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BEYOND THE THRESHOLD -- A LIFE IN OPUS DEI |
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APPENDIX A: CORRESPONDENCE TO OBTAIN MY CERTIFICATE OF STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL
CENTER, FOREIGN STUDENT OFFICE March 1, 1973 The Rt. Rev.
Monsignor Jose-Maria Escriva Re: Scholastic transcripts of Maria del Carmen Tapia Most Reverend Sir: This is to request an official transcript of the studies Maria del Carment Tapia completed at the Collegium Romanum Sanctae Mariae, Regionis Venezuela, at Caracas, Venezuela, during the period from 1960 through 1965. It would be most helpful, if this is possible, to have the courses listed by Title and the unit value, as well as the grade. It is my understanding that the studies in Philosophy were completed and the first year of Theology started. This would enable us to evaluate the credit in comparison to our own curriculum. It would be very much appreciated if we could receive this record at your earliest convenience and if the transcript is directed to this office with a statement of any cost involved, an international money order will be dispatched by return mail. Very sincerely, KMM:mje UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL
CENTER, FOREIGN STUDENT OFFICE May 10, 1973 The Rt. Rev.
Monsignor Jose-Maria Escriva Most Reverend Sir: On March 1, 1973, the Dean of Foreign Students on this University campus airmailed a letter of inquiry to you on behalf of Maria del Carmen Tapia. Since more than two months have elapsed without reply and the letter was not registered, we are assuming that there was some difficulty in delivery and perhaps the letter did not reach you. I am therefore taking the liberty of forwarding the same letter to you again. If I have directed this request to your Grace in error, may I ask that you kindly refer to the proper authority? It is not possible to evaluate prior credits without some authorized records from previous institutions attended. If, on the other hand, the cost of transcripts or postage may delay this transmittal, please be assured that immediate notification of any charges will receive our attention by return post. Your kindness will
be most appreciated. MJE: cc: U.S. Embassy Societas Sacerdotalis Sanctae Crucis Procurator Generalis May 29, 1973 Mrs. Muriel J.
Engle Dear Mrs. Engle, I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter of May 10, 1973 addressed to our President, and to inform you on his behalf, and in my capacity as Procurator General, that Miss Carmen Tapia did not follow, in this institution, any courses in Philosophy or Theology. Yours Sincerely. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL
CENTER, FOREIGN STUDENT OFFICE June 25, 1973 The Rev.
Consiliario del Opus Dei Dear Sir: It is our understanding that Maria del Carmen Tapia was a member of your institution, living in Caracas, during the period from October 1956, until October 1965. We would appreciate receipt of a transcript of any studies that she performed during this period. It would be helpful to have the courses listed by Title, and the unit value, as well as the grade. This would enable us to evaluate the credit in comparison to our own curriculum. It would also be appreciated if we could receive this record at your earliest convenience and it the transcript is directed to this office with a statement of any cost involved, an international. money order will be dispatched to you by return mail. Thank you kindly for your assistance. Very sincerely
yours, KMM:mje Sociedad Sacerdotal de la Santa Cruse El Consilario Caracas, 7 de Agosto de 1973 Mr. K.M. Mathew Distinguido Senor: Acuso recibo de su atenta carta de fecha 25 de Junio de 1973, en relacion al conte nido de la cual le informo que la Srta. Carmen Ta pia no ha cursado estudios en esta Institucion. Atentamente, queda
de Ud. afmo. Translation of letter on previous page. Priestly Society
of the Holy Cross Caracas, August 7, 1973 Mr. K.M. Mathew Dear Sir: I have received your letter of June 25, 1973. In regard to your inquiry, I can inform you that Miss Carmen Tapia has not done any studies in this Institution. Yours truly, Signed: Roberto Salvat Romero [Original has UCSB Dean of Foreign Students date stamp of August 14, 1973] UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA DEPARTMENT OF
RELIGIOUS STUDIES November 29, 1973 William K. Braun
