Showing posts with label Opus Dei. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Opus Dei. Show all posts

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Peruvian University Blames Opus Dei For its Woes

The only really cool thing about Davinci Code

Edit: We wish!

Sounds like people are starting to get fed up with all the false advertising.

Are you being legitimately accused of failing to live up to the mission statement of your organization and actively working, for your own reasons, to debase its stock in the cultural, artistic, intellectual and economic marketplace?

We know, let's blame a boogieman!

Btw, there's nothing wrong with the use of a flagella provided that  it is used under spiritual direction or as part of a religious order's disciplina.  It's not done so much to inflict pain,  but as a reminder and a spiritual exercise just like praying the rosary or kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle of your local church as part of a healthy spiritual habitus.
(Reuters) - One of Peru's top universities says it thinks maneuvers by the conservative Roman Catholic group Opus Dei are behind the school's high-profile falling out with the Vatican. 

In a dispute that could drag Peru and the Vatican into a diplomatic spat, the Catholic Church ordered the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru (PUCP) in a July letter to drop the words "pontifical" and "Catholic" from the official name it has been using for more than 60 years.

The university, which was founded in 1917 and is widely regarded as the country's most progressive institution of higher education, has refused to comply with the order. The Vatican says it will press its case with Peru's foreign ministry. 

Vatican representatives say they have spent years trying to persuade the university to comply with Church laws and that a large financial donation the school received should be managed in accordance with those.

For our part, we didn't know about the Opus Dei kid's show.  That would be awesome!  Give the coverage on the Spanish Civil War that no one actually learns about in school and tell the real story of Opus Dei and St. Josemaria in a matter of fact approach?

Link to Telegraph, Opus Dei children's show.... 

Thursday, May 10, 2012

"There Are No Doctrinal Obstacles to Reconciliiation" -- Opus Dei Bishop

Msgr Ignacio Arrieta, the Secretary of the Papal Council for Legal Texts, has stated that there are no doctrinal obstacles for the reconciliation of the Society of St. Pius X. “I think that we have clarified the doctrinal problems, bringing them in writing to paper, even when they are not simple. The real problem as it seems to me is that the division, the human distance, it goes back to the year of 1988.”

Msgr Arrieta, a Spanish Curial Bishop belongs to Opus Dei, and spoke last Monday on the 7th of May in Louvain-la-Neuve in Belgium, according to the Belgian newspaper La Libre Belgique. Among other themes which Msgr Arrieta were the canon law questions related to the reception of Anglicans into the Catholic Church, who were seeking full union with Rome and the case of the former scandal Bishop Vangluwe of Bruges.

Msgr Arrieta is directly connected to with the reconciliation discussion of the Holy See with the Society. He is personally involved with the canonical regulation and with that the future canonical status of the Society.

The Spanish Bishop has been Secretary of the Papal Council for Legal Texsts since 2008. In February of 2012 he administered the lower orders and that of subdeacon to the Society of St. Peter in Wigratzbad.

Link to katholisches…

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Curial Opus Dei Bishop Ordains Deacons in Old Rite

(Wigratzbad) Curial Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrierta ochoa de Chinchetru, the Secretary of the Papal Advisory for Legislative Texts, dispensed the lower orders and the subdiaconate on the 11th of February at the Seminary of the Society of St. Peter in Wigratzbad in the Immemorial Rite of the Mass of the Catholic Church. The Spanish msgr. Arrieta belongs to the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei. The Titular Bishop of Sao Paulo di Civitate in Apulia is the 260th Bishop of the Catholic Church and the ninth Spanish Bishop, who has celebrated or participated in a Tridentine Rite of the Mass, since Pope Benedict XVI promulgated the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum.
Msgr. Arrieta

Curial Bishop Arrieta, who has been in the Secretariat of the Papal Advisory for Legislative Texts, blessed seven Sudeacons. There are more than 80 Seminarians studying at the seminary of Allgau for the Society of St. Peter. Text: Giuseppe Nardi Bilder: FSSP

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

St. Josemaria Escriva Didn't Want to Say New Mass

Edit: a few Saints have profanity in their correspondence. St. Josemaria certainly does. Although this may scandalize some Opus Dei members, we were edified by it. And although he was the first to say the New Mass, he did in fact say it -- probably once -- he was also the first to apply for an Indult.

