Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: arm@Neon.Stanford.EDU (Alexander d Macalalad) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Opus Dei Message-ID: Date: 7 Oct 90 03:14:58 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University Lines: 60 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article mmh@cs.qmw.ac.uk (Matthew Huntbach) writes: >Since no-one has mentioned it (do no liberal RCs read this >newsgroup?), Opus Dei is treated with great suspicion by many >Catholics, particularly the more liberal ones. It has been >criticised as a dangerous cult, a sort of RC version of the >Moonies. I have a few friends who are in Opus Dei, as well as a few friends who are very critical of Opus Dei, and so I have seen both sides. On the one hand, there are many things about Opus Dei which could be interpreted as cultish. Much time is devoted to recruiting new members, and members are encouraged to donate a large percentage of their earnings to Opus Dei. (Some have even leveled the charge that those recruited are generally people with high potential or actual income.) People are encouraged to go to confession only with a priest of Opus Dei, and they are told (or at least recommended) what they should and should not read. So far, so good. These are all things that have been said about many other Christian or Catholic groups. For example, there are Christian missionaries recruiting new members, televangelists asking for lots of money, and fundamentalists burning books. More disturbing is their attitude toward obedience. Members are expected to be totally obedient to their superiors and follow their every command. Coupled with Opus Dei confession and Opus Dei reading, there is the danger of mind control. Many other Catholic groups ask for a vow of obedience as well, but most of them take a broader and more liberal view of obedience. Perhaps the most disturbing to me is the fact that they practice self- flagellation. They whip themselves daily, and for long periods of time. This borders on fanatical, from my point of view, although to be fair, many saints practiced self-abuse. But that was a different time, with different values. To me, this says volumes about the mindset of the people in Opus Dei. There are also accusations of secretiveness and wild rumors about what it is they are being so secretive about. Not knowing what these secrets are, if there are any, I can't really comment. I know of no hidden agenda. On the positive side, every person I've met from Opus Dei is really theologically solid. Opus Dei makes sure that members know much more than the average Catholic about Catholicism, and they are especially strong in medieval theology and philosophy. (I guess that you'd have to be, in order to accept the Opus Dei culture, which strikes me as being really medieval.) And they are doctrinally in tune with the rest of the Church, though they tend to fall on the more conservative side. Critics may question their methods, but any quibbles they have with their teachings are quibbles about the teachings of the Catholic Church. Personally, I have problems with their fanaticism and their idea of obedience. I also wish that they would spend less energy trying to recruit people, and more energy on social work, like working with the poor or teaching. (Basically, I wish that they were more like the Jesuits. :-) But I do think that they play a useful role in the Church. Cult? I don't think so. But I hope that those who consider joining Opus Dei keep their eyes open and know what they are getting into. Alex Macalalad