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The dictator, the saint and the ministerAfter weeks of speculation, the education secretary Ruth Kelly admitted this week that she receives 'spiritual support' from the secretive Catholic sect Opus Dei. But even if reports of bizarre rituals are exaggerated, why would she be involved with the controversial group in the first place? Andy Beckett investigatesAndy BeckettFriday January 28, 2005GuardianJust over half a century ago in Spain, a new kind of politician began to appear. As government ministers, they were young, energetic and highly competent. They were confident without being overbearing. And they seemed relatively free of fixed political ideas, except...

Key points • Controversial Catholic organisation Opus Dei founded in Spain in 1928 • Group's global membership of 85,000 includes 50 members in Scotland • Numerates practice regular physical discipline such as whipping Key quote "Ten million people have now heard of Opus Dei thanks to The Da Vinci Code. That can only be a good thing - 2005 is going to be the year of Opus Dei" - Jack Valero, Opus Dei’s British press spokesman Story in full IT SITS on a hill, a villa of honey-coloured stone in a leafy suburb on the south side of Glasgow, and...

It wields huge influence in the Vatican yet is condemned as a sinister and ruthless Catholic sect. Now the fundamentalist group is taking control of a British parish for the first time - and one of its members is in the Cabinet. Peter Stanford gains rare access to the closed world of Opus Dei 17 January 2005 From the outside, Netherhall House in Nutley Terrace is a bland 1960s student block, tucked away in one of the maze of streets that tumble down the hill from London's leafy Hampstead Heath to the A41 dual carriageway. But behind the unassuming façade,...

A member of Opus Dei, the controversial Roman Catholic organisation whose members are understood to include Ruth Kelly, the Education Secretary, has been put in charge of an English parish for the first time. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, has appointed Fr Gerald Sheehan to run St Thomas More church in Swiss Cottage, north London. The appointment will be seen as a vote of confidence in the organisation two years after the Pope, a strong admirer, canonised its Spanish founder, St Josemaria Escriva. But it will also cause raised eyebrows in...

Ok I'll admit that I'm starting this thread because of the book the Da Vinci code which I just finished. What are people's opinions on the Catholic group Opus Dei? Prior to reading the book I had never heard of them except for the Robert Hansen case. I do have Catholic friends, but I know of no one who is a member of Opus Dei

June 26, 2004 Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Psalm: Saturday 28 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Gospel Reading ILam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19 The Lord has consumed without pity all the dwellings of Jacob; He has torn down in his anger the fortresses of daughter Judah; He has brought to the ground in dishonor her king and her princes. On the ground in silence sit the old men of daughter Zion; They strew dust on their heads and gird themselves with sackcloth; The maidens of Jerusalem bow their heads to the ground. Worn out from weeping are my...

Let me begin by reminding you of something Saint Cyprian tells us: The universal Church is a people which derives its unity from the unity of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It is not out of place therefore to preach about the Church on this feast of the most Blessed Trinity. The Church is rooted in this fundamental mystery of our catholic faith: the mystery of God who is one in essence and three in persons. The Fathers all see the Church as centred in the Trinity. Look how clearly Saint Augustine puts it: God...

The liturgical year is coming to a close and in the holy sacrifice of the altar we renew the offering of the victim to the Father — the offering of Christ, the king of justice, love and peace, as we shall read shortly in the preface. You all experience a great joy in your souls as you consider the sacred humanity of our Lord. He is a king with a heart of flesh, like yours; he is the author of the universe and of every creature, but he does not lord it over us. He begs us to give him...

It may be a little late to start for most, but Robert Bork, the former Supreme Court nominee who has written books decrying the decline of Western culture, has just been baptized. Rev. C. John McCloskey, who represents the conservative and activist Opus Dei arm of the Roman Catholic Church and oversaw the baptism, said, "I can confirm that he was received in the Catholic Church." Bork, a scholar with the conservative American Enterprise Institute, was raised a Protestant and had called himself a "generic Protestant." He was known more for his conservative legal views, which some Democrats used to...

