Editing Opus Dei (section)

== Organization and activities ==

The Catholic News Agency website published on 26 August 2024, a report headlined "Opus Dei prelate responds to those who consider group 'conservative powerful and secretive.{{'"}} The prelate pointed out in the article; "the main contribution of Opus Dei is to accompany the laity [98% of its members] so that they can be protagonists of the evangelizing mission of the Church in the midst of the world, one by one."<ref>{{cite web |last=Silva |first=Walter Sánchez |title=Opus Dei prelate responds to those who consider group 'secretive' |website=Catholic News Agency |date=24 August 2024 |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258899/opus-dei-prelate-responds-to-those-who-consider-group-conservative-powerful-and-secretive |access-date=17 October 2024}}</ref>

=== Governance ===
{{Main|Personal prelature}}
In Pope John Paul II's 1982 decree known as the [[Apostolic constitution]] ''Ut Sit'', Opus Dei was established as a personal prelature, an official structure of the [[Catholic Church]], similar to a [[diocese]] in that it contains lay people and secular priests led by a bishop. However, whereas a bishop normally has a territory or diocese, the prelate of Opus Dei is pastor to the members and priests of Opus Dei worldwide, no matter what diocese they are in. Opus Dei is the only personal prelature in existence.<ref name="Press Office of the Holy See 2022" /> In addition to being governed by ''Ut Sit'' and by the Catholic Church's general law, Opus Dei is governed by the church's Particular Law concerning Opus Dei, otherwise known as Opus Dei's statutes. This specifies the objectives and workings of the prelature. The prelature is under the [[Congregation for Bishops]].<ref name="Pope John Paul II 2006">{{cite web |url=http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CBISUTSI.HTM |author=Pope John Paul II |title=Apostolic Constitution ''Ut Sit'', Establishing Opus Dei as the first Personal Prelature of the Catholic Church |access-date=27 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=10877 |work=Opus Dei Official Site |title=Place in the Church |access-date=27 November 2006}}</ref>

Opus Dei's highest assembled bodies are the General Congresses, which are convened once every eight years. There are separate congresses for the men's and women's branches of Opus Dei. The General Congresses are made up of members appointed by the prelate and are responsible for advising him about the prelature's future. The men's General Congress also elects the prelate from a list of candidates chosen by their female counterparts.<ref name="82STATUTES">[http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=12491 Original Latin version] on Opus Dei Official Site</ref> After the death of a prelate, a special elective General Congress is convened. The women nominate their preferred candidates for the prelate and is voted upon by the men to become the next prelate—an appointment that must be confirmed by the Pope.<ref name="82STATUTES" />

The head of the Opus Dei prelature is known as the prelate.<ref name="Pope John Paul II 2006" /> The prelate is the primary governing authority and is assisted by two councils—the General Council (made up of men) and the Central Advisory (made up of women).<ref>{{cite web |title=What is Opus Dei – Governance |url=http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=13018 |access-date=28 November 2006 |work=Opus Dei Official Site}}</ref> The prelate holds his position for life. The current prelate of Opus Dei is [[Fernando Ocáriz Braña]], who became the third prelate of Opus Dei on 23 January 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=Monsignor Ocariz confirmed as new Prelate of Opus Dei |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/35290/monsignor-ocariz-confirmed-as-new-prelate-of-opus-dei |access-date=24 January 2017 |agency=Catholic News Agency}}</ref> The first prelate of Opus Dei was [[Álvaro del Portillo]], who held the position from 1982 until his death in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |title=Opus Dei |url=http://www.ideasrapidas.org/opusdeii.htm |access-date=27 November 2006 |work=IdeasRapidas.org}}</ref>

