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May 15, 2006

Opus Dei Wow!

Images of Opus Dei headquarters have been removed from Dan Brown's website gallery "until further notice." Given that Da Vinci director Ron Howard has refused to add a disclaimer to his film I expect the disappearing HQ photos have more to do with corporate sensitivity than a globe-spanning conspiracy to supress the truth about the life of Jesus.

In fact, Jack Valero, the communications director for the UK branch of Opus Dei, has gone all New Labour with spin. "Operation Transparency" is meant to put a human face on what until recently been a private, even secretive, endeavour. After all, you could not buy the sort of publicity.

Once the whipping boy of progressive Catholics, long unfairly associated with shadowy Spanish politics and Vatican intrigues, the face of Opus Dei is now Valero’s: cheery, energetic, transparent, as open as its doors. You want to meet a supernumerary musician with twins in Notting Hill? No problem. Discuss mortification with a celibate numerary? Sure!

Whipping boy, get it? Corporal mortification may sound kinky but Opus Dei explains how it is quite boring really.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at May 15, 2006 09:43 AM