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Opus Dei -- Catholic Church Embraces Satanic Cult

March 16, 2010



opus_dei01.jpgThere is confusion about Opus Dei since traditionally, the Catholic Church always condemned Secret Societies.

by Marie Henrie
(for henrymakow.com) 
 

  The last century saw many changes in the Catholic Church. One such change was the granting of Personal Prelature status on Opus Dei, which is a sect within the Catholic Institutional structure, created by Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer in 1928.

"In 1982, Opus Dei was established as a 'Personal Prelature' by Pope John Paul II. The term 'Personal' means that membership of Opus Dei is not linked to territory (as is the case in a diocese, for instance.) 'Prelature' means that the head of Opus Dei is a 'Prelate' appointed by the Pope.

The Vatican Yearbook indicates that Opus Dei includes about 1,800 priests. The remainder of the 85,000 members are laypersons. Approximately a quarter of Opus Dei's members are "numeraries," who have committed themselves to celibacy in order to be more available for the organization's activities.

The majority of the lay members are "supernumeraries," who are involved in Opus Dei's activities but do not make a commitment of celibacy. Opus Dei additionally has many "cooperators," who assist its activities through prayer, donations, or other means"

. http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Opus_Dei

The election of Pope John Paul II resulted in the installation of many Opus affiliates within the hierarchical structure of the Vatican. The canonization of Escriva solidified the sect's legitimacy. There is confusion about Opus Dei since traditionally, the Catholic Church always condemned Secret Societies. 


NEW WORLD ORDERLIES


A website question asked what the Church's official position is on Opus Dei as late as 2007. The answer given by a Fr. Michael reflects the opinion of many Catholics:

" Jose Maria Escriva de Balaguer, the founder of Opus Dei, anticipated and developed 30 years before Vatican II a revolutionary, new, secular theology of the laity, and accepted the principle of pluralism and indifferentism:  a NovusOrdo Seclorum. In 1982 John Paul II created this group as a "personal prelature." 

Suspiciously, this act occurred in the same year that the wealthy sect allegedly transferred almost $1,000,000,000 into the Vatican Bank, bailing it out of an embarrassing bankruptcy.  In a second maneuver that raised eyebrows, the pope placed the founder of Opus Dei on the "fast track" for New Order sainthood, accelerating an often centuries-long waiting-period for canonization to a mere twenty years.

       Opus Deistas are part of the New Order Church.  Opus Dei is a chameleon organization, being liberal or conservative, whichever benefits its agenda. 

Juan Estruch in his book, Saints and Schemers described this as "dual ethics." 


MURDER AND INTRIGUE

Michael Walsh, in his book, "Opus Dei: An Investigation into the Secret Society Struggling For Power Within the Roman Catholic Church," has also written in detail about the inner workings of Opus Dei."

Opus Dei vehemently denies bailing out the Vatican Bank due to the scandal however, murder and intrigue continue to surround Opus Dei and its members. In 2006 we read...

"The men -- financial consultant Filippo Botteri, computer expert EmilioToscani and workman Marco Baldi -- were charged with kidnapping banker Gianmario Roveraro, 70, as he was going home from an Opus Dei meeting July 5, and later killing and dismembering him.".

http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/msg120134.html 

An Opus Dei member, "former FBI Agent Robert Hanssen, was the worst of any American spy.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0105/18/ltm.10.html

What is so curious is Hanssen's marked religious piety and devotion to his wife and family and conversely, his obsession with pornography and traitorous acts on behalf of Soviet Russia.. Hanssen's one-word explanation for his treason, according to an FBI affidavit, was "loyalty." It may well be that his loyalty -- to Opus Dei and, by extension, the Foreign Service of the Vatican State -- hold the key to the mystery.

Hanssen "was a regular parishioner of St. Catherine of Sienna Church, in a Virginia suburb of the capital, where an elite congregation, which includes Supreme Court justice Anton Scalia, attend traditional Latin masses."

http://www.pacificnews.org/jinn/stories/6.31/010305-spy.html


PAUL WEYRICH

Besides Robert Hanssen, another prominent Opus Dei member was the late Paul Weyrich, a Reagan Insider who accompanied Reagan for the 1987 Moscow Economic summit prior to the alleged "fall' of Communism and the USSR. He was a friend of the communist leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

 "In the early days, he (Paul Weyrich) was a pioneer of the new right," recalled Brent Bozell. longtime friend of Weyrich.Weyrich is credited with coining the term "Moral Majority" and for encouraging conservative pastors, many of whom had avoided partisan politics, to become more active in the public arena."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081218/pl_politico/16722

Weyrich founded the Washington D.C. -based think tank, Heritage Foundation, and the Committee for the Survival of Free Congress" on behalf of the Rockefellers.

http://newsletters.cephasministry.com/ncp8.html 

 

POLAND AND SOLIDARITY


Lech Walesa, the Solidarity union leader who had cooperated with John Paul II to weaken the Communist regime in Poland attended the canonization of Escrivá in 2002.