An early collaborator of St. Josemaria Escriva--the first saint to ever celebrate the NOM-- relates the following story: It was in the heady days of the Second Vatican Council, probably after 1965. St. Josemaria Escriva had dutifully learned the New Mass promulgated by Pope Paul VI in the wake of the Second Vatican Council and said it for the first time.

The report is that he fretted in saying it. He found it so exasperating that after putting his vestments away, he hurried to his office to call the Office of Rites in order to request an Indult. Upon describing the Mass to his interlocutor, he said with some vehemence, "what is this shit?"

Shortly after his discussion, he continued saying the Mass he'd always said, having acquired the necessary Indult and we are told he never said the New Mass as part of his private Liturgy again.

"While it may be impossible to verify the details, it is well known that St. Josemaria applied very for an indult very early on, and did not say the NOM in his later life."

Picture was found, here.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Old Lady Ciccone is Shopping for a New Religion

Remember when Miss Ciccone decided to become a Methodist?  It was satire, but you know.  Now there's a story on the Creative Minority Report which says that Madonna has become a member of Opus Dei. You might say, she's fed up with Qabbalah, now she's ready for a new religion.  Why not Opus Dei?  That's hip.

[Mirror] FOR the past 15 years, she has been Kabbalah’s most high profile and dedicated follower.

But now Madonna has apparently ditched the controversial faith and taken up with Opus Dei – the secretive Catholic sect made famous in The Da Vinci Code.

The singer is said to be intrigued by the organisation and spent Friday with priests from the centre’s London HQ.

The move follows her alleged falling out with some Kabbalah leaders after reports that cash raised for her Malawi charity was squandered. Last night a source claimed: “She has invested so much into Kabbalah so she was devastated by these damning accusations.

“She has started exploring different religions. Madonna has always been intrigued by Opus Dei. As yet, she’s not a fully paid-up member – she’s just had informal chats.”
 Maybe she's seen a screening of the new film?

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Two New Bishops for Congregations: One is Close to Opus Dei

Vatican.... Still before the end of the year, Pope Benedict XVI, according to reports of the Milan daily, 'Il Giornale' is appointing two Secretaries to two Congregations.  The new second man in the Congregation for Causes of Saints will be the Italian Prelate, Marcello Bartolucci (66).  He was previously the undersecretary of the Congregation for Clergy, Prelate Celso Morga Urzubieta, and will be elevated in any case, to Secretary.  He is close to Opus Dei.  Both will be ordained as Bishops in the coming days.  In the next days the new prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Cardinal Franc Rode is now seventy seven years old.


Read original, kreuz...

Friday, December 10, 2010

Opus Dei Condom Connection

Editor: don't say we didn't tell you so. Condom use = Opus Dei

Condom Use Is Moral?

Now an Opus Dei priest has weighed in on the condom controversy, arguing in a lengthy OSV article that condom use, while it may have a prophylactic effect, can be a lessening of the evil of an intrinsically disordered act.

But this priest goes much farther than that, and his conclusions are quite disturbing.

There are several sections which attempt to summarize this thought, but here's as close to a money quote as the article's diffuse, poorly articulated reasoning presents:
Granted that immoral sexual behavior should be avoided altogether, in my view the point rightly made by the Holy Father is that when someone who is already performing immoral acts uses a condom, he or she does not properly choose a lesser evil, but simply tries to prevent an evil — the evil of infection. From the sinner’s point of view this obviously means to choose some good: health. Yet, provided we consider the immoral activities (for example, prostitution) to be intrinsically evil, using a condom to prevent infection means to reduce the evilness and moral disorder of this activity.