Esq. Dear Sir: I would like to inform you that Miss Maria del Carmen Tapia, personal research assistant to Professor Raimundo Panikkar (formerly Professor at Harvard University and now a professor in our Department of Religious Studies) will be in Roma, January the 1st until January the 6th. attending the Philosophical Colloquium organised by Professor E. Castelll. Miss Tapia will leave Roma for this country on January the 7th. Miss Tapia is a Venezuelan citizen and as a permanent resident of our country holds the green card. For personal reasons which we have discussed, Miss Tapia would like to speak with you and, on her behalf, I am requesting an appointment to be held at your convenience. Since Miss Tapia will leave for vacation the 6th of December, there will not be sufficient time for an answer to arrive before her departure. Therefore, I ask that you please send a note to her c/o Dra. Enrichetta Valenzioni, Via Lagrange, 1. Parioli. 00197 Roma. Miss Tapia will call you upon her arrival to Roma, January 1st. I would be most grateful for any kind of assistance that you can give to her. Sincerely yours, Gerald J. Larson GJL/mct EMBASSY OF THE Rome, Italy January 29, 1974 Professor Gerald
J. Larson Dear Professor Larson: I am attaching a copy of my letter of January 16 to the Reverend Daniel Cummings and a photocopy at his reply dated January 24. The subject at this correspondence is the record of studies done by Maria del Carmen Tapia, but you will see from Father Cummings' reply that my inquiry bas been unsuccessful. I am sorry that I have been unable to obtain anything more helpful. Sincerely, William K. Braun Encl.: As stated Rome, January 16, 1974 Rev. Daniel
Cummings Dear Father Cummings: I am writing in response to a request for Professor Gerald J. Larson, Chairman of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California in Santa Barbara. Professor Larson and the Universityof California would like very much to receive a transcript or a record of the studies completed by a Maria del Carmen Tapia at the Collegium Romanum Sanctae Marice, Regionis Venezuela, at Caracas, Venezuela, during the period from 1960 through 1965. I am not, of course, familiar with the problem of obtaining these transcripts, but as I understand it difficulties might have arisen because (as the University of California has been told) Miss Tapia's records are no longer in Caracas but in Rome. I am told that previous inquiries both in Caracas and in Rome have resulted in the information that Miss Tapi was not enrolled at either institutions but that, now that her records are apparently here, your office might have the necessary information. Professor Larson would greatly appreciate any help you can provide. I shall of course be happy to be of any assistance I can. Sincerely, William K. Braun WKBraun:gb REV. DANIEL CUMMINGS Januarv 24, 1974. William K. Braun,
Esq., Dear Sir, I write to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 16 last, and to inform you that neither here nor in Venezuela have we any records of the person in question having completed courses of studies. Yours sincerely, Rev. Daniel Cummings On January 3, 1974, I sent a letter to the Vatican addressed to His Eminence the Reverend Cardinal Arturo Tavera, at that time prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes. In the first place, I expressed my thanks for his kind and warm hospitality, and then I related to him in detail my life while in Opus Dei, particularly the steps I had taken to obtain my certificate of studies. -- Maria del Carmen Tapia SACRA CONGREGATIO Prot. n. I.S. 901/74 Roma, 26 de febrero de 1974. Distinguida Senorita: En relacion a su escrito del 3 de enero pp. han sido interrogados los Responsables del Instituto que nos han enviado la siguiente respuesta. "Los estudios de filosofla y de teologia en el Opus Dei so- lo adquieren efectivo valor academico, tanto internamente como externamente (efectos publicos), y por tanto solo pueden ser garantizados por la Institucion, cuando son, caso por caso, revalidados. La frase de la carta del Procurador General, de fecha 29. V. 1973, can la que confirma que "Miss Carmen Tapia did not follow, in this Institution, any course in Philosophy or Theology", tiene precisamente ese sentido: mientras no se cursa y se supera la revalida, no llevamos constancia oficial de los estudios o de los cursos previos y, por lo tanto, resulta imposible extender ningun certificado: es como si no los hubiera hecho. La senorita Maria del Carmen Tapia no ha cumplido ese requisito. Como ya se ha hecho constar a los diversos organismos ante los que ha acudido la mencionada senorita, ni en Venezuela ni en Rama hay documenta alguno que acredite que esa persona haya obtenido la revalida de ningun tipo de estudios: en consecuencia, no es posible expedir ningun certificado al respecto. Lo dicho en el primer parrafo de esta nota lo conocen todos los socios y las asociadas del Opus Dei. Por eso, ninguno ha pedide jamas en tantos-anos, una certificacion de estudios si no ha hecho previamente la revalida. El caso de la senorita Tapia es e1 primero que se nos presenta." Con el testimonio de mi consideracion queda de Vd. atentamente en Xto. J. B. Verdeli Srta. Maria del