Walesa said, "At last we have a saint for the workers."

This homage reflected Walesa's debt to Opus Dei. From 1980 onward, the Vatican, Opus Dei, and the CIA passed funds, intelligence, and supplies across the Iron Curtain to Solidarity, the anti-communist union that Walesa headed.

In 2005, Walesa told the Polish parliament that Solidarity had paved the way for globalization: "Irrespective of today's judgment and the price we had to pay in this generation, we were able to close an epoch of divisions, different blocs and borders, opening the way for an era of globalization."

In reply, "Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski, a former communist, said Walesa and other Solidarity leaders deserved the gratitude of all Poles for ushering in the democracy that led to Poland becoming a NATO and European Union member."

http://www.scp-inc.org/publications/journals/J2902/index.php 

 In payment for their role in the demise of the USSR, Opus Dei has been allowed to establish a presence in Russia. This is something the Eastern Catholic Rites have found nearly impossible due to objections from the Russian Orthodox Church. But not so for Opus Dei.

Along with the political revelations of the events that allegedly "brought down" the USSR, recent reports suggest  Pope John Paul II himself was an Opus Dei member.


OPUS DEI ACTS LIKE A SATANIC CULT

The sect has been widely criticized for being a cult. According to the BBC,

"Opus Dei has come under fire for the dubious nature of their recruiting techniques - indeed, most denominations welcome new members, but it has been claimed that you have to be invited to Opus Dei, and that it is difficult for members to leave"

Former members have been coming forward as well as those adversely impacted by Opus Dei."

 "...former member, Monsignor Vladimir Felzmann, believes that Opus Dei has a covert agenda to its activities. He was a member for 22 years, joining in 1969, and was one of those closest to its founder. The group's overall aim is to recruit, he said. "Covertly it's to have something to which you attract leading scientists and persuade them to join. But it's hard to know who belongs and who doesn't because they're encouraged not to tell you. You don't know what they're up to."

"When you meet people who, as a result of Opus Dei, give up religion and don't want funeral prayers to be said, then that matters."

He said he was saddened, rather than bitter, about the group. "When Christianity and fascism embrace you get Opus Dei. It was born in a time of fascism. They don't teach respect and love for others."

In a book about Véronique Duborgel, a 44-year old kindergarten teacher and former Opus Dei supernumerary, Susan Bell of the Telegraph (Britain), "describes techniques of psychological isolation similar to those sometimes used by sects, and claims that Opus Dei intrudes into the most intimate areas of members' private lives, encourages them to inform on each other and drains their financial resources...she was instructed not to tell family or friends that she was a member of Opus Dei."

A web site has been started in Brazil by former members who wish to expose the true character of Opus Dei.


http://www.odan.org/what_is_opus_dei.htm


 




Scruples - the game of moral dillemas

Comments for "Opus Dei -- Catholic Church Embraces Satanic Cult"

Michael 2 said (March 18, 2010):

The founder of the Opus Dei cult, Msgr. Escriva, was always viewed with suspicion by Popes Pius XI and Pius XII. No matter how hard he tried, Escriva could not obtain formal approval for his 'apostolate' from them. But antipope John XXIII was more sympathetic: he told "Escriva that, while he could not recognize the apostolate, the cardinals would work on the necessary documentation at Vatican II which would then supply the fundament to change the canon law of 1917. He and his 'new form' could then be recognized". (Quoted from www.opusdeialert.com)

Opus Dei has always been an irregular society which engages in activities which are foreign to the true Catholic missionary spirit. Their apparent 'conservative' bent misdirects the energies of quite a few 'conservative' Catholics who would make better use of their time and resources by opposing the "Newchurch" since its inception in 1958-1965. There can be no compromise between the true Church and the false pretender, which is the Whore of Babylon in Apocalypse.


Larry said (March 18, 2010):

I was in opus dei for a while. I am a Catholic in Chicago. There as not evidence to me of such malevolent subtext, except I did see a more than a few people who said they were "former" Jews and were very supportive of Israel.

That seemed odd to me.

You want to get these people mad, ask why the Church did not support "the end does not justify the means" when it comes to the atomic bomb used against Japan to "shorten" the war.

http://www.fpp.co.uk/bookchapters/articles/Hiroshima.html

http://catholic-caveman.blogspot.com/2009/08/atomic-bombing-of-japan-can-catholics.html


Ted said (March 17, 2010):

I can't speak for the larger organization, but only from my contact with it's members. If this means anything, and I think it does, it indicates a far different organization than what is painted in this article.

I am not, nor are my family, members of Opus Dei. However, I have found Opus Dei members to be some of the finest examples of core Christian values I've ever met. Their high moral and spiritual standards set them apart from the Catholic church as a whole. They practice what they preach, which I find is a rare commodity in the world of organized Christianity.

