I am a member of Opus
Dei and as you might expect I am indignant about Kate Mannix’s spray in the Sydney Morning Herald over an
institution that I love. But the Herald’s editorial team should be even more
indignant for having been hoodwinked into thinking that this was journalism.

The piece is riddled with errors of fact and gratuitous assertions
which should
have been queried. Let’s look at a single tightly packed sentence in
the middle
of Kate’s article. It implies that Opus Dei is involved in branch
stacking in
the Liberal Party. A body blow to its good name. Any evidence? It
implies that
Opus Dei is funnelling tax dollars into “pregnancy counselling
services.” Possibly a criminal offence. Any evidence? It implies that
these services are
“fronts for right-wing proselyting.” Sounds dishonest. In fact, it
sounds
downright defamatory. Any evidence? And that is just one of several
sentences
which beg for closer analysis. May I suggest that a lawyer scrutinise
every
sentence that Kate writes in the future for the SMH?

The article
also shows an abysmal ignorance of what the Catholic Church teaches. It
purports to
reveal the shameful secret that members of Opus Dei oppose abortion,
sterilisation, IVF and euthanasia. OK, Kate, this one is true. You’ve
caught us out. But, funny, I thought that all mainstream Catholics held
these views. In fact, I’m sure
of it. In fact, only if you have lived in Turkmenistan for the last
century
without a telephone, could you possibly not be aware of it.

The article
lists 14 values to which Opus Dei is allegedly committed and which Kate clearly
despises. But where did she get this shopping list? I have been a member of
Opus Dei for more than 30 years and I flatly deny that I am committed to this
set of values. If she wants to make fantasy shopping lists she can add that
Elvis is alive in Kansas City,
that Lee Harvey Oswald is innocent, that Abba is the greatest band of all time,
and that the Swans will win the AFL Grand Final. But, please, Kate, don’t
embarrass both of us by publishing them in the SMH.

It’s good
journalistic practice to explain unfamiliar names and organisations. For example,
Kofi Annan is normally referred to as “the embattled United Nations
Secretary-General” before he is demoted to “beleaguered UN chief.” I wish that
Opus Dei had as much brand recognition as the UN, but it doesn’t. So since Ms Mannix
failed to explain what Opus Dei is to her puzzled readers, here are 26 words of
elucidation: “Opus Dei is a personal Prelature of the Catholic Church that
helps ordinary lay people seek holiness in and through their everyday
activities, especially through work.” I found it on the official web site in
about 10 seconds.

Let me suggest that the Herald
purchase a reference copy of the authoritative Catechism of the Catholic Church and one of the numerous books
describing what Opus Dei is all about in order to fact-check future
contributions by Ms Mannix. In the long run, John Fairfax might save some
money.


Michael Cook is the Melbourne-based editor of the ezine
MercatorNet.