Controversy surrounds La Catolica university in Lima, Peru
Posted by Wolfy Becker on April 18th, 2007
(JP-wb) — The “Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru” (PUCP) in Lima, one of the top-quality private education institutions in South America, has become the center of a public controversy. The Peruvian media is criticizing the “Opus Dei” organization of the Catholic Church of having the intention to take over the faculty’s leadership on a step-by-step basis. This way the “tolerant house of studies” would be destroyed, Vatican Radio reports on its website.
The university was founded on March 18, 1917, by F. Jorge Dintilhac as Peru’s first non-profit private institution of higher learning. Today there are currently 17,000 undergraduate students who pursue more than 40 different specialties in 9 faculties, making in the largest in South America.
According to an “Apoyo” pol, the majority of Peruvians consider it the best private university in the country. The main campus is located in Lima’s district of San Miguel.
Pope Benedict XVI is one of the university’s numerous honorary doctors. He received the honor in 1986 when he was still known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.
Opus Dei has often been called “the most controversial force in the Catholic Church”. Some say that Opus Dei is either a “cult”, or at least “cult-like”. Critics state that Opus Dei is “intensely secretive”— for example, members generally do not publicly disclose their affiliation with Opus Dei, and under the 1950 constitution, members were expressly forbidden to reveal themselves without the permission of their superiors. This practice has led to rampant speculation about who may be a member. Critics allege that the group maintains an extremely high degree of control over its member.
Many supporters of Opus Dei have expressed the belief that the criticisms stem from a generalized disapproval of spirituality, Christianity, or Catholicism. Expressing this sentiment, one Opus Dei member stated “Opus Dei has become a victim of Christianophobia.” Others argue that critics employ the term “cult” in order to intentionally stigmatize Opus Dei because “they cannot tolerate ‘the return to religion’ of the secularized society”.
(with information from Wikipedia)
April 19th, 2007 at 2:22 pm Quote
Re: Controversy surrounds La Catolica university in Lima, Peru
This whole issue is ridiculous and smells like a disinformation campaign. Peru has the most Opus Dei Bishops in the world, second only to Spain.
In other words - Catholicism in Peru has been “owned” by Opus Dei for some time now so this University issue does not seem logical.
A Pontifical University is beyond being just a Catholic University and has intimate ties to the Papacy and the Papacy has been under the Opus Dei boot since they assumed control of H.H. John Paul II through Joaquin Navarro Valls.
The M+G+R Foundation
April 19th, 2007 at 10:49 pm Quote
M+G+R, you sound informed and angry. Two things that sometimes go together.
My take on it is…. what’s the difference? Given that the essense of “catholic” is non-exclusive, universal, involving all, etc., and that things have never been done exactly that way within the hierarchy… In 2007 nobody should be surprised at this. Sounds like business as usual.
April 24th, 2007 at 1:05 am Quote
Opus Dei has made many enemies in Peru. The rise of its bishops in that country’s hierarchy has made many sidestepped candidates bitter, angry and envious. Other parties that favor secularism finds the organization a pain in the neck.