Carmen Tapia Translation of letter on the previous page. Rome, February 26, 1974 Sacred
Congregation for Dear Miss Tapia: In regard to your letter of the past January 3, upon being questioned, the authorities of the Institute have sent us the following answer. "The studies of philosophy and theology in Opus Dei only obtain effective academic recognition, both internally and externally (public effects), and accordingly can only be certified by the Institution when they are revalidated on a case-by- case basis. "The Procurator General's expression in the letter of May 29, 1973, in which he affirms that 'Miss Carmen Tapia did not follow in the Institution, any course in Philosophy or Theology,' has exactly this sense. So long as the revalidation is not taken and passed, we do not maintain official notice of the previous studies and courses and accordingly, it is impossible to grant any certificate. It is as if she had not done them. Miss Maria del Carmen Tapia has not fulfilled that requirement. As has already been made known to different organizations to which the cited person has appealed, there is no document in Venezuela, or Rome which accredits that such a person has obtained the revalidation of any type of studies. Consequently, it is not possible to issue any certificate. "What is stated in the first paragraph of this note is known to every male and female member of Opus Dei. Therefore, in all these years no one has ever requested a certificate of studies, if he has not previously done the revalidation. Miss Tapia's case is the first that has occurred." Please receive the expression of my esteem. Yours in Christ, G.B. Verdelli, Subsecretary 1. Translator's note: The Spanish revalida and revalidado have no exact English equivalent. In centralized national educational systems, programs given in private institutions sometimes have to be validated by an examination given or supervised by public officials. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA DEPARTMENT OF
RELIGIOUS STUDIES March 25, 1974 The Rt. Reverend
Monsignor Jose-Maria Escriva Reverend Sir, I asked Dr. K.M. Mathew, Dean of the Foreign Students Office of this University to write to you in your capacity of President General for the evaluation of the studies that Miss Maria del Carmen Tapia performed in your Association during her stay in Caracas, Venezuela from 1956 till 1965. Dean Mathew wrote to you on March 1st, 1973, but he never received any answer. 1.- On May 10, 1973, Mrs. Muriel J. Engle, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of Foreign Students Office, wrote to you. She included a copy of the above mentioned letter thinking that the original had been lost in the mail. 2.- Mrs. Engle received from Rev. Daniel Cummings a letter dated May 29, 1973, on your behalf, and in his capacity as Procurator General of the Societas Sacerdotalis Sanctae Crucis et Opus Dei, that "Miss Carmen Tapia did not follow any courses in Philosophy or Theology in your institution. 3.- On June 25, 1973, Dr. Mathew, the Dean of the Foreign Students Office, wrote to the Consiliario of the Opus Dei in Venezuela, Roberto Salvat Romero (who, as I understand had been Miss Tapia's Professor in two disciplines of Philosophy: Introduccion a la Filosofia and Etica. Dr. Mathew wrote on my behalf asking for information regarding any kind of studies that Miss Maria del Carmen pursued during her stay in Venezuela. 4.- Dr. Roberto Salvat Romero answered in a letter dated from Caracas, August 7, 1973. that "la Srta. Carmen Tapia no ha cursado estudios en esta Institucion." 5.- On January 16, 1974, and on my behalf, William K. Braun, Cultural Attache' to the Embassy of the United States in Roma wrote to Rev. Daniel Cummings (in his capacity as Procurator General of Societas Sacerdotalis Sanctae Crucis and Opus Dei) also requesting information regarding the studies that Miss Tapia had performed in your Institution during her stay 1n Venezuela. 6.- Mr. W.K. Braun replied to me on January 24, 1974, including as well a copy of the letter from Rev. Cummings to him. In this letter, Rev. Cummings stated that "neither here (Rome) nor in Venezuela, have we any records of the person in question having completed courses of studies." 