Saints and schemers

by 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 first authoritative portrait of this elusive organization. He begins with a fascinating look at the founder of