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New book sheds light on Opus
Dei
Véronique Duborgel, a 44-year old kindergarten teacher and former
Opus Dei supernumerary,
has written a book about her 13 years in Opus Dei, "Inside the Hell
of Opus Dei." As recounted
by Susan Bell of the Telegraph (Britain), in her book Duborgel
"describes techniques of psychological
isolation similar to those sometimes used by sects, and claims that
Opus Dei intrudes into the
most intimate areas of members' private lives, encourages them to
inform on each other and
drains their financial resources...she was instructed not to tell
family or friends that she was a
member of Opus Dei."
To read the full article by Bell:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/11/04/nopusdei104.xml
True Story of Opus Dei
Supernumerary in Movie "Breach"
Once again, Opus Dei members are
featured in a movie entitled "Breach."
Unlike the fictional Da Vinci Code, however, the movie is based on
the true story
of convicted FBI spy and Opus Dei supernumerary Robert Hanssen.
Many wonder, how could a seemingly
pious, dedicated and hard-working man be at
the heart of one of the worst security breaches in the history of
the United States?
The answer can be partly found in the paradoxical nature not only of
Hanssen, but also
of Opus Dei, both of whom share similarities such as elitism,
superiority, secretiveness,
intelligence, detachment, and isolation.
For
current and past news articles about Hanssen, along with some
thoughts on the
paradoxical nature of both Hanssen and Opus Dei:
Hanssen and
Opus Dei
Official
Announcement of ICTOD, the International
Collaboration for Truth about Opus Dei
A collaboration of three
separate groups who have experienced
firsthand the deceptive, manipulative and cult-like practices of
Opus Dei
has been formed in response to Opus Dei's depiction of itself
to the
media and the general public.
Note: Regrettably, it is our
understanding that the domain name
www.opuslivre.org has been
purchased
by Opus Dei and is no longer a source for information about Opus
Dei. Nevertheless, concerned individuals
and former Opus Dei members remain in Brazil. Please contact
ODAN if you would like to be placed in
contact with others from Brazil.
Reflecting on this action by Opus Dei, the
question to ask is this: What does Opus Dei fear about the
free flow of information that it would pursue shutting down those
who have experienced firsthand Opus Dei's
deception and manipulation? This is the type of action
employed by extremist regimes, whether fascist or
communist, where information is routinely stifled through control of
all forms of media.
ODAN supporters and those familiar with cult
information may remember the similar demise of the
Cult Awareness Network (CAN) which was completely taken over by
Scientology in 1997. Opus Dei's
actions speak louder than its words...
OpusLivre, Opus
Dei Awareness Network, Inc. and Opus Libros have announced the
formation
of The International Collaboration for Truth about Opus
Dei (ICTOD). The collaboration is the
result of three separate
groups of people who have had harmful experiences with Opus Dei in
locations from all over the world wherever Opus Dei operates.
ICTOD was formed
to challenge the statements made by Opus Dei in its recent media
campaign
to dispel the image depicted in the book and recent
movie, The DaVinci Code.
The collaboration
consists of Opuslivre, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Opus Dei
Awareness Network,
(ODAN) based in the United States, and
Opus Libros, based in Madrid, Spain.
ICTOD believes
Opus Dei has focused on the extremes of the movie, such as bloody
use of the
discipline (whip) and the cilice (spiked chain) while
saying nothing about how the organization takes
away a person's freedom through a subtle indoctrination process consisting of
aggressive recruiting
techniques, the withholding of information
necessary to make an informed choice and the use of subtle
pressure,
fear and guilt to exact blind obedience upon its members. ICTOD
will focus its resources
to educating the public about the absolute
control and obedience that exists in Opus Dei along with
deceptive
and manipulative recruiting practices.
For more
information about ICTOD, including contact information and a
statement from the
coordinator of Opus Libros: ICTOD
The Many Names of Opus
Dei's Founder
Opus Dei's
founder changed his name multiple times throughout his
lifetime -
This heavily footnoted document written by a man who has
asked to
remain anonymous, details these changes, many of which
are not
recorded in any of the "official biographies" promoted
by Opus Dei.