Read further,
here.fff

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Now Comes the Dam Break With Condoms: Opus Dei Bishop "Helps"

That was to be expected: An Austrian Opus Dei Bishop elongate the Pope's statement about condoms with the help of a rape example indirectly to marriage.

(kreuz.net, Sankt Pölten) "The expression of the Pope means no change to the teaching of the Church."

This was according to the Condom-Bishop of Saint Pölten, Msgr Klaus Küng, in an interview with the German newspaper 'Tagespost'.

Bishop Küng expressed himself on the most recent scandal revelation of the Pope about the condom.

For that reason he attempted to make things look as if Benedict XVI. supposedly had spoken against the fight against the sexually transmitted disease AIDS.

At the same time he explained that one that one has the experience world wide that the fight against AIDS is especially successful if people change their behavior:

"Where the fight against AIDS is only aimed at distributing condoms, only intensifies the spread of the disease."

That is proven -- the Bishop argues correctly.


The Condom Doesn't Avoid Infection

The comes -- as expected -- the big but.

There are people, who as far as the expectation of responsibility, to honorable truth and abstemiousness are "absolutely not amenable".

In the mileu of drugs or prostitutes there is no situation, where it is supposedly better, to a supposed "avoidance of infection by using a condom".

That is no relativism of the Encyclical 'Humanae Vitae' (1968).

It is "exclusively for the avoidance of infection".

Truthfully the Bishop had only to have spoken of a mere reluctance of infection.

Something Bad is never Responsible

At the same time Msgr Küng values it as "new that the Pope has held the use of condoms in these cases as a first step toward the discernment of responsibility."

This fatal rejection of every moral teaching alters -- according to the Bishop -- supposedly nothing, that the "object" always consists "in changing false behavioral pattern".

Confusion as Clarification

The expression of the Pope's -- which has led to incredible confusion worldwide  -- is for Msgr Küng a contribution "to a necessary clarification."

Msgr Küng remembers then that he himself some months ago "in a similar way" had defended the prophylactic for male sexual organs:

 "Still another time: It doesn't come down to changing the teaching of the Church, rather for an important differentiation."

He said, here:

"On the other hand I have maintained that it is -- according to the same Church teaching-- possibly allowed to gives condoms to people, who are not prepared, to listen to the teaching of the Church, for example people who are dependent on drugs."
Then the Bishop rumages for a notable example:

"When for example a man suffering from AIDS is in a way is understandable and a non-correspondence  of his employment of force after he attracted, could his wife in such a situation justifiably suggest that a condom is used, because it means an avoidance of the danger of infection."

That is in any case not in contradiction to "Humanae Vitae" -- explained the Bishop:  "In such situations it is not contraception which is the goal of the use of the condom, rather the protection from infection."

That's right, but it has nothing with sexual morality, rather it only has to do with self-defense.

In contrast, the Pope explained that the use of condoms  could be "a first step to a moralization".

With that he maintains that through the purchase and use of condoms, he might become a better man.


Read further...

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Opus Dei Definitely Advocates Condom Use

It's not just crazy Jesuits who are at work undermining the Church's teachings, but Opus Dei members do advocate the use of condoms to avoid AIDS when the couples are married as Bishop Kung of St. Polten does, as well as Father Rhonmeir who is a leading figure in the philosophy department of the Opus Dei School in Rome, also see recent article in America.

They haven't exactly been hiding their views, but they haven't been getting any attention, but it's about high time they received some.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Tornielli Interviews Vatican Bank President Ettore Gotti Tedeschi

Editor: here's a quick google-translation with some correction. It looks like this is one of those attacks that Tornielli was talking about, being launched against the Pope.

"Since I assumed the presidency of the IOR I am busy with my all, according to information received by the Pope and the Secretary of State to make every transaction more transparent and in line with international anti-money laundering norms ...

