The 5 Justices aren't just Catholic they are pro-fascist, Opus Dei Catholic, which is a cult.

[blm]

And it is Catholic version of Dominionism.

http://americamagazine.org/opus-dei

[KamaAina]

1. I hadn't heard that about Roberts and Kennedy

The other three, oh yeah.

[Ilsa]

2. I was wondering about this earlier.

Aren't Roberts, Scalia, and Alito Opus Dei? I think anyone with cult beliefs should be disqualified from serving on the court. They recognize their religion to be supreme over the Constitution. Their allegiance to this extremism is in conflict with the Constitution.

[Goblinmonger]

3. Opus Dei isn't a cult

Anymore than the RCC is a cult.

[pnwmom]

4. It is a cult. n/t

[Goblinmonger]

5. Well that's a compelling argument

what definition of cult are we using?

They are free to leave. They aren't preyed upon into membership like most cults. They aren't giving up their personal and/or financial life to the cult.

It's a disturbing conservative wing of the RCC, but if Opus Dei is a cult, then so is the RCC.

[pnwmom]

7. They ARE preyed upon into membership.

I was living in a campus town where this was going on.

You should read the America article in the OP. This is a highly secretive, tiny offshoot of the RCC that was only accepted into the Church by John Paul. Before then, it was deemed on a par with the Masons.

From America:

http://americamagazine.org/opus-dei

According to two former numeraries, if this man had stayed in the circle Opus Dei would have confronted him with a decision to join. Tammy DiNicola talked about her experience. “They staged a vocation crisis for me,” she said. “At the time, I didn’t realize they had staged it. But it’s standard practice. The person that’s working on you is consulting with the director, and the two of them decide when is the best time to propose the question of vocation to the recruit.”

Why is it a crisis? “Well, they make it a crisis for you!” said Ann Schweninger. “And it’s totally orchestrated. They tell you it’s a decision you have to make now, that God is knocking on the door, and that you have to have the strength and fortitude to say yes.” Tammy DiNicola was told that it was her only chance for a vocation. “Basically it’s a one-shot deal—if you don’t take it, you’re not going to have God’s grace for the remainder of your life.”

I asked if they were surprised at hearing that the man at Columbia had been cut off by his friend. “No,” said Tammy recalling her own recruiting days. “They use friendships to get people to join. They call it an apostolate of friendship and confidence, but it’s certainly not confidence—because everything that you talk about with your recruit is discussed with your director.” Even personal matters? “Especially personal matters, because those are the things that you can use so that a person would think about joining Opus Dei.” She was also advised to recruit only “select” people—intelligent and physically attractive—since they would be more likely to attract others once they were members.

[Bluenorthwest]

21. Then why are they not excommunicated or at the very least openly castigated by Francis the way

he casually criticizes gay people or straight couples with no children? He's fine with a Cult among his Church's greatest members? Certainly he is sanguine about it. He has raged against the Masons but not Opus Dei. Why is that? If it is a Cult? Why is it permitted, why is it not castigated?

[pnwmom]

23. Right. Why doesn't Francis do everything, all at once, instantly?

Because he's not God. He's the head of a huge Church and nothing happens quickly in that Church.

[Tom Ripley]

14. How about "cabal" ?

[KamaAina]

10. Of course. Many normal, non-cult people practice self-abuse.

"Corporal mortification".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_dei#Mortification

Much public attention has focused on Opus Dei's practice of mortification—the voluntary offering up of discomfort or pain to God; this includes fasting, or in some circumstances self-inflicted pain such as self-flagellation. Mortification has a long history in many world religions, including the Catholic Church. It has been endorsed by Popes as a way of following Christ, who died in a bloody crucifixion and who gave this advice: "let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." (Lk 9:23) Supporters say that opposition to mortification is rooted in having lost (1) the "sense of the enormity of sin" or offense against God, and the consequent penance, both interior and exterior, (2) the notions of "wounded human nature" and of concupiscence or inclination to sin, and thus the need for "spiritual battle," and (3) a spirit of sacrifice for love and "supernatural ends," and not only for physical enhancement. Critics claim that such practices that inflict pain are counterproductive given modern advances.

