Could Opus Dei lose its clout with new pope?

[RBHam]

by Sandro Contenta, Toronto Star

excerpt:
Its founder, Spanish priest Josemaria Escriva, achieved full sainthood in near record time in 2002. Opus Dei's school of theology and communication in Rome was designated a "pontifical university" and membership has grown to 85,000 worldwide. The late pope also made Opus Dei the only "personal prelature" in the church, which means its leader, Monsignor Javier Echevarria, answers to the pope and not to a diocese.

But with its main benefactor now dead, Opus Dei faces the election of a new pope with trepidation, despite some powerful support among the 115 cardinals who will be voting.

"Their big fear is that they will get a pope that will be leery of them," says John Allen, Vatican correspondent for The National Reporter and author of a forthcoming book on Opus Dei.

Allen says some cardinals think the movement — with a global net worth estimated at more than $3.4 billion — has gained too much power and influence.

Notes a priest who has worked closely with Opus Dei: "They're powerful, but they have many enemies."

more...

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1113646329854&call_pageid=970599109774&col=Columnist972859096039

[glitch]

1. If they choose a pope outside of opus dei expect him to live a month or so

If recent history is any guide.