Special Report: Matt Unlocks the Secrets of Opus Dei

On May 19th, the much anticipated movie, "The Da Vinci Code", arrives in theaters. The Vatican is calling for a boycott. Others want the film banned. But Opus Dei, the Catholic organization villainously portrayed in Dan Brown's book, is taking the opposite approach.

In fiction, it is a murderous organization. But this is real life.

Fifty-six-year-old Katherin Malsbary is a mother of five who lives in Media, Delaware County. And she is a member of Opus Dei. "Is Opus Dei trying to take over the world?" Katherine Malsbary/Opus Dei Member: "No, no. not at all. I think Opus Dei is waiting to take over the next world. Not this world." Malsbary joined 17 years ago, fulfilling what she believes is a destiny. Opus Dei, Latin for "God's Work," calls its members to strive to become saints, just like Saint Josemaria Escriva, who founded the group in 1928. Malsbary is a supernumerary, a member who is not celibate. And she insists she is like anyone else. But some portray Opus Dei as controlling, and dangerous.

Action News visited its U.S. headquarters in New York City at a new, 17-story building in Midtown. The organization says it has nothing to hide. Terri Carron/Opus Dei Spokeswoman: "Do I look controlled? I mean, you have to look at the people you meet in Opus Dei. And most of the people, you would say, what are they talking about?" Terri Carron is an Opus Dei member, wife, and mother of four children. She took us on a tour of the library, the center's chapel, and the roof.

We went to The Terrace. We went to the top of the Opus Dei building in New York, and it offers a beautiful view of Midtown Manhattan, right behind us. The center opened in 2001, thanks to 69 million dollars in donations. Some come up here to pray, others to think, and still others to simply enjoy the view.

Opus Dei headquarters is basically non-descript, but it has become somewhat of a tourist attraction thanks to "The Da Vinci Code". They've even left brochures out front, to try and inform people as to what the organization is really about.

"The Da Vinci Code" forced Opus Dei to seek this publicity. In the book, the monk "Silas" commits murder, to help Opus Dei discover the secret of the Grail. "It is full of laity, there is not a monk in Opus Dei. There aren't any murders that I know of, serious Catholics don't go around murdering people." But ODAN, or the Opus Dei Awareness Network, accuses the group of cult-like tendencies. Plus, there is the admitted Opus Dei practice of corporal mortification.

Only celibate members wrap a chain of spikes called a cilice, to draw blood, an act of penance. They also use The Discipline, a whip, to flail the back. "It is freely done, it is privately done, and it is not intended in any way to harm the body." "It's not a bloody thing. It's just a, these things were part of Christ's passion and we as Catholics, we want to be like Christ." Malsbary and Carron both plan to see "The Da Vinci Code" movie. Carron says it will become her own form of "corporal mortification."

(Copyright 2006 by Action News. All Rights Reserved.)

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