Copyright Scottish Daily Record & Sunday Mail Ltd.
Daily Record
April 5, 2000, Wednesday
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 2
LENGTH: 423 words
HEADLINE: CATHOLIC PRIEST'S WARNING ON CHURCH SECT
BYLINE: Jamie Macaskill

BODY:
A SINISTER right-wing sect is building a power base in the Catholic Church in Scotland, a priest claimed last night.

Father John Fitzsimmons, an outspoken critic of Cardinal Thomas Winning, said the Opus Dei faction has even secured access to the cardinal.

Cardinal Winning's official spokesman, Ronnie Convery, admitted on BBC TV last night that he was once a member of the group, but gave up membership because he could not cope with the exhausting spiritual demands. But insiders claim Convery had to leave the shadowy sect when he became a key adviser to Cardinal Winning, who is thought to harbour suspicions about the loyalty of Opus Dei members.

Father Fitzsimmons, of St John Bosco's Church in Erskine, Renfrewshire, claimed Opus Dei already has control of some of the Vatican's highest offices, including the press office.

He added: "I don't necessarily think it's sinister. What I do think is wrong with it is that it wants to press everybody into the one mould and that is a type of ecclesiastical fascism."

His comments were supported by Hugh Farmer, former editor of the Scottish Catholic Observer.

He said: "It is a secret society which is growing within the Church.

"Its tentacles are spreading throughout the church and getting control of important offices at the Vatican. I feel that is very dangerous."

Mr Farmer said he knew the sect influence was growing in Scotland and that Cardinal Winning, far left, was aware of its expansion.

He said: "I don't think Cardinal Winning will tolerate Opus Dei within his inner circle, and there are also people around Cardinal Winning who have made their concerns known.

"But that would not stop members of Opus Dei trying to gain access."

Yesterday Mr Convery said: "There is no secret about membership of Opus Dei. I would know if there were any members in and around the cardinal's office - and there are not."

Mr Convery also confirmed the influence Opus Dei has with the Pope.

He said: "He has given them privileges, made their top man a bishop, he invites them to his meetings and so on. So he has certainly been very supportive towards them."

SECRETS OF OPUS DEI

OPUS DEI is a powerful and secretive sect which operates at the heart of the Vatican.

It was formed in 1928 by Hitler-sympathiser Jose Maria Escriva Albas, right, and has 80,000 members. Only 10 per cent are priests and the rest include influential figures in world governments and the media.

The group flourished under right-wing South American dictators, such as Pinochet.