Saints and schemers

Juan Estruch, Joan Estruch, Joan Estruch, Juan Estruch

The Roman Catholic organization known as Opus Dei seems to attract either virulent criticism or extravagant praise. It has been attacked as a "secret society," an "ecclesiastical mafia," and a cult that promotes bizarre ascetic practices, enslaves its members by mind-control techniques, and intimidates detractors through personal attacks and character assassination. But it has many powerful allies, especially in the Vatican. Indeed, Pope John Paul II is a staunch supporter of Opus ("The Work") and of its founder, the late Monsignor Escriva de Balaguer, whose controversial beatification attracted 200,000 followers to St. Peter's Square in 1992. . Drawing on dozens of interviews with members and former members - including priests, educators, doctors, Jesuits, and insiders connected with the Vatican Curia - and mining Opus Dei's own literature for clues, Joan Estruch provides the...

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