December 14, 2006
Fighting Opus Dei
From a dairy on dKos:
Help Stand Up to Opus Dei Hotlist
by Frank Cocozzelli [Subscribe]
Thu Dec 14, 2006 at 12:31:51 PM PST
Many of you know my writings on the Catholic Right. Well, my friend Dianne DiNicola asked me to post this request.
The Opus Dei Awareness Network is doing some wonderful work against a very reactionary organization. Can you help them out?
OPUS DEI AWARENESS NETWORK, INC.
(ODAN)
PO BOX 4333, PITTSFIELD, MA 01202-4333
Telephone: (413) 499-7168; Fax: (413) 499-7860
WEB: www.odan.org, E-MAIL: odan@odan.org
December, 2006
Dear Friends and Supporters of ODAN,
ODAN is 15 years old! Our outreach has multiplied exponentially since that September weekend in 1991 when ODAN was formed by a group of people who believed the world should be educated about Opus Dei's questionable practices. After several months of publicity leading up to the release of the DaVinci Code movie, ODAN's website was hosting over 20,000 people a day and in April and May alone had almost 3 million hits. The media considered ODAN the organization to go to for critical information about Opus Dei.
Former members who contacted ODAN gave media interviews all over the world, including the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Latin America, Australia, and Asian countries to name a few. ODAN was featured on the History Channel, National Geographic, CBS Sunday Morning, and ABC Good Morning America, Time Magazine, People Magazine and the New York Daily News, to name a few. Countless numbers of reporters from newspapers, magazines and local TV news also contacted ODAN for interviews.
While the activity level of ODAN remained high for several months, Opus Dei was out there implementing "Operation Lemonade". This was Opus Dei's plan of action, thought up by a group of male members in Rome in January 2006, to counteract the negative publicity they were receiving from the DaVinci Code.
Put into play were Opus Dei's huge resources of money and means to obscure how they truly operate. They produced glossy, high powered tapes and supplied complex approaches to the media. They trotted out member after member to project a happy and content image of themselves. Many of us know that is a contrived image. They even publicly lied when asked directly how a person joined and what constituted membership and whether Opus Dei numeraries keep statistics about potential recruits and hand over their entire salaries to Opus Dei. At the same time, ODAN was hearing from people who talked about just the opposite. All the publicity served as a means to connect those of us who have a critical view of Opus Dei - many former members contacted ODAN after viewing us on television.
ODAN produced the following statement regarding the Da Vinci Code in order to answer the many questions posed by individuals and the media regarding Opus Dei. http://www.odan.org/... We wanted to point out the ways that Opus Dei was portrayed inaccurately and with sensationalism in the Da Vinci Code, so that the public would be aware of Opus Dei's more subtle questionable practices.
ODAN also was able to join with two other groups critical of Opus Dei, Opus Libros located in Madrid, Spain. http://www.opuslibros.org/... and Opus Livres located in Sao Paulo, Brazil http://www.opuslivre.org/ Together, we formed a collaboration, The International Collaboration for Truth about Opus Dei, to speak out about the manipulation and deception that is embedded in Opus Dei. No longer can Opus Dei say their critics are just a few disgruntled former members.
Due to the increased publicity, some former members also agreed to post their experiences on the ODAN website. ODAN is a voice for people who otherwise would not have a forum by which to tell their harmful, life altering experiences with Opus Dei. If you would like to read those personal testimonies, log onto the ODAN website to http://www.odan.org/...
In 1981 Cardinal Hume of London, England issued a statement with guidelines about Opus Dei's proselytizing in his country. He had received numerous complaints, especially from parents who saw their aggressive recruitment tactics. Publicly Opus Dei stated they had always adhered to the guidelines when in reality they were actively recruiting minors and instructing them not to inform their parents This spring, ODAN posted the testimony of a man from England who had been recruited by Opus Dei as a minor during the time of Cardinal Hume's guidelines. (http://www.odan.org/...) What is significant is ODAN is still hearing from former members who reside in England and elsewhere, saying the same things about Opus Dei. Nothing has changed.
This year ODAN needs your financial help more than ever. It is difficult to combat an organization that has huge resources of money and means. ODAN has stood its ground, thanks to your generous contributions and support. With the increasing recognition of ODAN comes an increase in funding needs. If you are able to double your donation this year, it will help ODAN to continue to expose Opus Dei and show the world the harm caused by its questionable practices. Many individuals and families will be spared the heartache some of us have experienced because the right information will be available at the right time. We are dependent on your generosity and prayers. Remember your donation is tax deductible.
Sincerely yours,
Dianne DiNicola
Executive Director
Donations may be made out to:
ODAN (Opus Dei Awareness Network, Inc.)
PO Box 4333
Pittsfield, MA 01202-4333
USA
Cash, money orders and checks accepted. Receipts are issued for all donations. Donations are fully tax deductible - ODAN is a registered 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Thank you for your support.
Please print and enclose the following with your donation:
_
Opus Dei Awareness Network, Inc.
FUNDING APPEAL
( ) Yes! I want to support ODAN.
Realizing ODAN depends upon charitable funding, I am enclosing a donation of
$500 ( ) $250 ( ) $100 ( ) $50 ( ) $25 ( ) Other__
I/We realize ODAN needs regular supporters and so would like to contribute $_per month/per quarter.
Office Use
NameID#_
Address_AMT._
CityState_ZipD.Rcd
Phone( )EmailCkNo.
Thank you for your support and generosity.
ODAN: Challenging the Questionable Practices of Opus Dei."
Please make your tax-deductible contribution payable to ODAN, PO Box 4333, Pittsfield, MA. 01202-4333
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