Customer Reviews

Their Kingdom Come: Inside the Secret World of Opus Dei

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Seldom do I come across a book that turns me off so quickly, and so completely, as this book did. For a little over a year I have been researching Opus Dei with the goal of doing my Thesis on the organization. If even a tenth of what this book claims is true, then this group is the best in the world at keeping secrets, and the people I have known who are members are great deceivers, better than what the devil himself is given credit for being.

The cover of the book claims: "A responsible piece of investigative reporting ... packed with meticulous detail." from Publishers Weekly. Yet I find none of that in this book in comparison with other books on the same subject. Both this author, and Michael Walsh in his book The Secret World of Opus Dei, claim to have access to secret documents that are not reproduced or evidenced other than their claims given to their existence.

Hutchison claims that Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei, was not really interested in the spiritual life of his followers. He states: "Escriva was interested in power. He was a schemer. God's schemer. And he wanted to control higher education, and later government ministries." p.87 This book makes such wide and varied accusations against Opus Dei that it is hard to believe the author has not been charged with libel and slander. Hutchison claims that Opus Dei has overturned governments, controlled the FBI and the CIA, bankrupted the Vatican so that Opus Dei could bail them out, and orchestrated assassination attempts including the one against Pope Paul VI. He even went so far as to claim that Opus Dei controls the majority of the Clergy and Laity in the Roman Curia and that they even actively recruit in the Pentagon and other government organizations around the world to achieve the power and control they want. Hutchison even alludes to the fact that Pope John Paul II was really just a puppet for Opus Dei; he calls JPII Opus Dei's Pope.

How this book is published as Non-Fiction and not Fiction I will never know. Of the 30 odd books I have read, both for and against Opus Dei in the last year, this book is definitely the worst and thus deserves a `Hate It' book review. If you want to read something unbiased and informative, I would start with John Allen Jr.'s book Opus Dei: An Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church. It is worth the read. But this book by Hutchison is trash and does not deserve your time, effort or hard-earned money.

(First Published in Imprint 2007.01.12 as 'Hate it' part of the 'Love it/ Hate it' book review column.)

Now in an newly updated and expanded edition, Their Kingdom Come: Inside the Secret World of Opus Dei is a scathing expose of the elite shadow government behind the Vatican, Opus Dei. From their unholy alliance with the Mafia, secular powerbrokers, and high-ranking prelates, to the threat that money and politics poses to the Christian values underlying the Catholic Church itself, Their Kingdom Come chills the spine as it shows how absolute power corrupts absolutely. Written by journalist and National Business Writing Award winner Robert Hutchinson, Their Kingdom Come is highly recommended for lay readers and religious leadership alike, both as a warning of Opus Dei's shortcomings and a cautionary tale for other religious groups, institutions and movements.

This book is loaded with sensational "revelations" - all you have to do is replace rational thought with gullibility and have a rollicking read.

As with many books of this genre, the author relies upon suggestion, rather than proof to support his thesis. What "may have happened" in one chapter becomes fact when repeated in another. The result is something more akin to a cross between tabloid journalism and a witchhunt, than serious investigation.

The author follows the path of Opus Dei founder, Monseigneur Escrivar and the organisation itself. Interwoven are tales of alleged financial improriety, neafrious dealings in the vatican, and shadowy right wing conspiracies. Sadly, nothing in this book goes much beyond unproven conjecture.

Along the way there is a vigorous defence of Liberation theology, which was at the root of decades of civil war in Latin America, and a staunch effort by the author to equate anyone opposed to it with the CIA or worse.

There is no denying that the Catholic Church was involved in a political fight during the Cold War. With many millions of Catholics locked behind the Iron Curtain, and the Church struggling for its very survival, that is not surprising. What is surprising is that the author put any consideration of these factors aside when writing his work.

Expedited sainthood for Father Jose Maria Escriva is but one theme Robert Hutchison develops in this 486 page work. Less apparent to the reader is the personality of the energetic founder of Opus Dei. The author may have caught a profound and intimate glimpse of him and chose not to convey it. Father Jose as an organizer, religious figure, flagellante and scholar is depicted only briefly. Unfortunately, some aspects of his life and personal qualities, which had to be sizable, if not larger than life, are not fully conveyed here. Apparently, it was not at all easy to be regarded fondly by Father Escriva. Some saints may not be as cordial as one would think.

Of course, the book purports to focus on Opus Dei not its founder. In preparation to read this, one might wish to read at least a primer on the Spanish Civil War.Those with specialized interest and knowledge of this important period of modern European history will best be able to judge if Hutchison got it right! Considerable detail , some tangential, is provided on a very complex piece of Spain's history. Founded in 1928 with direct revelations received by Father Escriva, the organization was born in the fateful years leading up to the Civil War.

Certainly the impact of Opus Dei is being felt in the corridors of the UN and is sometimes seen as unseemly. Its outreach is worldwide. The author provides sparce information about the OD in the United States with a membership of 5,000 reported in 1995. We are told R. Sargent Shriver and wife Eunice of the Kennedy clan "became active Opus Dei operators (sic)." Little else is said by Hutchison about OD in America. He does say the former head of the FBI, Louis Freeh, was an Opus Dei supernumerary. Amazing if true!

Opus Dei interest in the American stock market is known and monies have been invested "anonymously" according to the author. Opus Dei is also said to be a major trader in EuroDollars, making a religious organization founded to do God's work, a significant financial player, at least in Europe. There are many other financial holdings and interests it is claimed. Not the least of these are the church's loss of 100s of millions of dollars in the mid 1970s due to bank Italian failures. Opus Dei stepped in with large amounts of funds to assist the church in its shock and embarrassment.