New Testimonies:
The ODAN website announces the posting of new testimonies
about Opus Dei
"Opus Dei Recruits Minors and Deceives
Church Officials"
"Opus Dei Superiors Lied to Church Officials"
"Government, Direction and Control in Opus Dei"
"Fathers, don't let your sons grow up to be Opus
Dei recruits"
Included with these testimonies are
the guidelines issued by the now deceased Cardinal
Basil Hume in 1981 in England (Cardinal
Hume Guidelines) directing Opus Dei to comply
with a
number of criteria,
including not allowing minors to make any commitments to
Opus Dei;
requiring that minors
discuss the matter with their parents or guardians before
making any
commitments;
allowing Opus Dei members to choose their own spiritual directors
(in Opus Dei or not) and enter
or leave the organization without undue pressure.
The new testimonies show clearly
that Opus Dei before, during and after that time period, has
clearly violated all those guidelines while making false statements
to church officials. While
several of the authors have chosen to remain anonymous for various
reasons, including fear of
repercussions from Opus Dei, ODAN has verified that they are true
accounts written by sincere
individuals who contacted ODAN with the desire that their stories be
known. It is ODAN's hope
that by posting this information for public perusal it will lead to
a change in Opus Dei's
deceptive and unethical practices.
The testimonies can be found under
Testimonies and Other
Writings.
Opus Dei, the Da Vinci
Code and ODAN
The Opus Dei Awareness Network,
Inc. (ODAN) has prepared a statement about Opus Dei and
how it is depicted in the novel and upcoming film "The Da Vinci
Code." The statement can be
read at the following link: Opus Dei,
the Da Vinci Code and ODAN
We have also posted new testimonies
in the "Testimonies and Other Writings" section of our website.
Included are two letters written to ODAN from parents with children
in Opus Dei schools (some identifying
information has been changed
to protect the identity of the children and
their families.) The letters can
be found at the following
links: Letter1 and
Letter2
If you have a testimony to share
involving a negative experience with Opus Dei, please contact
us. ODAN does not share information about anyone who has
contacted us unless permission
is given to do so.
Opus Dei's
Forbidden Book List
Opus Dei's "Index of Forbidden
Books" which they continue to deny using, has been updated
thanks to the Spanish sister group
Opus Libros.
The new list which is believed to be
current as of 2003,
can be accessed as an Excel spreadsheet at the
following link:
Index of Forbidden Books New
Legionaries of Christ:
Legionaries of Christ Founder
Father Marcial Maciel
Degollado
has been
forbidden by the Vatican
to
engage in any public ministry in
the wake of allegations
made by several individuals that Maciel had sexually
molested them over a period
of time that encompasses decades.
For more
information: Legion
of Christ
Opus Dei in the
Spotlight
Due to the release of
the 'Da Vinci Code' film on Friday, May 19, 2006, Opus Dei has been featured
in all
areas
of the media - television, radio and newsprint.
The movie, based on the novel by
Dan Brown,
includes Opus
Dei characters.
Articles and Programs
about Opus Dei:
CNN Paula Zahn, May 19,
2006
Former Opus Dei numerary assistant
Colleen O'Neill was interviewed live on CNN
Paula Zahn at
8:00 pm on Friday, May 19. Colleen left Opus Dei in
2005 and has been
providing interviews to the media about her experiences in
Opus Dei, which mirror those of
former members who left Opus Dei many years ago. The
testimony of a former Opus Dei
numerary assistant can be read at the following link:
http://www.odan.org/tw_basic_human_rights_were_violated.htm
Opus Dei Unveiled, The History Channel, May 16,
2006
Directed and
produced by George Tzimopoulos and Bill Brummel Productions
http://www.historychannel.com/davincidecoded/?page=schedule
Opus Dei: A Silent Revolution (2005,
52min) by Marcela Said and Jean de Certeau
Wednesday, May 17
http://www.nmwa.org/news/news.asp?newsid=213
Ex-Opus Dei Members Decry Blind Obedience
ABC News, by Charlotte Sector
http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=1856656&page=1
Opus Dei members: 'Da Vinci' distorted
Daily Record by Abbott Koloff, May 14, 2006
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060514/ENT05/605140346/1005/ARCHIVES
Does Opus Dei Have a Dark Side?