[blm]

15. Plain old masochists who are just too cheap or too famous to pay a dominatrix

.

[blkmusclmachine]

6. These types put on the Presidents Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC every year.

I'd put good money that their forefathers were active in Germany in the 1930's.

[Anansi1171]

8. Heres a 2012 NPR interview transcript about Rick Santorum's ties to Opus Dei

http://www.npr.org/2012/03/30/149692316/santorum-puts-new-spotlight-on-opus-dei

The Justices need not be formal members, their resonance as part of the "meta-group" would be enough. Clearly this ruling is in lockstep with the most conservative elements of the RCC. That can be said without intimating a Dan Brown-like conspiracy.

But judge for yourself.

[blm]

9. Also - Tony Blair and Newt Gingrich became converts to Opus Dei in last decade.

Creepy ass sh!t. 'popeBenedict' Ratzinger was Opus Dei, too, even though just as recently as the 90s, OD wasn't even welcome in England.

[KamaAina]

17. Tony Blair?!

That would explain a LOT.

[Hekate]

11. I know. Thanks for informing others. KnR

[leftstreet]

12. They are Ivy Leaguers - which is more dangerous n/t

[KamaAina]

16. So are Obama, both Clintons, Al Gore

and KamaAina (Yale '85).

[Dawson Leery]

13. The always evil John Paul II had a special affinity for

that horrible group.

I would oppose ANY nominee to ANY position or office who is a member of Opus-Dei.

[Armstead]

18. I hafta admit -- I read that article and still haven't a clue what Opus Dei is about

The hard core members sound cultlike, but I couldn't figure out what they were culting over except for obscure Catholic theological nonsense.

I realize there's more to it than that, but for the life of me I couldn't see it.

[Uncle Joe]

19. Here is a little more information about Opus Dei.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_Dei

As of 2012, members of the Prelature numbered 91,960. Lay persons, men and women, numbered 89,909, while there were 2,051 priests.[1] These figures do not include the diocesan priest members of Opus Dei's Priestly Society of the Holy Cross, estimated to number 2,000 in the year 2005.[8] Members are in more than 90 countries. About 70 per cent of Opus Dei members live in their private homes, leading traditional Catholic family lives with secular careers,[9][10] while the other 30 per cent are celibate, of whom the majority live in Opus Dei centres. Opus Dei organizes training in Catholic spirituality applied to daily life. Aside from personal charity and social work, Opus Dei members are involved in running universities, university residences, schools, publishing houses, and technical and agricultural training centers.

(snip)

Criticism of Opus Dei has centered on allegations of secretiveness,[19] controversial recruiting methods, strict rules governing members, elitism and misogyny, and support of or participation in authoritarian or right-wing governments, especially the Francoist Government of Spain until 1978.[20] The mortification of the flesh practiced by some of its members is also criticized. Within the Catholic Church, Opus Dei is also criticized for allegedly seeking independence and more influence.[21]

(snip)

In Pope John Paul II's 1982 decree known as the Apostolic constitution Ut Sit, Opus Dei was established as a personal prelature, a new official structure of the Catholic Church, similar to a diocese in that it contains lay people and secular priests who are 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. To date, Opus Dei is the only personal prelature in existence. 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.[2][71]

(snip)

One of Opus Dei's most prominent supporters was Pope John Paul II.[93] John Paul II cited Opus Dei's aim of sanctifying secular activities as a "great ideal." He emphasized that Escrivá's founding of Opus Dei was ductus divina inspiratione, led by divine inspiration, and he granted the organisation its status as a personal prelature.[2] Stating that Escrivá is "counted among the great witnesses of Christianity," John Paul II canonized him in 2002, and called him "the saint of ordinary life."[94] Of the organisation, John Paul II said:

[ladjf]

20. Research the "Opus-dei" on the INTERNET.

You will find numerous articles discussing whether it is a cult or not.

The Catholics and supporters continue to deny that the organization is a cult. Many others are certain that Opus Dei is a cult and they give excellent points backing up their belief.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. It is sanctioned by the RCC, so if it is a cult, they sanction cults.

nt

[Enthusiast]

24. Opus Dei is a cult.