Hutchison vividly describes the secret and hidden aspects of OD operations. He suggests that it is the most important organization within the Catholic church with special patronage from Pope John Paul. Even as a cardinal, Carol Wojtyla was a supporter. This is a remarkable claim given the power of the Roman Curia, the ever growing college of Cardinals, the various priestly orders and the many apostolates. Opus Dei has been called a "floating diocese" and has the special status of a "Personal Prelature." Interestingly Escriva did not participate in the great modern council of the church, Vatican II, feeling snubbed by Pope John XXIII on several matters not the least of which was a cardinal's hat. He is said to have "dubbed it the council of the Devil."

Released in 1997, Hutchison's book devotes considerable space to the issues separating Islam from Christianity. He highlights some of Opus Dei's activities relative to Islam. He suggests that Dr. Hassan al-Turabi is one of the most dangerous figures in the Islamic world. He notes that Turabi and "his chief of staff, Saudi entrepreneur Osama Binladen, are financing Islamic extremists...". He states, Osama answered the call of jihad in 1985. All of this written prior to printing in 1997!

The crucible for some of this conflict is Africa where the church is losing ground to Islam. Opus Dei is very likely lobbying for a Spanish pope to succeed John Paul. However, to counter the Islamic surge in Africa, the pope that follows will be African.

All of these points are made while providing, as a frame of reference, the goals and activities of those of Opus Dei doing "God's work" in many places. God's work is indeed varied. Father Escriva taught a kind of "Protestant work ethic" but with much greater severe religious discipline and practices.

The final chapter and epilogue do not end on a positive note. Hutchison counsels implicitly throughout this book that Vatican watchers will want to continue to closely observe Opus Dei as the most significant and yet largely unseen force in the Catholic church. It may make serious and dramatic false steps in dealing with Islam. The implications could be widespread and not limited to Catholic church interests.

Charting the many flash points in Africa, Europe and the Philippines, the author quotes the Archbishop of Canterbury. Dr. Carey raises doubts that "two missionary religions, seeking holiness and truth, can commit to dialogue". This describes a world stage set for religious conflict.

Opus Dei may be described as modern "Knights Templar" disciplining itself as warriors. Hutchiscon sees Opus Dei as a cult within the Catholic church. Members believe the founder, Jose Maria Scriva, was chosen by God to save the church. The founder taught his followers, "all things are lawful to me, not all things are expedient." There is an intimation that he thought of the papacy for himself in this life. He achieved sainthood in the next instead.

9-10-02 psb

At the present, Opus Dei is a network of old boys who seek to disown Vatican II and disembowell those who disagree with their Gnostic agenda. This book was originally published by Doubleday in England, and the American Doubleday refused to touch it with a 10 foot pole. Doubleday US had made a bundle by selling a cheap edition of the outdated Catholic Catechism which undercut almost every other publisher of the Catechism. The publication of the original Catechism was the subject of an Antitrust inquiry concerning price-fixing, and forced bundling of hard and paperback editions. (Price fixing and tie-ins are per se criminal violations of the Sherman Act, Sec. 1)

The list of present members of this Masonic P(5) structure, pp. 432-4, include such persons as Cormac Burke of the Tribunal. Burke was a financial front man for University Hostels. One should note that the cross-fertilization between Freemasonry and Opus Dei is just hinted at in this book. At one time over "121 senior prelates were Freemasons." This included "cardinals Villot, Poletti, and Baggio." Villot is the person who disposed of the papers found in John Paul I's hands when he died. This is just one small tidbit from this definitive work. A much longer review may be found in Natl. Catholic Reporter.

The author has done a definitive study of Vesco, and this volume follows in that tradition.

In my opinion, this book is another compilation of calumnies against Opus Dei, or "The Work". The author silences many facts about Opus Dei. For exmaple, that all the Popes have supported the Work, not just John Paul II. Even John Paul I, who ruled the Church just for 33 days, and was described by many as a "liberal" or "progresist" Cardinal, was an admirer of Monsignor Escrivá, the founder of the Work, and one month before being elected Pope, wrote an excellent article about the Work and it's founder, which compares with St. Francis of Sales. Mr. Hutchinson silences also that Opus Dei is an important part always in the interreligious dialogue. In my country, the Work's university's is the only one which allows jew students, to stay at home on saturday, their sacred day. The most incredible accusation of the author, is that the Work is preparing another crusade. I think no one can believe that, seriously, today, that someone is thinking about a new crusade. If you are of the kind of people imagining conspiracies, corruption an secrecies everywhere, this is the book for you. If you want to read something more objective, I would recommend you Vittorio Messori's one, which is also sold by Amazon.

If 25% of what the author alleges is true, the Church is in serious trouble. From the expose of the ignoble character of its founder to the buying up of Vatican debt, the power and influence of Opus Dei is revealed as a cancerous arrogance that has invaded and even taken over the highest places in the church. Everyone who cares for the Church should study this book with earnest purpose.

The classical example of pre-judice: litterally a judgment already decided. The thesis of this book were there before even trying to understand this institution. The pages were written only to denigrate Opus Dei and the Cathloic Church. A true example of "tollerance": if your ideas are not in line with mine, then I need to destroy you. A book which don't worth even the paper on which it has been printed. Full of lies and manipulated reality to picture the author's own world.

This is an excellent book - superbly researched and written. I would imagine that any previous negative reviews were submitted by Opus Dei sympathizers. That's fine, of course. Everyone has the right to their own opinion. It is therefore my opinion that anyone who is interested in the machinations of the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church should buy this book and digest it thoroughly.

Another attempt to jump on the conspiracy bandwagon with false and unproven accusations by someone who apparently has no real idea of the aims and purpose of Opus Dei. Should have been rightly advertised as Fiction, which it certainly is, in which case I would have regarded it somewhat entertaining but mostly boring.