DOING GOD'S WORK?

What is Opus Dei? The official U.S. web site describes it as: ". . . a personal prelature of the Catholic Church. It was founded in 1928, by St. Josemaria Escriva. Escriva founded this lay order in Spain just before the civil war between Francisco Franco's facist Felange and the alleged socialist government of Spain which resulted in a conservative victory. Initially, Escriva's silence with regard to the Falange was seen as oppostion, but after the facist victory, his continuing silence was interpreted as tacit support for an oppressive regime. The organization has been seen as a cult within the ultramontane (conservative) community of Catholicism, and it has been the subject of a good deal of negative comment. Another site, calling itself the unofficial homepage claims to give the positive and negative sides of the organization. Yet another site, ODAN, which stands for the Opus Dei Awareness Network, was founded by a former member who describes it in negative terms of a cult, alleging that for whatever the intention of Escriva and its current leadership, it functions in the same manner as fringe cults which have been condemned in Protestant communities in recent years. The home page opens with a quote of John 8:32--"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Opus Dei came to widespread public attention recently thanks to the novel The DaVinci Code. It stirred up a minor hornet's nest in religious circles. Many Protestants remain eager to condemn the Catholic church, and Catholics in general. Opus Dei, with enemies within the church as well as friends, contends the book is a hoax. Yet another web site promotes that view, and is called The DaVinci Hoax. Meanwhile, Wikipedia writes: "Opus Dei was founded on October 2, 1928 by a Roman Catholic priest Josemaría Escrivá who was canonized in 2002. Granted its first official Catholic approval in 1941, Opus Dei was established as a personal prelature by Pope John Paul II in 1982, making it a part of the pastoral structure of the Roman Catholic Church under the Congregation for Bishops."

So, if you've heard of Opus Dei, or read The DaVinci Code, and wish to know more, here's a chance to do a little research. Perhaps you can make up your mind--or perhaps just confuse the issue more. Have fun ! ! !