=== Membership ===
{{As of|2018}}, the faithful of the Opus Dei Prelature numbered 95,318 members, of which 93,203 are lay persons, men and women, and 2,115 priests.{{Cn|date=November 2024}} These figures do not include the priest members of Opus Dei's [[Priestly Society of the Holy Cross]], estimated to number 2,000 in the year 2005.<ref name="Allen 2005" />{{page needed|date=September 2020}} About 60 percent of Opus Dei faithful reside in Europe, and 35 percent reside in the Americas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=26013 |agency=[[Zenit News Agency]] |title=Opus Dei: Its Mission, Structure and Members |access-date=27 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613054142/http://zenit.org/english/visualizza.phtml?sid=26013 |archive-date=13 June 2006}}</ref> Women comprise 57% of the total membership.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/35260/this-is-the-process-for-opus-deis-election-of-a-new-prelate |title=This is the process for Opus Dei's election of a new prelate |agency=Catholic News Agency}}</ref> According to the study of John Allen, for the most part, Opus Dei faithful belong to the middle to low levels in society in terms of education, income, and social status.<ref name="Messori 1997">{{Cite book |author=Messori, Vittorio |url=https://archive.org/details/opusdeileadershi00mess |title=Opus Dei, Leadership and Vision in Today's Catholic Church |publisher=Regnery Publishing |year=1997 |isbn=0-89526-450-1}}</ref>

Opus Dei is made up of several different types of faithful.<ref name="BBC 2006" /> According to the Statutes of Opus Dei,<ref>[http://opusdei.us/en-us/article/statutes-of-opus-dei/ Statutes of Opus Dei]; the editio typica of the Statutes is given in Latin on the Opus Dei webpage. An unofficial English translation is published on the [http://www.odan.org/statutes_1982.htm ODAN website]</ref> the distinction derives from the degree to which they make themselves available for the official activities of the Prelature and for giving formation according to the spirit of Opus Dei.<ref>Statutes of Opus Dei 2.7</ref> Supernumeraries, the largest type, currently account for about 70% of the total membership.<ref name="Grossman 2003">{{Cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/12/07/catholics-scrutinize-enigmatic-opus-dei/ |work=Chicago Tribune |title=Catholics scrutinise enigmatic Opus Dei |access-date=11 January 2011 |first=Ron |last=Grossman |date=7 December 2003}}</ref> Typically, supernumeraries are married men and women with careers. Supernumeraries devote a portion of their day to prayer, in addition to attending regular meetings and taking part in activities such as retreats. Due to their career and family obligations, supernumeraries are not as available to the organization as the other types of faithful, but typically contribute financially and lend other types of assistance as their circumstances permit.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://opusdei.org/en-ph/article/letter-from-the-prelate-28-october-2020/ |title=Letter from the Prelate (28 October 2020) |website=Opus Dei}}</ref>

[[Types of membership of Opus Dei#numeraries|Numeraries]], the second largest type of the faithful of Opus Dei, comprise about 20% of the total membership.<ref name="Grossman 2003" /> "Numerary" is a general term for persons who form part of the permanent staff of an organization. In Opus Dei, numeraries are celibate members who give themselves in "full availability" ({{lang|la|plena disponibilitas}}) for the official undertakings of the Prelature.<ref>Statutes of Opus Dei 2.9</ref> A study comparing [[Scientology]] and Opus Dei found some similarities as well as strong differences.<ref name="Billing 2000">{{cite book |last1=Billing |first1=Werner |chapter=Zusammenfassung und Vergleich |date=2000 |title=Opus Dei und Scientology: Die staats- und gesellschaftspolitischen Vorstellungen. Kollision oder Übereinstimmung mit dem Grundgesetz? |pages=147–148 |editor-last=Billing |editor-first=Werner |chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-322-95152-6_4 |access-date=28 August 2024 |place=Wiesbaden |publisher=VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften |language=de |doi=10.1007/978-3-322-95152-6_4 |isbn=978-3-322-95152-6 |last2=Sauer |first2=Michael |editor2-last=Sauer |editor2-first=Michael}}</ref> This includes full availability for giving doctrinal and ascetical formation to other members, for staffing the internal government of Opus Dei if asked by the regional directors, and for moving to other countries to start or help with apostolic activities if asked by the prelate.<ref>Statutes of Opus Dei 2.8. See also [http://www.opusdei.org/en-us/article/members/ Christians in the Middle of the World]</ref> Numeraries are expected to live in [[Single-sex education|gender-specific]] centers run by Opus Dei,<ref>{{cite web |title=Conservative Catholic Influence in Europe |url=http://www.population-security.org/cffc-97-01.htm |access-date=27 November 2006 |work=Center for Research on Population and Security}}</ref> and the question of which particular center a numerary will live in depends upon the regional needs.<ref>Statutes of Opus Dei 2.8</ref> It is considered very important for numeraries to participate in daily meals and "get-togethers" in which the sharing of news and conversation takes place.<ref>J. Allen, Opus Dei, Ch. 3</ref> Numeraries generally have jobs outside of Opus Dei, although some are asked to work internally full-time, and thus change their professional goals in order to be available for the Prelature. The majority of numerary income is contributed to the organization.<ref name="Martin 2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.americamagazine.org/content/articles/martin-opusdei.cfm |work=America: The National Catholic Weekly |title=Opus Dei in the United States |author=James Martin, S.J. |access-date=27 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116173841/http://www.americamagazine.org/content/articles/martin-opusdei.cfm |archive-date=16 January 2009}}</ref> 