7.- I must say that I am baffled with the information received from the Opus Dei since it does not tally with what Dr. Salvat told the Apostolic Nuntius in Caracas (that the records of Miss Tapia were in Rome) and in no way seemed to deny that Miss Tapia had, in fact, studied in Caracas. Further, we also have information here that present members of the Opus Dei in Venezuela have confirmed that Miss Tapia studied in your Institution. 8.- Allow me to explain: Indeed I am aware that those "Estudios Internos" have no academic validity as Miss Sofia Pilo mentioned in Caracas. However, this is not my present concern. What I need, Monsignor Escriva, is to know all the philosophy and theology courses, one by one, that Miss Tapia studied in your Institution, as well as the grades she received in each of these philosophy and theology courses, even if they do not have academic validity, or have not been revalidated. 9.- I need this information in order to confirm what is already on file in this University as well as what is at the Office of Immigration and Naturalization which keeps the official records of Miss Tapia. 10.- I would also appreciate receiving your confirmation on the following confidential points. Whether Miss Tapia a) from 1949 until May 1966 was a member of the Feminine Branch of the Opus Dei, b) stayed in Spain until April 1952; c) was in Rome from April 1952 until September 1956; d) was during the first time of her stay in Rome helping you on Secretarial matters concerning the Feminine Branch of the Opus Dei, e) afterwards she was a 'Major Superior' in your Institution, f) was named "Directora Regional de Venezuela" in September, 1956 leaving for Caracas, where she arrived in October 1956; g) was "Directora Regional de Venezuela" from October 1956 until October 1965 when she was required to go to Rome; h) living in Roma, Via di Villa Sacchetti, 36 from October 1965 until May 1966 when she returned to Spain. 11.- I would like to make very clear Monsignor Escriva, that I am interested to receive all information concerning the time Miss Maria del Carmen Tapia belonged to the Opus Dei as well as that specifically related with her studies. What I am not requesting -- and much less interested -- is in receiving personal or confidential information regarding the spiritual life of Miss Tapia during her stay in the Opus Dei. I would appreciate, Monsignor, your attention on these matters as well as for your earliest answer. Looking forward to receiving a detailed information of my request, I remain Truly yours, Gerald J. Larson P.S. Since I am requesting clarification of all information we have received, a copy of this letter will be sent to the persons we consider pertinent in order to prevent any kind of misunderstanding. REV. DANIEL CUMMINGS April 15, 1974. Gerald J. Larson,
Esq., Dear Sir, Your letter of March 25 last has just come to hand, and I am writing immediately to confirm what I communicated clearly and punctually to Mr. Braun, who wrote to me on your behalf. As requested, I gave you in that letter the answer pertinent to your question; the only possible answer, because there is no other one. There is, therefore, nothing further that I can now add. I fail to understand the motive, and purpose, of the other questions which you ask in regard to points which have no bearing on academic matters, and which are not relevant either to the carrying out of a person's professional work. Perhaps you think otherwise, and I respect your opinion, while I trust that you also will respect my point of view. I wish to make it very clear that I am not referring to confidential information of any kind: I refer to the non-academic matters you bring up, Yours truly, Rev. Daniel Cummings P.S. I see no objection to your sending copies of your letter to whoever you wish. U.S. INFORMATION SERVICE EMBASSY OF THE Caracas, Venezuela April 17, 1974 Miss Marla del
Carmen Tapia Dear Miss Tapia: Thank you for your letter of February 15, which arrived here only today, such are the vagaries and vicissitudes of the international mail. I did write to Dr. Roberto Salvat and I received a letter from him in which he states that there was no record of your having made the studies you described. I thought I had sent a copy of this letter on to you and Professor Larson, but I am mistaken, as a search of the file indicates. Enclosed is a copy of Dr. Salvat's reply. Please be sure of my good wishes. Sincerely yours, Edward J . Joyce End.: As stated ROBERTO SALVAT
ROMERO Caracas, 24 de enero, 1974 Dr. Edward J.