Someone recommended to me the "Da Vinci Code." The Bad guys are all members (as best as I can ascertain) of Opus Dei. I couldn't make it past Chapter 2, as what I was reading was pretty harsh. So I thought I would put it to my fellow Catholic Freepers. What, if any, are your experiences with Opus Dei? What are your opinions on the organization on the whole? Any truth to the allegation of "Corporal Mortification" and the use of a Cilice (belt with barbs wrapped around the thigh) in penitential rites? The Book also seems to have it...

Brownback's silence on religion speaks volumes By Mary Rintoul Sam Brownback says his religious affiliation is his private business. The U.S. senator from Kansas has flatly refused to address the issue of his conversion a year ago to the Roman Catholic faith and his association with Opus Dei, an ultra-conservative offshoot of the church. Brownback's silence speaks volumes. The senior senator from Kansas should take a page from the book of a fellow Catholic politician, who came out swinging instead of ducking when the issue of religion was raised. "I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant...

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VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope John Paul made a saint Sunday of Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, the controversial founder of the conservative Roman Catholic group Opus Dei, before one of the biggest crowds ever to flood the Vatican. About 300,000 soberly dressed pilgrims from 80 countries filled St. Peter's Square and spilled into surrounding piazzas for the ceremony in front of Christendom's largest church. "We declare the blessed Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer a saint and include him in the annals of saints," the gold-robed Pope said, reading from a Latin formula.He urged the faithful to follow in Escriva's footsteps...

OPUS DEI AWARENESS NETWORK ODAN Newsletter Volume 11, No. 1, 2002 STATEMENT ON THE CANONIZATION OF ESCRIVA ODAN opposes the canonization of Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, founder of Opus Dei. Based on the testimonies of thousands negatively affected by Opus Dei, and published evidence from various sources revealing the irregularities surrounding Escriva's beatification and canonization processes, ODAN strongly believes that canonizing Escriva would be a grave mistake which would produce irreparable harm to the Church and leave thousands vulnerable to the deceitful and manipulative practices of Opus Dei. Specific details and reasons for opposing Escriva's canonization follow: Facts & Irregularities...

Letter to the Pope A LETTER TO HIS HOLINESS, JOHN PAUL II, FROM FORMER MEMBERS OF OPUS DEI, THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN HARMED BY OPUS DEI AND OTHER CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE DEEPLY APPREHENSIVE ABOUT THE IMMINENT CANONIZATION OF MONSIGNOR JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA Your Holiness, We ask you to open your heart and mind to us, and to believe that we are deeply in earnest, for we are aware that in asking you for a hearing on the grave matter of Opus Dei and the canonization of its founder, Monsignor Josemaria Escriva, we speak as witnesses before Truth itself-Jesus Christ, the...

Almost every mention of the Catholic Church today leads immediately to the child sexual abuse scandal. Though most of the nation's 63 million Catholics say their faith is unshaken, the institutional church may be sailing for the rocks. Not so, say scholars, commentators and leading Catholic clergy. They see significant changes under way that will revitalize the U.S. church. Among the leading influences for change are immigration; a new activism among the laity; and the revival of traditional piety and devotions among small but thriving new Catholic movements. Here's a closer look.Immigrants make their mark"Thirty years from now, all of...

New Fall SeriesAll shows start in September MOTHER OF THE REDEEMER - Fr. Mitch Pacwa discusses Pope John Paul II's Encyclical "Redemptoris Mater," while visiting related sites in the Holy Land.  Airs Wednesdays at 2:30PM, Thursdays at 11:30PM, & Saturdays at 5:30AM.THE CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD THROUGH THE AGES - Join Fr. Charles Connor as he gives a deeper insight into the scriptural, theological, historical and spiritual richness of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.  Airs Tuesdays at 11:30PM, Wednesdays at 5PM, & Fridays at 5AM.ECCLESIASTICAL MOVEMENTS AND THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH - Join Fr. C. John McCloskey III, Director of the Catholic Information Center...