Many people, when they hear about the rise of Christian nationalism in America, think it is all about evangelicals who are Trump supporters. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The fascist wing of the Roman Catholic Church, amply represented by Opus Dei (and others such as the Legion of Christ), have played a major and expanding role in Washington, D.C. ever since the papacy of JP II that linked up with the far-right CIA of the day to bury liberation theology and base communities operating in South America.
Those who stood by the poor, such as Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador who was martyred while saying Mass, were badly treated by Rome. Indeed, one of Archbishop Romero’s close friends, Bishop Casigalida, with whom I spent a week in the Amazon which was essentially his diocese, was silenced by the Vatican of that time for daring to call Romero a saint (Romero has since been canonized under Pope Francis).
I wrote about these goings-on 15 years ago in my book, The Pope’s War, which traces such matters under Ratzinger and JP II and includes a significant chapter on Opus Dei. New Testament scholar Bruce Chilton, who wrote the Foreword to the book, called it “prophetic.”
Now Gareth Core, a British financial journalist, has released the best book ever written on Opus Dei, with special emphasis on the mighty role they have played in recent American politics: e.g., rendering SCOTUS beyond recognition and a wing for the Republican party. Yes, part of MAGA, which I propose in my new book on the Antichrist, stands for: “Make America Grotesque Again.”
Gore’s book is called Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking, and Right-Wing Conspiracy inside the Catholic Church. It is 450 pages of solid research and clear storytelling of the takeover of American politics, including of course SCOTUS and the Republican Party by the fascist wing of the Catholic church, which is dead set against Pope Francis. It includes the conversions of Newt Gingrich, former Senator Sam Brownback, Robert Bork, Larry Kudlow, and Laura Ingraham to that peculiar version of Catholicism. Trump players like Bill Barr, Pat Cipollone, Steve Bannon, belong to the same religious club.
Now vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance should be added to that list of hardline climate deniers and Trump acolytes. If Trump and Vance are elected next month, the Opus Dei wing of the Catholic Church will be one step away from the presidency.
Pretty scary indeed, considering they already own the unsupreme court and Trump is currently the oldest presidential candidate and showing serious mental and physical decline, not to mention his ethical and spiritual ill health. Or, in traditional language, his links to the archetype of the antichrist.
Gore tells the story of how Leonardo Leo led the fight to forbid Obama from nominating a justice for the supreme court because it was “too close to the next election.” Of course, Senator Mitch McConnell was all in on that unprecedented move, but Leo provided the legal ammunition. Later however, with Trump as president, it was not too late to appoint Judge Barrett even though the election was already in progress.
Leo is a far-right Catholic who barely admits that Pope Francis exists (or his excellent encyclical Laudato Si that defends the rights of Mother Earth and the rights of the poor). He prefers the company and ideology of billionaires like Harlan Crow, sugar daddy to ever willing Supreme Court judges like Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Gore makes clear that Leo is also very chummy with Ginni Thomas.
A fine summary of the book can be found in the New York Magazine by investigative journalist Nina Burleigh. It is called “How Opus Dei Conquered D.C.” (September 19, 2024). Read it and weep. And act. And spread the news of the antichrist in waiting. And get out the vote for alternatives.
See Fox, Trump & MAGA as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election.
And Matthew Fox, The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can Be Saved.
And Fox, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth.
And Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul & Society.
Banner Image: Tomb of Opus Dei founder Josemaria Escriva, under the main altar of Santa María de la Paz, the prelatic church of Opus Dei, located in Rome. Wikimedia Commons.
Queries for Contemplation
How important is it to know that “Opus Dei conquered D.C.” and the Supreme Court and now has its eyes on Congress and the presidency, with willing allies in Trump and his vice-presidential running mate? What are we doing about it?
Related Readings by Matthew Fox
Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election
Matthew Fox tells us that he had always shied away from using the term “Anti-Christ” because it was so often used to spread control and fear. However, given today’s rise of authoritarianism and forces of democracide, ecocide, and christofascism, he turns the tables in this book employing the archetype for the cause of justice, democracy, and a renewed Earth and humanity.
From the Foreword: If there was ever a time, a moment, for examining the archetype of the Antichrist, it is now…Read this book with an open mind. Good and evil are real forces in our world. ~~ Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Conversations with the Divine.
For immediate access to Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election, order the e-book with 10 full-color prints from Amazon HERE.
To get a print-on-demand paperback copy with black & white images, order from Amazon HERE or IUniverse HERE.
To receive a limited-edition, full-color paperback copy, order from MatthewFox.org HERE.
