I saw the title of this piece and was ready to let loose on ignorant bigots who equate solid groups like Opus Dei with terrorists…but er…no.
The project of spiritual activism in ordinary human affairs is familiar in the Sufi tradition; it is reflected in the role of many Sufi spiritual orders in public welfare networks across the Islamic world, from
Morocco
to
Malaysia
. Opus Dei is an entity within the Catholic fold serving to encourage piety as well as responsibility in public life. Today, among the Christian churches, the Roman Church often seems to stand alone in its understanding of the great challenges facing humanity. For example, L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, reported in its English language weekly edition of June 8 that a Papal diplomat, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, addressed a meeting of the Council of Europe in
Warsaw
in May. On that occasion, the eminent representative of the pontiff pointed out the continuing threats to minority rights in Bosnia-Hercegovina and Kosovo, areas the rest of the European political and social establishment appear intent on ignoring.
During the mass for Saint Josemaría, I pondered an idea I have long considered. Opus Dei is well known for its positive role in reforming the economy of
Spain
, late in the Franco era, when it acted to energize entrepreneurs as well as to promote transparency and accountability in the Iberian business environment. This modernization was predicated on defense, rather than destruction, of traditional and conservative Spanish Catholic religious culture. Escrivá incited his acolytes to ridicule leftists and secularists for their attachment to 19th century ideas, comparing belief in them to insistence on traveling by stagecoach. Similarly, Opus Dei has become associated with the improvement of Catholic university education, especially schooling in management, in Latin America as well as in
Spain
.
How would a Muslim equivalent of Opus Dei — reinforcing a conservative and traditional view of faith while embodying contemporary capitalist principles, modernizing education, and fostering the common good — affect the world of Islam? The more one examines Opus Dei the more it resembles, in a broad way, a Sufi order; it is a voluntary association of fervent believers who have come together with a common dedication to refinement of their spiritual understanding and strengthening of religious ideals in the public square. Any number of Sufi bodies in countries like
Turkey
could furnish the basis for such an influential development among Muslims. The largest Muslim country in the world,
Indonesia
, possesses multimillion-member organizations like Nadhlatul Ulama that serve community needs while also nurturing a moderate form of Islam.
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