeifaq.htm#q12

 

[Matt_Collins]

I found this independent FAQ on Opus Dei, written by a former supernumery, to be very informative and helpful. It will also debunk the myth that former members have such a dislike of Opus Dei (I happen to have known a couple of former members, and they do not speak negatively of it at all).

(note: I have no idea why this is on the website it is, and I cannot vouch for its authenticity besides saying it reads very consistently with my experience and with Mr Allen’s book)

american-buddha.com/rome.mattopusdeifaq.htm#q12

I’m actually the author of that FAQ! I have no idea why the owner of the blog on which it appears chose to clone it on his site, but after a cursory review, it does seem to be true to the original.

I used to host the FAQ on my own blog until a few years ago, but it got totally corrupted by a bad installation of the content management system I was using. Since I was feverishly working on my Master’s Degree at the time, I did not have time to rebuild the site.

I’ve been considering resurrecting the FAQ, and this serves as a further impetus. I don’t know if and/or when I will do it, but I’m leaning toward doing it.

In any case, I stand by what I originally wrote, and would recommend that anyone who has any questions about Opus Dei read the FAQ, and if you still have any questions, feel free to ask, either on this thread, or in a private message. I’ll be as responsive as my time allows.

BTW, I deal directly with the original poster’s question in Question 43.

american-buddha.com/rome.mattopusdeifaq.htm#q43

One final note: I take no responsibility for the yellow on red color scheme! My original was much more attractive!

 

[TimothyH]

I’m actually the author of that FAQ! I have no idea why the owner of blog on which it appears chose to clone it on his site, but a cursory review does seem to be true to the original.

I used to host the FAQ on my own blog until a few years ago, but it got totally corrupted by a bad installation of the content management system I was using. Since I was feverishly working on my Master’s Degree at the time, I did not have time to rebuild the site.

I’ve been considering resurrecting the FAQ, and this serves as a further impetus. I don’t know if and/or when I will do it, but I’m leaning toward doing it.

In any case, I stand by what I originally wrote, and would recommend that anyone who has any questions about Opus Dei read the FAQ, and if you still have any questions, feel free to ask, either on this thread, or in a private message. I’ll be as responsive as my time allows.

BTW, I deal directly with the original poster’s question in Question 43.

american-buddha.com/rome.mattopusdeifaq.htm#q43

One final note: I take no responsibility for the yellow on red color scheme! My original was much more attractive!

I’ve found some of the better articles from my blog on websites all over the place. There is a guy who lives in the middle of nowhere in Australia who keeps posting my articles.

-Tim-

 

[Polycarp1]

I first wanted to say, I have absolutely nothing against Opus Dei. I have a book by St Josemaria Escriva and I really like what he says. However recently, I learned that some people criticize Opus Dei… either it’s because it tends to be morally conservative (fine with me), or that women can’t be priests there (obviously! that’s the Church teaching), or because apparently some use corporal mortification (so did the Saints so I don’t think that’s an issue) - but then some also criticize it for being very “secretive”. For example, I read an article saying that until the 1950s, people couldn’t tell others they’re part of Opus Dei, etc. I think though, that maybe the article didn’t provide more details or explain this enough to make it clear. I was wondering if anyone knows about Opus Dei and how would you answer this claim? btw my intention here is not to criticize Opus Dei, but quite the opposite, - to find an answer to a criticism of it. I know that it was approved by Pope Pius XII and the founder is a Saint so that’s good enough for me. Thanks

From reading St Josemaria Escriva it seems to me that he wanted followers to show that they were Christians by the way they lived their everyday lives as opposed to relying on the fact that they belong to an organization which in itself doesn’t necessarily mean much. This wasn’t secrecy for some sinister or arianistic motive but a call to live one’s faith.

 

[tafan]

I’m actually the author of that FAQ! I have no idea why the owner of the blog on which it appears chose to clone it on his site, but after a cursory review, it does seem to be true to the original.

I used to host the FAQ on my own blog until a few years ago, but it got totally corrupted by a bad installation of the content management system I was using. Since I was feverishly working on my Master’s Degree at the time, I did not have time to rebuild the site.

I’ve been considering resurrecting the FAQ, and this serves as a further impetus. I don’t know if and/or when I will do it, but I’m leaning toward doing it.

In any case, I stand by what I originally wrote, and would recommend that anyone who has any questions about Opus Dei read the FAQ, and if you still have any questions, feel free to ask, either on this thread, or in a private message. I’ll be as responsive as my time allows.