I feel really humbled today. There is anger in words but also discouragement by Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, 65, Piacenza, a professor of "Ethical finance" at Catholic University, president of Santander Consumer Finance, a full year at the Institute for Works of Religion The Vatican Bank, and now it's under investigation for violation of money laundering. The man to whom Benedict XVI has given the renewal of the finances of the Holy See and admires the spirituality of Opus Dei, who when asked how many hours of his day are devoted to God and how much to money, replied: "One hundred per cent one and hundred percent the next. God is always present in everything I do.

"The newspaper has interviewed you.

What was your reaction to the news investigation on IOR and about her?

"Bitterness and humiliation. I do not know what else to say. Together with the Director of the Institute, Paul Cipriani, I am committed to tackling the problems which are now being investigated. We are working to enter the so-called White List, i.e. the list of countries that comply with international anti-money laundering and we hope to make it for December. I have an excellent relationship with the Bank of Italy and there is a continuous exchange of information ...».

Can you explain what happened with the Credito Artigiano and those 20 million directed to JP Morgan in Frankfurt?

"Meanwhile, we clarify that this is a remittance on IOR IOR: we simply transferred the money to invest in German bonds. Why were we not in compliance with the rules against money laundering?"

"We are implementing the rules, but possibly the survey was an error in the procedures implemented by the Credito Artigiano. But the operation is clear, there is nothing hidden or to hide: only a transfer of funds of the same IOR.

The State Secretariat has renewed total confidence ...

"I met Cardinal Bertone, and I found him very concerned about what happened. I was invited to stay at in my position, because I'm doing exactly what I was asked to do, that is more transparent operation of each IOR. This is the clear desire of my superiors and we consider what is happening ... almost unnatural! A procedural error is used as an excuse to attack the Institute, its president and, more generally, the Vatican. "

Why do you think someone wants to attack you or the Holy See?

"I think that the statement of the Secretary of State bodes well with this sense of astonishment. We had an end in sight just when we were working as hard as possible to enforce rules against money laundering. Cardinal Bertone has appointed Nicholas Attilio president of the supervisory board inside the Vatican that will monitor the implementation of all provisions for the White List. We are available to provide information, it would have been enough to call instead of banging on the front door. "


From the original... here at Il Giornale.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

David Berger Banished from the Papal Academy of Thomas Aquinas

After his "Outing" as a Homosexual and his denial of Church teaching on Homosexuality a letter of the Academy President followed: "With deep pain" and horror to review Professor Berger's past "opinions".

Rome (Kath.net) The theologian David Berger (42) was dismissed from the faculty of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome. Any further activity there at the institution would be denied, in the view of "some points of Church teaching" which he does not assent to. This was reported by Frankfurter Rundshau. The certified theologian and special expert on the theology of St. Thomas Aquinas is primarily employed as a Gymnasium (College Preparatory School) teacher in Germany.

Berger is thought to be a "conservative" theologian and was also the Publisher and Chief Director of a Theological Periodical. He has resigned from this office already, which he made known earlier in the last April in the Frankfurter Rundschau as a homosexual. In the article he spoke of "laughably, bigoted" position in the Catholic Church toward Homosexuality and that his opinions on the theology of Thomas allowed a positive appraisal of homosexuality.

"With deep regret" and horror, the transformation and the past "opinions" of Professor Berger had to be examined, wrote Academy President Lluis Clavell, who belongs to Opus Dei, in a letter to Berger.

For the Frankfurter Rundschau, criticized Berger, that before his termination no one responsible for the Thomas-Akademie had inquired of him, if he also practiced homosexuality. Actually, this is specifically condemned by Church teaching. Berger himself had taken no position on this for the Frankfurter Rundschau.

Over to the original...

Sunday, April 4, 2010

An Opus Dei Replacement for Cardinal Mahony

Based on earlier reports that Cardinal Mahony is stepping down at 75, from American Papist, we have a report as to the identity of the man who will head the wealthiest and possibly most troulbed Archdiocese in the world.

According to Maximilian Hanlon, and other sources, the replacement for Cardinal Mahony should be the Opus Dei Archbishop from San Antonio, His Lordship, Jose Gomez.

