God's Work, Indeed

The situation in East Africa has renewed the prominence of António Guterres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. That erstwhile President of the Socialist International has a long history in Opus Dei.

But then, Ruth Kelly was until recently the most prominent Opus Dei politician in the world; I am not sure who now is. Its ranks also included the recently deceased Squire Lance, Saul Alinsky’s chosen successor. They still include Antonio Fontán, Paola Binetti, Llúis Foix, Mario Maiolo and Xavi Casajuana (if we count Catalan nationalism as part of the Left; it is certainly a very long way from Franco), among others. Most of the Chilean Chicago Boys were not members of Opus Dei. Pinochet himself never had any affiliation with it.

Opus Dei runs ELIS in Rome, the Midtown Center in Chicago, the Moluka medical clinic in Kinshasa, the Los Pinos educational centre in Montevideo, the Braval programme of professional formation for immigrants in Barcelona, the Laguna care centre in Madrid, the Harambee 2002 project, Condoray in Cañete, the Institute for Industrial Technology in Lagos, the Guatanfur agricultural and stock raising school in Temza, the Anauco medical dispensary in Caracas, the Centenario medical clinic in Monterrey, the Informal Sector Business Institute in Nairobi, and so many more besides. Google them, people. Google them.

Of six right-wing Opus Dei politicians listed on Wikipedia, four are dead (one since 1966), whereas the three broad left-wingers listed, including two women, are all still alive. So, insofar as it has a political orientation, Opus Dei’s would seem to be towards the Left, if anything. Much like the Catholic Church Herself, in fact. Which is one among numerous reasons to hope, work and pray for the Catholic Church at large to become much more like Opus Dei.