Order the audiobook HERE for immediate download.
The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can Be Saved
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.
“This book should be read by everybody, not only for its ferocious courage, but also for its vision for what needs to be saved from the destructive forces that threaten authentic Christianity.” ~ Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope.
“In the gripping The Pope’s War, Matthew Fox takes an unwavering look at the layers of corruption in the Catholic Church, holding moral truth against power.” — Jason Berry, author of Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
Fox’s spirituality weds the healing and liberation found in North American Creation Spirituality and in South American Liberation Theology. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to honor the earth and the people who inhabit it as the gift of a good and just Creator.
“A watershed theological work that offers a common ground for religious seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice.
“I am reading Liberating Gifts for the People of the Earth by Matt Fox. He is one that fills my heart and mind for new life in spite of so much that is violent in our world.” ~ Sister Dorothy Stang.
Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
Visionary theologian and best-selling author Matthew Fox offers a new theology of evil that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them.
“A scholarly masterpiece embodying a better vision and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science. A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics
8 thoughts on “Opus Dei, MAGA, the Dark Money Cult & 2024 Election”
How many Pope Francis elected Cardinals will it take to distance the RC Church from the Opus octopus, and remove its tentacles? Let us not be and act in defeat. Whose ‘Cross’ do we bear? — BB.
Religious extremism is the root cause for much of the difficulties the world
endures. Opus Dei is one example . A reaffirmation of true spirituality is necessary and vital first step.
In the large sense it seems absent today. Organized traditional religions fail to progress, convinced everything is known.
There is much pain ahead to face.
Many of us will never live long enough to experience real reaffirmation. BUT we must try and prevail like the early Christians for those who will follow us.
It’s extremely important to know the importance of the Opus Dei takeover of the Supreme Court. Thank you for letting us know about this years ago. I’m still following it. What I’m doing and what others can do is canvas by phone or on foot to get out the vote for Kamala/Walz. I’ll be on foot doing this all this weekend and all next. Generally, the shifts are only two to two-and-a-half hours and your local Democratic Office will train you in most areas of the country. Go here: https://events.democrats.org/event/655322/
Or you can write postcards if canvassing is just too hard for you. Go here: https://www.postcardsforamerica.com/gotv-postcards.htm
Everyone can find a way to help.
Thank you Matthew for continuing to keep this front and center in the DMs. My bewilderment at how anyone could support Trump was answered yesterday by a trades worker I’ve known for years. Levelheaded hardworking father, I thought.
When I asked who he was voting for he became very animated saying not for Harris, she’s a train wreck waiting to happen. Then started listing all the conspiracy theories ending with his praise for JD Vance. It was then I realized it was Vance he was voting for, not Trump. Then it all made sense.
We are in a moment of grace. My prayer is that the common good will prevail and Harris will be our new President.
Very important! Thank you Matthew and the DM Team for today’s powerful and informative DM about the history and present influences of radical conservative organizations in the Catholic Church (such as Opus Dei) and Fundamentalist Christianity in politics and our democratic governments around the world. They are basically continuing to support Fascism and authoritarian leaders in the US and around the world who are opposed to democratic and spiritual values, including misogyny, racism, social injustice, and ecocide. The authors in the enclosed YouTube interviews such as Matthew Fox and Gareth Gore are especially recommended as enlightening along with their recent books.
It is necessary to be informed, as Matthew does for us. Jim Wallis has also sounded the alarm with articles on the militant religious, like this one, called, “Get Thee Behind Me Satan”. It details a truly frightening rally recently in Wisconsin. https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=517037&post_id=150054918&utm_source=post-email-title&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=2qygel&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxNjYyMDk5MzMsInBvc3RfaWQiOjE1MDA1NDkxOCwiaWF0IjoxNzI4NTcxNjQ1LCJleHAiOjE3MzExNjM2NDUsImlzcyI6InB1Yi01MTcwMzciLCJzdWIiOiJwb3N0LXJlYWN0aW9uIn0.tLuDCSbmf6aRXyCzF33oh9InuFIkMQN_DmK8FTfinVU
We can still act in every way possible by contacting government folks, spreading the word with letters to the editor, and generally encouraging people to vote. There are organizations to support either as volunteers or with donations.
I am so grateful for your DMs, in particular today’s treatment of Opus Dei. I learned a great deal from the RADICALIZED podcast on the new book on the topic. Thank you.
Unfirtunately, Nina Burleigh’s article is behind a paywall. Looking forward to the OPUS book.