London, England, Jan 24, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Britain’s recently appointed Education Secretary, Ruth Kelly, has come under fire in the British press for her association to Opus Dei, a Catholic group founded by St. Josemaria Escriva.
She admitted on BBC’s Breakfast with Frost that she receives spiritual support from Opus Dei. The group has come under a lot of media scrutiny due to its strict observance of Church teachings and its unfavorable portrayal in the recent book, The DaVinci Code.
"People know that I’m a Catholic and that I take it seriously. And I come to this job as a Catholic, as well as a parent and with all sorts of other influences," said Kelly.
The 36-year-old pledged, however, that her Catholic faith would not affect her position in public office and judgment as a minister.