[[Types of membership of Opus Dei|Numerary assistants]] are a type of numerary that exists in the Women's Branch of Opus Dei. They are responsible for the "domestic tasks in the Centres of Opus Dei, which they willingly undertake as their professional work."<ref>Statutes of Opus Dei Chapter 2, Paragraph 9</ref> 
[[Types of membership of Opus Dei|Associates]] are celibate faithful who take on one or more apostolic assignment(s) from the Prelature in giving doctrinal and ascetical formation and/or coordinating activities.<ref name="Statutes of Opus Dei 2">Statutes of Opus Dei 2.10</ref> They differ from numeraries in not making themselves "fully" available to staff the official undertakings of the Prelature, instead giving themselves in additional social realities, such as through their profession or to their own families.<ref name="Martin 2009" /> Because of this difference in availability for the official activities of Opus Dei, unlike numeraries the associates do not live in Opus Dei centers but maintain their own abodes.<ref name="Statutes of Opus Dei 2" /> The [[Types of membership of Opus Dei|Clergy of the Opus Dei Prelature]] are priests who are under the jurisdiction of the prelate of Opus Dei. They are a minority in Opus Dei that makes up about 2% of Opus Dei members.<ref name="Grossman 2003" />

The [[Opus Dei: Priestly Society of the Holy Cross|Priestly Society of the Holy Cross]] consists of priests associated with Opus Dei. Part of the society is made up of the clergy of the Opus Dei prelature—priests who fall under the jurisdiction of the Opus Dei prelature are automatically members of the Priestly Society. Other members in the society are diocesan priests—clergymen who remain under the jurisdiction of a geographically defined diocese. These priests are considered full members of Opus Dei who are given its spiritual training. They do not, however, report to the Opus Dei prelate but to their own diocesan bishop.<ref name="Scepter 2003">{{Cite book |author1=Pedro Rodríguez |author2=Fernando Ocariz |author3=José Luis Illanes |title=Opus Dei in the Church |publisher=Scepter |year=2003 |isbn=1-889334-93-6}}</ref> {{As of|2005}}, there were roughly two thousand of these priests.<ref name="Allen 2005" />{{page needed|date=September 2020}} 

The [[Types of membership of Opus Dei|Cooperators of Opus Dei]] are non-members who collaborate in some way with Opus Dei—usually through praying, charitable contributions, or by providing some other assistance. Cooperators are not required to be celibate or to adhere to any other special requirements, and are not even required to be Christian.<ref name="Scepter 2003" /> There were 164,000 cooperators in the year 2005.<ref name="Allen 2005" />{{page needed|date=September 2020}} In accordance with Catholic theology, membership is granted when a [[vocation]] or divine calling is presumed to have occurred.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://opusdei.org/en-ph/article/joining-opus-dei/ |title=Joining Opus Dei |website=Opus Dei}}</ref>

