We are proposing that a mature spirituality can find meaning and purpose not only in the awe and wonder of creation and silence and creativity but also in confronting evil. Good news and bad news come our way often on a daily basis. Spirituality is about developing the resilience and dance steps to respond to both.
Let us continue our critique of the Bishop’s Conference choosing an Opus Dei Bishop to head the RC church in the United States. It normalizes Opus Dei. In doing so it normalizes fascism and gives it a religious veneer rendering fascism fashionable or at least “ok.” That is truly scary, that and its anti-intellectualism; and its anti-ecumenism. Opus Dei is the opposite of Interfaith.
One very knowledgeable insider who worked in leadership positions with Opus Dei for decades before escaping summarized it this way:
1. Opus Dei “turns members into fanatics.”
2. The “formation” of candidates for Opus Dei is more an “indoctrination.” So I ask archbishop Gomez: What did your theological training consist of? How will future priests study under your leadership? Will their study be deeper than indoctrination?
3. Though the organization claims to raise money for the poor, she never saw any activities Opus Dei sponsored for the poor, homeless or unemployed.
4. Instead, Opus Dei chooses to go to where the power lies including the media and “intellectuals from the sciences, banking, and the law. In a word, with the groups who control the money and power in a country.” Opus Dei women do apostolates with the wives of influential men. (Maybe Supreme court judges’ wives?)
Opus Dei has taken over entire dioceses and countries in South America with predictable results. Their m.o. is first to drive out any progressive or even centrist priests. Then to go after church related groups dedicated to human rights and social justice and wipe out indigenous pastoral work that focuses on Andean culture in the case of Peru. Racism dictates their aggression toward indigenous groups (such as throwing a statue by Amazon Indians in the Tiber recently during an Amazon conference?). Their overall game plan is to control the Universities. Opus Dei members in Chile helped overthrow Allende and supported the torture etc. that went on under dictator Pinochet.
Bishop Gomez: What can we expect of your Bishops in leadership, now that you are head of the US Bishops Conference? Might you be denouncing any of these practices from your Opus Dei brethren? Please tell us. Also, can you tell us this: What percent of current bishops in the US Church are Opus Dei? And what percent of priests in the United States today are Opus Dei? Though I know secrecy is a HUGE thing in the opus dei sect, please inform us: How many current supreme court judges are opus dei? Thank you.
Adapted from: Matthew Fox, The Pope’s War: How Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Imperiled the Church and What Can Be Saved, pp.118, 112f.
Matthew Fox, A New Reformation, pp. 70, 73, 75, 77.
Banner Image: Image of Jacob and the Angel of God wrestling taken from article on the Story of Jacob in Scripture. Click HERE
Queries for Contemplation
The Via Transformativa and the work of justice and compassion often means standing up to powerful forces whose agenda is not about those values. Do see yourself evolving to do more of that speaking out?
Do you agree that such work resilience and a regular return to the Via Positiva, Negativa and Creativa to remain energized for the struggle? Meditate on these matters.
Recommended Reading
The Pope’s War offers a provocative look at three decades of corruption in the Catholic Church, focusing on Josef Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. The final section in the book focuses on birthing a truly catholic christianity. Matthew Fox presents insights from his 12-year, up-close-and-personal battle with Ratzinger, tracing the historical roots of degradation in the Church and offering a new way to understand why Benedict XVI is now mired in crisis as Pope. Fox then outlines his vision for a new Catholicism-one that is not Vatican-based but truly universal, celebrating critical thinking, diversity, and justice.
A modern-day theologian’s call for the radical transformation of Christianity that will allow us to move once again from the hollow trappings of organized religion to genuine spirituality. A New Reformation echoes the Reformation initiated by Martin Luther in 1517 and offers a new vision of Christianity that values the Earth, honors the feminine, and respects science and deep ecumenism.
8 thoughts on “A Mature Spirituality Able to Wrestle with Evil”
Disturbing stuff. I also found this article this morning. Not being Catholic, I’m not sure I understand it all, so I’d love to hear comments on it.
https://opentabernacle.wordpress.com/2018/11/13/opus-deis-influence-on-the-u-s-judiciary/
Dear Michele,
Thank you for sharing this article. Although many of us might be shocked to find out about Opus Dei’s infiltration into own government, knowledge is the beginning of change. If we don’t know, we can’t do anything about it. I found this article very informative.
Gail Sofia Ransom
For the Daily Meditation Team
I do not understand how he got to be President of the Bishops’ Conference as I am not Catholic either. But the whole movement and influence that he has now is really scary to me. Opus Dei, along with the religious right of Protestants, are a threat to democracy, in my opinion and to the separation of church and state. I think the founding fathers are probably whirling around in their graves, because they were very clear about no religious state, just religious freedom.
Thank you, Sue, for reminding us of this aspect of the influence that Opus Dei and the religious right is exerting in our government. Democracy is at stake. How shall we respond?
Gail Sofia Ransom
For the Daily Meditation Team
I stand beside you with your questions, Rev. Fox. WELL DONE!! I await with interest the forthcoming answers, if there should be any believable responses from those in authority who dare to take responsibility or at least a share of it….Thank you!
Barbara.
Thank you, Barbara. If an honest exchange between Bishop Gomez and Rev. Fox could result from these meditations, it would be a blessing for all.
Gail Sofia Ransom
For the Daily Meditation Team
I watched the video of the young man who threw the Patchamama statues into the Tiber. It struck me as the height of irony that he and his friends spent the time before the basilica opened saying the rosary and then went in to steal the statues. I am sure the connection between the Divine Feminine/Holy Spirit and Mother Mary completely escapes them. Opus Dei is a sad and dangerous organization, but considering the state of the world it doesn’t surprise me that they are grabbing Power Over like many of the current politicians and “influential” people. Resistance is the only proper response.
Dear Elaine,
I, too, watched the video of the young Austrian who threw the Pachamama idols into the river. I found it instructive to hear how the other side thinks, even as I cringed every time he described the statues as representations of fertility, integral ecology, and mother earth. He seemed to have no place in his intellect for anything beyond doctrine, and no sense that he was breathing and standing on Mother Earth, that he himself was a product of his parents’ fertility, and ecology was integrated into everything he did. He believes he did a good thing, an Austrian destroying indigenous statues from the Amazon. And now, feeling like a warrior, he is looking for his next act.
Gail Sofia Ransom
For the Daily Meditation Team