Joyce Estimado Dr. Joyce: Acuso recibo de su atenta carta del 14 del pasado mes de diciembre, que he encontrado a mi regreso a Caracas. En relacion a su contenido, debo manifestarle que no hay ninguna constancia de que la Srta. Tapia haya seguido cur sos de Estudios Religiosos en esta Institucion. Con los mejores deseos para este nuevo ano, Il saluda muy atentamente Roberto Salvat Romero P/D: Me consta que, con fecha 29 mayo 1973, ya fue enviada a esa Universidad, desde Roma, esta misma comunicacion. Translation of letter on the previous page. Roberto Salvat
Romero Caracas, January 24, 1974 Dr. Edward J.
Joyce Dear Dr. Joyce: I am in receipt of your letter of the past December 14, which I found upon my return to Caracas. In regard to your request, I must explain that there is no record that Miss Tapia has taken courses of religious studies in this Institution. With my best wishes for the new year, I am Yours truly, Signed: Roberto Salvat Romero PS. I am informed that on May 29, 1992, that University received this same reply from Rome. Translation Certification of Faustino Castro Gete at the request of Miss Maria del Carmen Tapia _______________ Faustino Castro Gete, of Spanish nationality, 48 years of age, by profession lawyer, entered Opus Dei as a numerary member in 1950 and was ordained a priest in Madrid in 1955. He remained a numerary priest of Opus Dei until 1968, when he ceased to belong to that Institution and was incardinated in the dioceses of Talanpantla, Mexico. _______________ At the request of Miss Maria del Carmen Tapia, I Faustino Castro Gete, manifest and declare that _______________ 1. The numerary women of Opus Dei (excepting the auxiliary numeraries) complete studies of philosophy and theology in courses generally taught by numerary priests or by specialists in the corresponding subjects. _______________ 2. The numeraries who attend these courses undergo a final exam in each one and receive their grade. An act is prepared which is signed by a tribunal or professors. 3. There is no validation examination subsequent to the courses of philosophy or theology. 4. The philosophical subjects or courses taught to the numerary women (excluding the auxiliary numeraries) are the same as are taught to the numerary men. They are the following: Cosmology, Logic, Ethics, Psychology, History of Philosophy (two years), Epistemology or Theory of Knowledge, Theodicy, and Metaphysics. 5. Only those who have passed each and every course in philosophy can take the subject or courses in theology. _______________ 6. During the years in which I was a numerary priest in Opus Dei, I was the professor of numerary women or various philosophical subjects (noted in number four of the present declaration). On occasion, I read written examinations of numerary women who had taken some subject or course in theology. In all cases, I gave the grade that I thought appropriate, and on several occasions, I signed the examination acts. _______________ Everything written here I affirm and declare, and after having re-read it, I am in conformity with what is written, according to the normal sense of words and phrases, and I sign it today, April 14, 1974, in Mexico City, to all effects, knowing that everything manifested and declared is true in each and every point, and that the truth does not harm nor offend. _______________ Signed: Faustino Castro Gete March 3rd, 1979. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN This is to certify that MARIA DEL CARMEN TAPIA attended classes of Scholastic Philosophy at Caracas, Venezuela during the years 1963 to 1965. The Subjects of the said Course were: Introduction to
Philosophy Having passed the written examinations satisfactorily she was allowed to enter a Theological Course. Being, myself, one of the teachers or this Philosophical Course and having taught most of the subjects of this said Course while stationed at Caracas, Venezuela during the years 1962 to 1966, I give testimony that this is a true statement with my usual signature. Minister of Religion
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