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Spain Opus Dei
The most influential Catholic lay group during the
Franco
period was the controversial Opus Dei (Work of God). This
group
did not fit conveniently into any political category.
Although it
denied any political aims, its members played pivotal
roles in
the modernization of the economy under Franco and in the
subsequent liberalization of politics and government. At
the same
time, they were theologically conservative, and their
desire for
modernization was far from radical. They believed that
economic
reforms would improve society to the extent that
thoroughgoing
political reforms would be unnecessary.
Opus Dei was founded in 1928 by an Aragonese priest,
Jose
Maria Escriva de Balaguer y Albas, and it was subsequently
recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as its first
secular
religious institution. Although attention has been drawn
primarily to its activities in Spain, it is an
international body
with members and associates throughout the world. Members
take a
vow to dedicate their professional talents to the service
of God
and to seek to win converts through their missionary zeal.
The
organization in Spain has emphasized professional
excellence, and
it has expected its members to serve in important
government
positions.
During the late 1950s and the 1960s, Opus Dei members
came to
control the economic ministries, and they occupied other
important cabinet posts as well. This was in keeping with
the
organization's aim of influencing the development of
society
indirectly. Opus Dei recruited its members from among the
brightest students, which encouraged a sense of elitism
and
clannishness. Because of this clannishness and the secrecy
that
surrounded the organization, some critics termed it the
"Holy
Mafia."
The Opus Dei technocrats were largely responsible for
devising, introducing, and later administering the
economic
stabilization program that formed the basis of Spain's
economic
development. They encouraged competition as a means of
achieving
rapid economic growth, and they favored economic
integration with
Europe. Although these policies implied eventual political
as
well as economic liberalization, this was not Opus Dei's
avowed
goal; the group remained socially conservative, stressing
personal piety and orthodox theology.
With the advent of democracy, Opus Dei lost much of its
influence, and it was condemned by the more progressive
forces in
both the Catholic hierarchy and Spanish society for having
propped up a repressive regime. Its stature was somewhat
restored
under Pope John Paul II, who viewed the orthodox
Catholicism of
the organization with favor. Opus Dei remained influential
in the
area of education as well as in certain sectors of the
financial
community.
Data as of December 1988
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