Francis Weakens The Opus Dei “Personal Prelature”
By FR. JOHN T. ZUHLSDORF
(Editor’s Note: This commentary first appeared on Fr. Zuhlsdorf’s blog, wdtprs.com, on July 22, 2022.)
- + + We read today at Acistampa that Opus Dei which has been a “personal prelature” will no longer be able to have a bishop as its prelatial head.
Instead, the head of the Opus Dei will be a Protonotary Apostolic Monsignor (the highest sort). In fairness, a PA Monsignor is a “prelate.”
Implications:
First, despite the early talk about decentralizing power from Rome, what we have seen again and again is concentration of more and more control in Rome. If this reign of Francis is about anything, it is about centralizing control.
Second, the structure of the “personal prelature” was often thought of as a solution for traditional groups, including the SSPX. This, therefore, does not bode well for any traditional group. In other news, water is still wet.
Third, this could also smack of caudillo-like revenge: More and more it seems that members of Opus Dei are not entirely thrilled with all that Francis does.
Fourth, if there was a suggestion in the texts of the Council that there could be structures like Opus Dei, it seems that the “spirit of Vatican II” disagrees. But you have to have gnostic-like secret knowledge of the “spirit of V2” to maneuver through the special accompaniment that Opus Dei is receiving.
We are all walking together now toward a new springtime.