=== Activities ===
{{Main|Opus Dei in society}}
[[File:Universidad de navarra.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Central building of the [[University of Navarra]]]]
Leaders of Opus Dei describe the organization as a teaching entity whose main activity is to train Catholics to assume personal responsibility in sanctifying the secular world from within.<ref name="Van Biema 2006">{{cite magazine |author=David Van Biema |title=The Ways of Opus Dei |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1184078,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519210025/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1184078,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 May 2006 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=19 April 2006 |access-date=24 March 2007}}</ref><ref>Escrivá said, "Opus Dei is a great catechesis." {{cite web |url=http://www.josemariaescriva.info/index.php?id_cat=229&id_scat=35&modeprint=active |work=JosemariaEscriva.info |title=Catechetical Trips |access-date=27 November 2006}}</ref> Others describe it as a [[cult]].<ref name="Moncada 2006" /> This teaching is done by means of theory and practice.<ref>{{cite web |title=Opus Dei Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Status: Church Leaders Reflect on 1st Personal Prelature |url=http://www.zenit.org/article-22047?l=english |agency=Zenit News Agency |date=13 March 2008 |access-date=20 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205140830/http://www.zenit.org/article-22047?l=english |archive-date=5 December 2008}}</ref>

Its lay people and priests organize seminars, workshops, retreats, and classes to help people put the Christian faith into practice in their daily lives. [[Spiritual direction]], one-on-one coaching with a more experienced lay person or priest, is considered the "paramount means" of training. Through these activities, they provide religious instruction (doctrinal formation), coaching in spirituality for lay people (spiritual formation), character and moral education (human formation), lessons in sanctifying one's work (professional formation), and know-how in evangelizing one's family and workplace (apostolic formation).

The official Catholic document, which established the prelature, states that Opus Dei strives "to put into practice the teaching of the universal call to sanctity, and to promote at all levels of society the sanctification of ordinary work, and by means of ordinary work."<ref name="Pope John Paul II 2006" /> Thus, the founder and his followers describe members of Opus Dei as resembling the members of the early Christian Church—ordinary workers who seriously sought holiness with nothing exterior to distinguish them from other citizens.<ref name="Van Biema 2006" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://lukeraid.tripod.com/opusdei/id19.html |work=Opus Dei: A Dialogue Between Friend and Foe |title=St. Liguori et Als on vocation and Opus Dei |access-date=27 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.romana.org/?s=8.0&n=29&ID=1 |work=Romana: The Official Bulletin of Opus Dei |title=The Example of the Early Christians in Blessed Josemaria's Teachings |last=Ramos-Lissón |first=Domingo |access-date=27 November 2006}}</ref>

Opus Dei runs residential centers throughout the world. These centers provide residential housing for celibate members and provide doctrinal and theological education. Opus Dei is also responsible for a variety of non-profit institutions called "[[Opus Dei in society|Corporate Works of Opus Dei]]."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://opusdeisites.tripod.com/ |title=Opus Dei Corporate Works |access-date=27 November 2006}}</ref> A study of the year 2005 showed that members have cooperated with other people in setting up a total of 608 social initiatives: schools and university residences (68%), technical or agricultural training centers (26%), universities, business schools, and hospitals (6%).<ref name="Allen 2005" /> The [[University of Navarra]] in Pamplona, Spain, and the Austral University in Buenos Aires, Argentina, are both examples of the corporate work of Opus Dei. These universities usually perform very high in international rankings. IESE, the University of Navarra's Business School, was adjudged one of the best in the world by the ''[[Financial Times]]'' and the ''[[Economist Intelligence Unit]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mba.eiu.com/index.asp?layout=view_article&eiu_article_id=1731266158 |work=Economist Intelligence Unit: Which MBA |title=Top of the Class |access-date=5 July 2007}}{{dead link |date=September 2022|fix-attempted=yes}} </ref> The total assets of non-profits connected to Opus Dei are worth at least $2.8&nbsp;billion.<ref name="Newsday 2006">{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woopus0415,0,7378258.story?coll=ny-top-headlines |work=Newsday |title=Opus Dei has stake in new pope |access-date=27 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614194006/http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/ny-woopus0415%2C0%2C7378258.story?coll=ny-top-headlines |archive-date=14 June 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>