From: jke2@Ra.MsState.Edu (Joselito K. Estrada)
Subject: Re: Opus Dei
Organization: Mississippi State University
Date: Fri, 9 Oct 1992 17:20:54 GMT

Eric James Ewanco <ewanco@MLO.DEC.COM> writes:

>Wow, Opus Dei again.

>I have had some experience with Opus Dei, not a lot, much of it
>secondhand reports.  Nearly all secondhand reports I have of it are
>negative.  I know a Protestant woman who is concerned about her brother,
>involved in Opus Dei, because they refuse to allow him to talk to his
>family over the phone.  I have heard that they are elitist, and they
>don't think very highly of Protestants, or any Catholic who associates
>with them.  They seem to be very strong in proselytizing for their
>group, I don't know why.  I actually got to talk to a guy from O.D. once
>and visited their house.  It seemed too Catholic to me, so I wasn't
>really interested, plus my Catholic roommate said he had experiences
>with the very same group I had visited and he did not like it at all
>(and this guy is more Catholic than I was).

>I really should pick up a book about it.  I hear so many things about
>the organization.  It has official Papal approval.  Its founder is up
>for canonization, but there was a scandal recently when Newsweek
>discovered, much to the consternation of Rome, that in the discussions
>for Monsignor Escriva's canonization, certain opponents had been
>silenced, or ignored, or some such parliamentary rule had been violated
>so that he could be approved.  There seems to be some debate about him
>as a person and his Godliness.

>My advice is to stay away from them, if you're talking about joining or
>whatever.  Read some books on them.  Other than that I don't know.

>Eric

Pretty keen advice. I was involved in OD for a while when I was in college. I'veknown about them since I was in grade school since an uncle of mine and his family were active members of the group.

After attending some meetings on and off for a year, I got disillusioned with the group. I was educated in Jesuit institutions for about 19 years (from age 6 to25). I didn't appreciate t

the disdain that these people have for Jesuits and their educational institutions. I couldn't believe it when my cousin (a staunch OD member) remarked to me that the bible we used in school was of Protestant persuasion.

I agree that they are smug and elitist. Elitist in every sense of the word. In  my country, amid all the poverty, OD houses are big and spacious. Most of its   non-clergy members come from high society and the business and industry elite.  In fact, the head of the country's largest private think-tank is an OD member.  

One thing I noticed about them, specially the younger men, there are those who  chose to be celibate and not undergo the sacraments of matrimony or holy orders.I have no quarrel with anyone who devotes his whole life to prayer and to God aslong as he doesn't aggresively force his beliefs on me or tell me that the way Ipractice my faith is wrong.

I believe that the practice of the Catholic faith is not only accomplished through prayer but also through service to others. During my association with OD, I  never saw these people talk of being more socially aware. It seems like their   goal was that of personal perfection, both spiritually and intellectually. No   problem with that but how can one put to use everything that he knows if he doesnot go out and use it for the good of all. It was like the world revolved aroundthem. Once they enter the gates




 of the OD house, the outside world was of no    consequence.

The only good thing I got out of OD was an enhancement of my Latin vocabulary   through the singing of Tantum Ergo and O Salutaris Hostia during Benediction andAdeste Fidelis at Christmas time.

--
Jojo Estrada
Department of Agricultural Economics
Mississippi State University
jke2@Ra.MsState.edu
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