OPUS DEI
My friend Olivia Decker from the Chatteau de Villete in France gave me the idea to call on the London Chapter of Opus Dei. Opus Dei is the Catholic organization that was portrayed as the villain in the Da Vinci Code book and movie. We contacted Jack Valero, head of media relations, and despite the short notice he granted us an interview. I was a little nervous going into the London office, because the only thing I knew about Opus Dei (other than its origins in 1928 by Josemar�a Escriv�, a Spainard who later became a saint) was from the Da Vinci Code book. But Jack was a charming, very cool man. He offered all kinds of interesting information -- including the fact that � despite the book's assertion -- there couldn't be a killer monk in Opus Dei because the institution does not include monks. Members are all lay people. He had a great attitude, and pointed out that his organization had ended up making lemonade out of lemons. That's because the book, and now the movie, have made their Opus Dei a household name. Thanks to the publicity, membership has jumped enormously. To give you an idea how great an attitude Jack and Opus Dei had: They even let us a film a funny scene involving my brother (you'll have to wait to see it). For more information on Opus Dei, log on to their website www.OpusDei.org.