Rick Santorum How Opus Dei Influenced Rick Santorum

Wikipedia? Seriously?

Most of my family lived under Franco, he was a dictator, no doubt about it. But he was not a radical and life under him wasn't bad.

Great.

Well, I believe that I don't want a dictator here, no matter if he is not that radical, or life under him isn't that bad.

Thank you very much.

Also, I have indication that Opus Dei thrived because Franco ran off, killed, their rivals. Why are you even on here if you support dictators of any sort?
 
I suggest you all read this book on Opis Dei. You're all making it out to be some secretive evil cult, it's not.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0385514492

These practices are very much alive and kicking to this day unfortunately. Seems even John Paul was doing it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortification_of_the_flesh
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/26/pope-john-paul-flagellate_n_437116.html
Pope John Paul practiced flagellation and flagellated himself to emulate Jesus Christ's suffering, according to "Why A Saint," a book written by Monsignor Slawomir Oder.

Flagellation is defined as the process of driving or punishing someone, typically through whipping.

"In Krakow as in the Vatican, Karol Wojtyla flagellated himself," Oder writes in the book. He cites testimony from people close to the pope and prior bishop.

Monsignor Oder is the Vatican official in charge of leading an investigation that may lead to Roman Catholic sainthood for John Paul, who died in 2005.

Reports in the past, such as one in November 2009, have suggested Pope John Paul "whipped himself" in remorse for sins.


As a previous poster said; it`s nobody`s business how they live their life. Problem is catholic church among other churches doesn`t believe in that and they`d like to interfere with other people`s lives as much as possible.
Practice of mortification comes from a rooted catholic belief which totally despises the flesh and the "mortal existence". Since the middle ages body was seen as a sinful cage of the soul, subject to most vile desires that should be whipped and punished permanently. Even the act of burning at the stake was seen as "purification" of the body by fire.
 
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I am a conservative Catholic, have no issues with fasting, mortification of the flesh or celibacy and have friends involved both with Opus Dei and Legionaries of Christ. Not everyone involved in Opus Dei is odd but that organization has given rise to some very weird, very cultish groups and brainwashed seeming individuals as have the Legionaries. I'm not convinced that either organization is really "of the Lord" or particularly helpful to the true goals of the Church and it's faithful.

Edited to add that faithful Catholics these days don't perform mortification of the flesh because they believe the body is evil but because the comfort of the body should be subservient to the good of the soul and the will. Thus a lot of individuals who struggle with sins will take on mortification as a way to strengthen their resolve against sin and worldly attachments, much like "hitting the gym" for the sinner.
 
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Great.

Well, I believe that I don't want a dictator here, no matter if he is not that radical, or life under him isn't that bad.

Thank you very much.

Also, I have indication that Opus Dei thrived because Franco ran off, killed, their rivals. Why are you even on here if you support dictators of any sort?

I don't want a dictator either, but it's completely inaccurate to paint Franco as a radical or that he was a murderous tyrant.
 
Half of my family is Byzantine Catholic, and I grew up around almost 100% Roman Catholics.

NONE of them were or are involved in any sort of weird cult, self-flagellation or anything worse than worker's unions.
 
Edited to add that faithful Catholics these days don't perform mortification of the flesh because they believe the body is evil but because the comfort of the body should be subservient to the good of the soul and the will. Thus a lot of individuals who struggle with sins will take on mortification as a way to strengthen their resolve against sin and worldly attachments, much like "hitting the gym" for the sinner.

And that`s pretty funny when you think about it. It actually gives pleasure due to release of opioids in the bloodstream producing analgesia. It`s actually a pleasant state of mind, which many masochists want to reach by similar means as it calms you down and relieves stress. It`s basically a way of doping yourself with a whip.
 
Juicy your anti-Catholic views are well known, you dont have to go on and on.

I personally am a Catholic, but I don't recognize the current pope or any of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council legitimate. I don't particularly like Opus Dei, but I have nothing against them. I much prefer the SSPX.
 
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Sorry but scratchy shirts (I haven't worn them intentionally) never give me any pleasure..they are just annoying. Annoyance type penances seem to be what most spiritual directors consider appropriate. Cutting, hard whipping and the like are not considered appropriate forms of self mortification by almost anyone I have encountered in Church leadership although I doubt they are sinful unless serious damage to the body is being done or an addiction is forming.
 
I don't want a dictator either, but it's completely inaccurate to paint Franco as a radical or that he was a murderous tyrant.

No it isn't. Franco was a murderous tyrant. It is impossible to be a dictator if you don't kill people.

http://www.moreorless.au.com/killers/franco.html

Kill tally: Tens to hundreds of thousands. One source says 500,000 killed in the Spanish Civil War, another claims two million executed alone. More sober estimates for executions put the figure at 35,000 killed either summarily or after a hasty court martial. According to military historian Antony Beevor, the figure for non-combatants and surrendered troops killed by Franco's Nationalists during the war "must exceed 100,000 and may be closer to 200,000."

Many newly published Spanish history textbooks agree that the Opus Dei had a strong influence in the Franco regime. Moreover, Opus Dei, started in Spain, developed itself in its early days during the Franco regime. According to these books, Opus Dei was not only linked but also tightly interwoven with the power structures of the Francoist authoritarian government soon after the Spanish Civil War, although its stronger involvement in the government came only in the late 1950s. It had at least 8 ministers during Franco's rule. This was in keeping with the organization's aim of influencing the development of society indirectly. Aside from recruiting members from all social classes, Opus Dei recruited members from among the brightest students, which according to some observers[who?] encouraged a sense of elitism and clannishness. Because of what some critics see as clannishness and secrecy surrounding the organization, they termed it the "Holy Mafia."

Why are you covering for a dictator? The only way you can be a dictator is to kill people. We have that problem growing worse in the United States as well.

This election, we literally have Ron Paul, and four would be dictators complete with their own secret organizations or chicago mobs.

It's that simple. If we don't elect Ron Paul, we will get a dictator. They've already pushed the TSA checkpoints for random stops out on the streets as of last month, and passed indefinite detention without trials, last month, and secret court trials and assassination lists.

The next person to be president here can stop anyone on the street by the secret police (TSA checkpoints) and haul him off without anyone knowing about it and detain him without trial indefinitely. And everyone but Ron Paul has the background to indicate they are wanting to do just that.
 
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