Opus Dei: Not Only Wet But Also Dishonoured
• Gurpegui describes the behaviour of Opus Dei as 'as grotesque as it was predictable', despite the fact that the Vatican 'is taking away their land'.
• Opus Dei pretends that it is only holy water falling on them: "Even if it smells like something." In the 'Questions and Answers' article, Opus Dei responds 'with its classic monotone and self-indulgent voice' to questions that no one has asked. For example: “Is it true that we have been given an ultimatum?”
• Gurpegui parodies the Opus Dei response: 'Nooo, of course not. We only presented the new statutes after two years because we like the synodal and participatory process.'
• Opus Dei continues to deny that there has been any pressure or that Pope Francis wanted to reduce its influence.
• In April, Opus Dei convened an ordinary congress, but due to Francis's death it ended up being a mini congress whose aim was to approve decisions made by others.
• Pope Leo summoned Opus Dei on the first day of his mandate and reminded them that they owed him the new statutes.
• "We can imagine the scene", writes Gurpegui: "The Pope nodding gravely as he looks at the papers and the Prelate trying to convey enthusiasm for something that everyone knows is the final chapter of a carefully disguised surrender."
• One of the highlights of the question-and-answer article is the attempt to explain that 'the legal framework does not affect the life of the faithful'.
• Gurpegui: "They change your house, fire you from your job, assign you a legal guardian, and tell you it's no 'big deal' because you're still you. And if you're not convinced, it means you haven't understood the charism properly."
• The article stresses that the changes will not be made public until they are approved by the Pope. Gurpegui draws the conclusion: 'We will not know what has been negotiated, conceded or reformed until there is nothing left to discuss'.
• 'Transparency à la carte. Or rather, à la romana – meanwhile, Opus repeats its favourite refrain of obedience, fidelity and unity, as if that were enough to stop the tectonic shift beneath their feet."
• "But let us not fear, they say, the 'charisma' will remain intact. Perhaps one day they will continue to exist as a private association of the faithful with their 'intact' charisma."
• 'Anyone who wants to defend the integrity of Opus Dei has two options: either recognise that it is being dismantled step by step from Rome, or continue playing the stupid game of "everything is fine".'
• Gurpegui: 'We, without defending them — because they are also to blame for recent events in the Church — will at least not act as cheerleaders for their institutional self-deception.'
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