neilstone40
05 Nov 2010, 08:51 AM
Full story on BBC Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11699849 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11699849)
Vatican warns of 'wayward' Opus Angelorum sect
The Vatican has warned Catholic bishops around the world to monitor carefully a secretive traditionalist sect which prays to angels to combat demons.
Opus Angelorum, which means "the work of angels" in Latin, was founded by an Austrian housewife who died in 1978.
She claimed to have identified the angels and demons who were battling for the control of human beings.
The Church said some members of the sect were carrying out "activities that disturb the ecclesiastical community".
Bitterlich claimed to have been in contact with an archangel and to have written down the names of hundreds of angels and demons, our correspondent says.
The sect - which operates mainly in German-speaking Europe, Brazil and India - claims that women who have had abortions are possessed by the devil.
The activities of Bitterlich's followers, including dozens of Catholic priests and nuns, eventually attracted the attention of the Vatican which ordered an investigation, our correspondent adds.
I for one am glad we have the Vatican to protect us all from these irrational, dangerous, supernatural belief systems...
3 cheers anyone???
Vatican warns of 'wayward' Opus Angelorum sect
The Vatican has warned Catholic bishops around the world to monitor carefully a secretive traditionalist sect which prays to angels to combat demons.
Opus Angelorum, which means "the work of angels" in Latin, was founded by an Austrian housewife who died in 1978.
She claimed to have identified the angels and demons who were battling for the control of human beings.
The Church said some members of the sect were carrying out "activities that disturb the ecclesiastical community".
Bitterlich claimed to have been in contact with an archangel and to have written down the names of hundreds of angels and demons, our correspondent says.
The sect - which operates mainly in German-speaking Europe, Brazil and India - claims that women who have had abortions are possessed by the devil.
The activities of Bitterlich's followers, including dozens of Catholic priests and nuns, eventually attracted the attention of the Vatican which ordered an investigation, our correspondent adds.
I for one am glad we have the Vatican to protect us all from these irrational, dangerous, supernatural belief systems...
3 cheers anyone???