Is the Da Vinci Code more fiction
than fact in its portrayal of Opus Dei, the secretive Catholic
organization?
The
Da Vinci Code and Opus Dei:
Who is Telling the Truth?
by William Martin
With
the flood of publicity likely from occur from The Da Vinci Code, Opus
Dei, the organization cast as the 'baddies', are demanding cuts from the
movie 'so as not to offend Catholics'.
Whether the publicity will
actually offend Catholics are just give Opus Dei some unwelcome
attention is open to question.
http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1710298,00.html
"The Da Vinci Code's depiction
of Opus Dei is inaccurate, both in the overall impression and in many
details" according to their web site
http://www.opusdei.org/art.php?w=32&p=7017
and they are worried that
the 'inaccuracies' will be also in the movie.
Is Dan Brown's book more fiction
than fact - as far as its representation of Opus Dei?
It is hard to know for sure, but
there are a few things which do stand out in the midst of all the fuss.
Opus Dei's are trying to turn people's attention to the good work of
their members rather than the more controversial aspects of their
lifestyle. Certainly their main guiding principle of 'Finding God in
Work and Daily Life' is very appealing to many of us.
However, the practice of
self-mortification by some of their members leaves them open to
accusations of being a highly dubious organization. Opus Dei do not try
to deny that this happens. Indeed their website attempts to justify
self-mortification rather than disclaim it.
"Members of Opus Dei also
attempt to respond generously to Christ's invitation to take up the
Cross by traditional Christian practices of self-denial, including, in
some cases, use of the disciplines and the cilice."
A cilice, by the way, is a
spiked chain worn around the upper thigh for two hours each day.
One ex-member claims: "We were
encouraged to 'draw a little blood' and frequently told how 'the Father'
the founder of the organization- drew so much blood that he spattered
the walls and ceiling with it."
http://www.odan.org/media_roche.htm
Yet Opus Dei claim "These
practices of Christian asceticism are no more harmful to health than are
athletic training or the diets followed by many to improve their health
or appearance." Which seems pretty out-of-touch, no matter how
well-intended the explanation. They are clutching at straws to try and
justify a bizarre medieval practice.
Of course members of Opus Dei
are perfectly entitled to cause themselves unnecessary pain if they
want, but they can hardly expect the rest of us to believe that this
fits in with their attempts to live lives which are "peaceful and
brimming over with joy."
Although Opus Dei website tries
to meet the issues raised by The Da Vinci Code head on; it makes no
mention whatsoever of much longer-term assailant on their carefully
crafted image.
The Opus Dei Awareness Network (ODAN)
has been setup to help those who have been damaged by Opus Dei. "ODAN is
a worldwide community of people who have had painful experiences as a
result of their association with Opus Dei".
http://www.odan.org/
"ODAN challenges many of Opus
Dei's Questionable Practices because of the way they affect an
individual's personal freedom, choices and family life.
The following practices of Opus
Dei are not common knowledge and need to be examined and questioned. The
serious issues ODAN raises are based on a collection of first-hand
personal experiences.
- Corporal mortification -
Aggressive recruitment / undue pressure to join - Lack of informed
consent and control of environment - Alienation from families".
No doubt there are many good,
well-meaning people at Opus Dei, but it seems likely at the very least
that particular individuals have been abusing the power they gain from
being members. The Catholic church has long shown itself to be
appallingly bad a dealing with 'bad apples' in its midst. We only have
to look at how it handled accusations of child abuse against its priests
to see that (it just transferred the culprits). Whether it handles the
darker aspects of Opus Dei properly only time will tell.
The Opus Dei Awareness Network (ODAN)
claim that their information comes from first-hand personal experiences.
Their claims, if proven, are therefore a much greater threat to Opus Dei
than the Da Vinci Code. It would be good if ODAN could have some of the
publicity going to Opus Dei. Perhaps then we would get some real answers
out of Opus Dei and not just the media games and PR spin going on just
now.
Maybe neither Opus Dei nor The
Da Vinci Code are telling the truth. Perhaps it is ODAN.
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