My boys have all participated in youth programs set up and run by Opus Dei members. These programs emphasized high morals, spiritual reflection and personal integrity, as well as being a lot of fun. They also emphasized personal responsibility and high achievement. The boys loved it, and always looked forward to the program.

They were never indoctrinated, recruited or molested.

I am not easily impressed, and have a natural suspicion about any organization. Nevertheless, we found Opus Dei to be rare gem.

--

Thanks for this testimony, Ted

These secret societies seem to operate behind a protective covering of unimpeachable souls.

H


SG said (March 17, 2010):

Barbara Olsen and her husband, Ted Olsen, were members of Opus Dei. Barbara is alleged to have
been on the fateful flight from Dulles to LAX on 9/11. Her husband announced that she tried to
phone him while onboard the ill-fated flight. The FBI, however, failed to support his claims even as he served at that time as the Solicitor General at the US Dept of Justice.


Bob said (March 17, 2010):

(I don't want this to sound like a "I'm Catholic and that hurt my feelings" whiney comment.)

Instead, I'll say that the press re Opus Dei
I've seen, from what I can tell, is coming
from a generalist establishment-based rivaling spirit.

Particularly liberal self-interest discourse
is bothered by the structure of Opus Dei
because it's outside the official Church
hierarchy, where feminists, gays and black
communists have made lots of inroads.
In addition, it has a strong practice of
sex-specific congregating, which is very
much out of fashion in East Coast trends to
organizing people spiritually -- I'm sure this
fuels the criticism of OD.

Of what I know of Opus Dei, it has a strong
bent toward simplicity of theology, and stresses
the mindfulness of God in daily life, particularly
in work. Also, many of the priests in OD are
of a very strong, non-cosmopolitan, non-run-with-
the-crowd character -- but it's just my personal impression.

ALSO, and I should have said this sooner --
I don't think we've heard all there is about the
Hanssen case. I got a vibe, based on one of the
write-ups the Wash. Post did on him, that he
was some kind of patsy -- possibly to scare
principled Catholics inside law enforcement and
intelligence orgs out of blowing the whistle.

I think articles like this one would be wise to
be a little more careful....Again, I hope this doesn't come across as defensive, but I don't think the full politics of OD can be easily summarized, nor who has a stake in opposing them.
------

I wish I could relay my ideas to you re Catholicism
w/out having to type them out.

Since it's the end of the day, I'll give you a
brief point that popped into my head on reading
your reply. Specifically, Catholicism in a way
I think is unique for forming people to think
for themselves. I know, it sounds like a strong
statement, particularly since most non-Catholics
would be inclined to say the opposite. BUT,
the core belief in Catholics is their purpose
is to know and live the truth -- which is why
it took me so long to get used to way of
looking at things of people from other faiths.

Unlike adherents of other faiths, based on
the influence of their formation, Catholics
do not "take sides" as the core mode of how
they behave with respect to ethical decisions.
Because of this, Catholicism is to a degree
more purified with respect to the goings-on
of secret societies and other group-based
modes of "getting in cahoots" w/one's people, etc.


Irish Dan said (March 17, 2010):

For ordinary members of the Roman Catholic Church, these ' Churches Within Churches ' are a matter of grave concern and they present a monumental problem for Parish Priests and Bishops! Basically when clergy and religious of these orders become involved in parish life, it is like the F.B.I. working in a local police area, they in essence can do what they like locally while any problems arising cannot be dealt with by local authority, they can only complain to Hq, where these people are well entrenched to with other centralized power brokers to protect their mutual interests.

As I write our Irish Cardinal is fielding sustained calls for his resignation, as a priest he was involved in the case of another priest who was a practicing pedophile! The Cardinal back then did things by the book, he uncovered evidence of the offending priests crimes, he ensured that he was removed from parish duties and as he was an Order priest, he was handed over to his order to contain and police, who were far more tolerant of his activities. The Law finally caught up and he died in jail.

By Cannon Law all the local church could do was pass on the files to the offender's Irish province head and to Rome. Here if this particular Order did not have it's own Cardinal on the committee, then there were plenty other Order Cardinals who operate an interlinking, mutually benefiting club. At that level protecting the reputation and influence of the order is the priority of the day, the ignored victims of their vile foot soldiers are left in their individual hells without the slightest concern for their welfare.

Some fifteen years ago I accompanied the mother of a young boy that was being used as a child prostitute by his father and others in a child sex ring. to a meeting with the late Irish Cardinal O'Daly. He did not stand in ceremony, he readily granted a breakfast meeting, he was visibly moved and upset at what he heard, he expressed his grave concern but because the abuse facilitators were an order of Nuns, he also spelled out to the mother how little influence he had in the situation.

He could not directly interfere, he could only send it up the line to Rome and hope that the Curia officials would call in the Head of the Order..... which was unlikely to happen inside of six months, there was a backlog!. When the mother told the nuns of her visit to the Cardinal they openly laughed at her. Some display of Christianity.


Henry Makow received his Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Toronto in 1982. He welcomes your comments at