NBC 11, San Jose/San Francisco/Oakland, May 17, 2006
http://www.nbc11.com/index.html
Inside Opus Dei
Victoria News, by Mark Browne, May 19, 2006
http://web.bcnewsgroup.com/portals-code/list.cgi?cat=23&paper=36&id=651800
The Real Story on Opus Dei - Not the Hollywood Version
The Ottawa Citizen; the Associated Press, May 8, 2006
http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=db572eef-929e-4986-954f-b4ad923a01e3
Opus Dei lifts veil
NorthJersey.com, by John Chadwick, May 18, 2006
http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2OTM2MzY5JnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Mg==
Opus Dei in Spotlight Thanks to "Da Vinci Code"
KDKA Pittsburgh, Sonni Abatta reporting, May 15, 2006
http://kdka.com/seenon/local_story_135193203.html
Behind the Secret Sect of Opus Dei
CBS2 Chicago, Antonio Mora reporting, May 15, 2006
http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_134231944.html
Note: Opus Dei was denied a request to expand its
Windmoor facility near Notre Dame University by
the South Bend, Indiana zoning board on May 18, 2006.
Neighbors as well as officials at Notre Dame
University were opposed to the expansion.
Verdict handed down on Opus Dei
request
WNDU-TV, South Bend, Indiana, May 18,
2006
http://www.wndu.com/news/052006/news_50015.php
Expansion of Opus Dei group home has neighbors concerned
WNDU-TV: South Bend, Indiana, May 9, 2006
http://www.wndu.com/news/052006/news_49791.php
Note: The following two articles from the National
Catholic Reporter detail extreme changes
recently made by Opus Dei Bishop Robert Finn in the diocese
of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO.
Extreme makeover - the diocese
National Catholic Reporter, May 12, 2006
http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2006b/051206/051206a.php
No Rationale for upheaval in Kansas
City
National Catholic Reporter, May 12, 2006
http://ncronline.org/NCR_Online/archives2/2006b/051206/051206t.htm
Many in Bay Area Part of Opus Dei
ABC7News: San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose, May 12, 2006
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=assignment_7&id=4168073
The New York Daily News, April
30, 2006
The Sunday, April 30 edition of the New
York Daily News featured the following article about Opus
Dei:
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/413507p-349475c.html
The Record.com, May 13, 2006
"Doing 'the work of God'" by Mirko Petricevic
http://www.therecord.com/
Opus Dei, Vilified in 'Da
Vinci Code,' Runs Global MBA Schools
Bloomberg.Com, April 26, 2006
By Vernon Silver and Michael Smith
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000088&sid=afC6cxjKOvr0&refer=culture
Beware
the Cult of Opus Dei
from Traditio.com, Traditional Roman Catholic Network
Scroll down to "June 22" to
read this account of the cult-like tendencies
in Opus Dei, including blind obedience to superiors, the belief that the group
is entirely perfect as it was
established by the Founder, and fascist tendencies
turned to religious purposes.
On the same website, there are further comments
about Opus Dei at the following
link (scroll down to "Opus Dei" in the
alphabetical listing:
www.traditio.com/tradlib/faq10.txt )
About ODAN
The
Opus Dei Awareness Network, Inc. (ODAN) was founded in 1991 to meet
the growing demand
for accurate information
about Opus Dei and to
provide education, outreach and support to people
who have been
adversely affected by Opus Dei. ODAN challenges many of Opus Dei's
Questionable
Practices because of the way they affect an individual's personal
freedom,
choices
and family life.
Since
1991, ODAN has been in contact with countless individuals, families,
the secular and religious
press, clergy,
religious, cult awareness
organizations, campus ministers, home-schooling parents and more.
ODAN
is a worldwide community of people who have had painful experiences
as a result of their
association with Opus
Dei.
Contact
Us
ODAN
is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Donations are tax-deductible.
| Opus
Dei Awareness Network, Inc.
P.O. Box 4333
Pittsfield, MA 01202-4333
Telephone: 413-499-7168
Fax: 413-499-7860
Email: odan@odan.org
Executive
Director: Dianne DiNicola |
Revised May 7, 2008
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