Bishop Gomez was sent to the San Antonio See in 2004 and had been shepherding the Archdiocese of Denver as Auxiliary Bishop prior to that.

He was a lot more generous with the Immemorial Mass than Cardinal Mahony was and had this to say about the Motu Propio:

... pope's move will help Catholics "be able to clearly see the growth and progress we have realized since Vatican II, while at the same time preserving the rich heritage and legacy of the church." [1]

If he promises to be like his fellow Opus Dei Bishop, Archbishop Finn of Kansas City, this should be a real welcome to the auto-destructive regime of one of the most scandal ridden clerics in the history of the American Church. Archbishop Finn once reminded Catholics that we are in the Church militant and "in a war". Such triumphalist language shows well on Opus Dei.

We would also like to say that this posting is typical of the appointments by Pope Benedict. Earlier this year, he appointed the most conservative Bishop in Belgium to lead the country in Brussels, Archbishop Andre Joseph Leonard . Or the new Auxiliary Bishop of Linz, Father Wagner, who was shouted down by the liberals in that most challenging Austrian Diocese. Or Bishop Jose Munila of Spain in December.

Another not so surprising appointment was Archbishop Carlson, formerly of Sioux Falls and Saginaw, who had a legendary reputation for administration and conservatism.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Opus Dei Bans Cokie Roberts Book Signing

Staff Writer
Pewsitter.com


February 17, 2010 - The Washington Times reported today that the Catholic Information Center in Washington DC, which is run by Opus Dei, was hosting a book signing ceremony for former ABC reporter and pro-abortion Catholic, Cokie Roberts. It appears that this event has been cancelled as the following email was just received:

To the Patrons and friends of the Catholic Information Center:

In inviting Steve and Cokie Roberts to the CIC to present their book, From this Day Forward, we were unaware that some of the positions held by Ms. Cokie Roberts are inimical to the Catholic Faith and the support of our Holy Father that we hold very dear at the Catholic Information Center. We are grateful for those of you who have taken the time to express your concern and inform us. Our apologies go out especially to all who may have been troubled by the scheduling of this event and the confusion it may have occasioned. The event has been cancelled.



The email was signed by Father Arne A. Panula, who runs the center.

Link to Pewsitter...

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Opus Dei Prelate's Audience with Holy Father

Prelate's Audience with the Holy Father

On last Thursday, January 21, Benedict XVI received Bishop Javier Echevarría, Prelate of Opus Dei, in a private audience.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Randall Balmer, Episcopalian, says Vatican "Opportunistic" (Poll)

| Randall Balmer, Episcopal priest, washingtonpost.com.

NO: The Vatican’s sudden overture to disaffected Anglicans strikes me as both cynical and opportunistic.

Cynical in that the concession to effectively allow congregations to continue using Anglican hymns and liturgies seems to undermine decades of ecumenical discussions. [Wow, sounds just like a Jesuit.]

The move is opportunistic in that Rome is making the overture at what might be viewed as a moment of crisis or weakness in the Anglican Communion. The Vatican apparently is seeking to harvest those disaffected by the ordination of women and gays and by support for same-sex unions. [No, they're doing their job.]

A cynical action calls for a cynical interpretation: [Sounds like projection to me. There's nothing about this that's cynical, unless you read into it things which aren't there and attribute wicked motives] Perhaps the Vatican is hoping to lure Anglican parishes — and their property — to compensate for its financial losses in the priestly pedophilia scandals. [Anglicans are actually worse on that score]

I have no doubt that some disaffected Anglicans will see this as an attractive offer. At the same time, I wasn’t aware that Christians opposed to homosexuality or to women’s ordination were underserved in the religious marketplace. [If it were a marketplace. I'm afraid you're the cynical one, sir.]

