When Dr. John J. Roche was a graduate student at Galway University, he joined Opus Dei as a numerary, as a full member, and has written a paper on the subject.

Gradually, Roche came to see that Opus Dei "was entirely self-centered, sectarian, and totalitarian, and that it was misleading the church about important points of its character."

After 14 years, he resigned in 1973 and took with him copies of about 140 editorials from "Cronica,’ the official magazine that all members use primarily for their meditation material.

Without success, Roche tried to draw the attention of church officials to the dangers found in Opus Dei, so he contacted "The Times,’ which published a study in January of 1981, and asked that the church forbid Opus Dei from recruiting any more members until after a thorough investigation had been made.

London’s Cardinal Hume, in December of 1981, published his guidelines for Opus Dei, requesting that it cease recruiting youngsters under 18, not prevent its members from seeking outside spiritual direction, and not prevent those who wish to leave from doing so.

Roche warns us that it is easy to be impressed with Opus Dei’s beautiful buildings, the energy of its well-dressed members, and their intense loyalty to Catholicism.

In reality, he says it is guided by fascist ideas turned to religious purposes. While living, the founder, Escriva de Balaquer, spread the word that he had received a vision of the Virgin Mary.

He demanded that the new recruits accept the fact that Opus Dei was revealed to him by God, was "absolutely perfect," and that he was infallible in matters of the "spirit of the work."

The members are told that they have no need to think. In fact, they are kept so busy with praying and working, there is neither the time nor the solitude for quiet thought.

Financially, the members are left with only a pittance after turning over their paychecks to Opus Dei, and even that pittance must be accounted for, though Opus Dei makes no accounting of its financial affairs.

The public, Roche says, sees happy, dedicated members, but that Opus Dei is harsh and unbalanced. The members beat themselves and wear spiked chains. The women sleep on a board every night, the men once a week.

Opus Dei follows a strange "apostolate of not giving." It does not give alms to the poor and the members are not allowed to give presents to anyone, but are pressed into forming friendships with the wealthy in order to obtain contributions.’

The members are allowed no holidays, and Roche says that they receive no gratitude and are worked relentlessly. Despite this, he tells us that many members are happy. They enjoy a deep sense of belonging and live in a world of certitude, with a strong sense of loyalty and purpose.

Those who cannot reconcile Opus Dei’s actions with Gospel values, resign; others may remain and attempt suicide.

Opus Dei cannot tolerate the light of day upon its activities, which is why every Catholic, lay and clerical, would do well to study Michael Walsh’s book, "Opus Dei, An Investigation Into the Secret Society Struggling For Power Within the Roman Catholic church," published by Harper-Collins.

That Josemaria Escriva de Balaquer was beatified on May 17, 1992, is a scandal to many in the Catholic world. To remain silent about this organization that is even today recruiting new members on college campuses, is an even greater scandal.

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