Pope Francis withdraws his independence from Opus Dei – 05/08/2022 – World

This Thursday (4), renewal Pope Francis Which takes away the partial independence of Opus Dei. The measure, announced at the end of July, is just one in which the ultra-conservative Catholic organization is involved.

Now, Opus Dei will have to inform the Vatican about the internal situation of the organization and the development of its apostolic work. Previously, this type of accountability had to be passed every five years.

in the structure catholic church, the organization had a personal precedent, which allowed it to adopt its own hierarchy and expand into different areas – the bishop, the leader of the organization, leading the work of priests and deacons. Now, however, according to Francis’ design, a bishop would be called a proton-plus apostolic (also known as a monsignor) and would be forbidden to be considered a bishop and to wear an episcopal ring or robe.

According to the Pope, the goal of the change is to make Opus Dei an organization “based more on charisma than on hierarchical power.” a Spanish newspaper El País She stated that Francis believed the changes were in line with the ideas of Father Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, founder of the organization.

Accused by its critics of being a kind of secret cult that seeks to control power inside and outside the Vatican, Opus Dei was created in 1928. It is present in more than 60 countries and has 2,000 priests and 90,000 members, including politicians and businessmen. –Among them, Ecuadorean President Guillermo Laso.

Balaguer died in 1975. Almost 30 years later, he He was canonized by Pope John Paul II at the time, In a process criticized by the wings of the church, the priest associated the priest’s name with the regime of Francisco Franco in Spain (1939-1975). The dictator had at least three Opus Dei ministers in his cabinet.

And a spokesman for the organization, Thursday, avoided criticizing the papal decision. “Some have interpreted the articles of the Holy See as a reduction or loss of power. We are not interested in this kind of argument because a Catholic does not make sense to use ordinary categories of power,” Manuel Sanchez told AFP. Agency.

“We welcome what comes from the Holy Father, with the desire to deepen what is necessary.”

Even at the end of July, when this measure was initially announced, the current leader of Opus Dei, Father Fernando Ocariz Praña, played down it as well. According to El Pais, the leader assured the faithful that assigning his position as bishop was not necessary and that his main task for him was to be “a guide and, above all, a father.”

The end of Opus Dei’s partial independence comes two days after the date BBC report Alleged crimes committed by the organization between the 1990s and early 2000s. According to 43 women scattered across Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay, they were subjected to servitude and exploitation by priests.

Opus Dei told the British network that there had been no notification of a complaint from church authorities, but announced the creation of a hearing and study committee – although it said it was doing so “for moral rather than legal motives”.