Read entire article...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Sympathetic Film of Opus Dei's Founder: "He who Loves is Free"

British film director, Joffe, who makes claims to be politically neutral in his portrayal of Opus Dei will nevertheless make a sympathetic portrayal of the founder and organization of Opus Dei. The director is not known for historical accuracy or political neutrality in "The Mission" which was decidedly a kind of homage to liberation theology at the time it was made when Communists in Central America were attempting to wrest control of the government of El Salvador and successfully took control of Nicaragua which became a source of oppression for the Miskito Indians and openly attempted to destabilize other countries in the region as well.

Although his depiction of a selfish liberal journalist in "The Killing Fields" was interesting, it might be hard to watch this film as it will portray St. Josemaria Escriva's controversial relationship with a young Jewish girl whom he advises not to become Catholic so as not to upset her parents.

Yet the subtitle is interesting, "who loves is free", might indicate a more promising and truthful portrayal than we might have expected. It will be ready for release next fall.


LONDON (Reuters) – If Opus Dei had a rough ride in the blockbuster movie based on Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code," it looks set for an altogether more sympathetic portrayal in another film that deals with the Catholic organization

British director Roland Joffe, renowned for Oscar-nominated "The Killing Fields" and "The Mission," is making "There Be Dragons," a film set during the Spanish Civil War that focuses in part on the life of Opus Dei founder Jose Maria Escriva.

Principal photography is complete, and Joffe is now in the editing room aiming to have the movie, which stars Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, ready for theatres by autumn next year.

Joffe originally intended to turn down a project which, owing to its religious theme and Opus Dei's controversial profile, promises to draw closer scrutiny than the average film.

In The Da Vinci Code, Opus Dei was cast as a secretive cult that resorted to murder to defend a fictional, 2,000-year-old Catholic cover-up. It has also been criticized by church liberals suspicious of its power and reach and by estranged members telling of coercion and corporal mortification.

But when he saw a video of Escriva addressing a large crowd, Joffe changed his mind.

The priest, who was made a saint in 2002, was asked by a Jewish girl if she should convert to Catholicism. Knowing it would upset her parents, Escriva told her that she should not.

Read further...

Friday, October 23, 2009

Opus Dei Member and Ex-FBI Director Louis Freeh Italian Citizen

From the Drudge Report:

Clinton appointed former FBI director, Louis Freeh has just received Italian Citizenship thanks to his efforts in fighting organized crime in Italy. Both he and the infamous Robert Hanssen were members of Opus Dei and working for the FBI. Freeh described the Hanssen breech as disastrous, while he himself worked closely with Russian Police against organized crime in Russia according to Accuracy in Media.

Just before 9-11, Freeh left his job as Director of the CIA. He went to work defending a Saudi Prince Bandar, embroiled in a corruption case. He was also working with Fanny Mae according to Politics Daily.

There does seem to be a bit of a question about Louis Freeh's membership in Opus and the evidence is available in this article at Harvard Crimson which fairly discloses his close association with that organization.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Canon Law dealing with Homosexuality

Unfortunately, a lot of people think that their personal tastes and desires have supreme legistlative power, and in so much as they are ruled by their emotions, they confer this false and naive charity upon others whose crimes they benevolently wish excuse.

Despite the canonical fact that homosexuals are excluded from priestly formation and religious life, even in the New Canon Code of 1983, but also according to a 2005 clarification with the long title, Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders., homosexuls are still admitted to the religious life against the lessons of history and the Canon Law itself.

The document contains the following passage:

In the light of such teaching, this Dicastery, in accord with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, believes it necessary to state clearly that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question[9], cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practise homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called "gay culture"[10].


It's not our intention to usurp the office of canon lawyers or bishops, but when this document was released in 2005, there was quite a bit of encouragement and hope that orthodoxy would be the rule of the day and that bishops would restrict the entrance into the seminary, those who lack the affective maturity to relate to men and women in the life of the Church.

Obviously, these rules haven't been implemented with the same force throughout the Church. Some superiors and bishops no doubt exhibit a great deal of clemency in this regard, but there has to be a point at which credulity is stretched beyond its breaking point.