BTW, I deal directly with the original poster’s question in Question 43.

american-buddha.com/rome.mattopusdeifaq.htm#q43

One final note: I take no responsibility for the yellow on red color scheme! My original was much more attractive!

Well, it is nice to “meet” you. About a year ago, I think I read all of your FAQ and found it very helpful. So I certainly owe you a word of thanks. Its funny, I almost discounted it when I found the website it was hosted on, and I did try to figure that out. It made little sense and I had assumed someone had grabbed it and put it there without your consent.

PS I hope I did not describe you wrong in my above post, if so I apologize. That was from memory.

 

[Matt_Collins]

PS I hope I did not describe you wrong in my above post, if so I apologize. That was from memory.

No, you got it right. I was a supernumerary for over 27 years. As I explain in the FAQ, I left Opus Dei on my own initiative for personal reasons that I choose not to discuss on the internet. Unfortunately, some people inclined to think the worst of others have interpreted my choice not to discuss my reasons in such a public forum as an indication that something is wrong with Opus Dei. I can’t control that except to say that it’s not true. There is no big secret. It is simply a personal matter I choose to keep private.

 

[Richca]

I first wanted to say, I have absolutely nothing against Opus Dei. I have a book by St Josemaria Escriva and I really like what he says. However recently, I learned that some people criticize Opus Dei… either it’s because it tends to be morally conservative (fine with me), or that women can’t be priests there (obviously! that’s the Church teaching), or because apparently some use corporal mortification (so did the Saints so I don’t think that’s an issue) - but then some also criticize it for being very “secretive”. For example, I read an article saying that until the 1950s, people couldn’t tell others they’re part of Opus Dei, etc. I think though, that maybe the article didn’t provide more details or explain this enough to make it clear. I was wondering if anyone knows about Opus Dei and how would you answer this claim? btw my intention here is not to criticize Opus Dei, but quite the opposite, - to find an answer to a criticism of it. I know that it was approved by Pope Pius XII and the founder is a Saint so that’s good enough for me. Thanks

Hi Monica:
I also have a few books written by St Josemaria Escriva, I have read a number of other books about him and his work, I’ve been to a number of talks given by the priests of Opus Dei, my mother is a member of Opus Dei as well as my mother’s sister and a few cousins. I have come to know quite a bit about Opus Dei. It’s a wonderful organization. A lot of the criticizism that was leveled against Opus Dei in the past is unfounded. As for the people who may think Opus Dei is morally conservative, that is not a charge against Opus Dei but a charge against the Catholic Church and its teachings. Opus Dei is committed to a faithful following of the Church’s teaching as all catholics should be.

As for the charge that Opus Dei is some kind of secret society that’s absurd. Opus Dei has a website on the internet and that it has been approved by the Church is public knowledege. In the book, “Conversations with St. Josemaria Escriva,” St Josemaria Escriva answers the question about the unfounded accusation that Opus Dei is secretive. He says:

“You speak of charges of secrecy. All that is now ancient history. I could explain, point by point, the origin of these calumnious charges… Any reasonably well informed person knows that there is nothing secret about Opus Dei…It is easy to get to know Opus Dei. It works in broad daylight in all countries with the full juridical recognition of the civil and ecclesiatical authorities. The names of its directors and apostolic undertakings are well known. Anyone who wants information can obtain it without difficulty, contacting its directors or going to one of its centers.” (page 58, you can go to google books and find Conversations with St. Josemaria Escriva)

St. Josemaria Escriva’s principle message is the universal call to holiness which can also be seen in Vatican II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church or Lumen Gentium. Holiness is not just for a priviledged few but for all christians. The call to Christian perfection or the perfection of charity is not just for priests and religious brothers and sisters but also for the laity. St. Josemaria Escriva’s teaching is that the laity or ordinary Christians are called by Christ to the full perfection of the Christian life right in the middle of the world. He said that as religious orders take their founders as models of christian living, so the laity can look to the first christians for their models of following Christ.

 

[poche]

We just have to accept that Opus Dei may not be for everybody.

 

[tafan]

We just have to accept that Opus Dei may not be for everybody.

And that is not a knock on Opus Dei at all. The Church, in her wisdom, has provided many paths to holiness. We all have to find the one that best fits us (although the best fit is not always the most comfortable fit ).