h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A funny thing happened today when someone from the BBC World Service phoned me in the Opus Dei Information Office, to ask whether I could help with information for a news item about the La Scala Opera House in Milan.

Opus Dei is a Catholic organisation, not a musical one, I explained, and perhaps (but here I'm guessing) the misunderstanding was because Opus Dei is sometimes known in Italy as L'Opera (lit. "The Work"). Amid great mutual amusement, the conversation ended.

As it happens opera is something I could speak about for hours, but I ducked out... Next time I might just make some suggestions.

A really weird sequel to the previous entry. I heard today that someone had appeared yesterday on 'Beyond Belief' (Radio 4) to criticise Opus Dei.

I have to find out more about this, obviously; but now three people have told me independently about it, so it whoever it was must have had a real go.

I think it makes about as much sense for a pundit to claim to be an expert on Opus Dei, as it would have done for me to present myself as an expert on La Scala Opera House... especially in order to criticise.

Or am I missing something?