Here in Argentina, 43 women have shown Opus Dei tremendous courage by coming forward with allegations. They allege the nonprofit deceived them into indentured servitude for the duration of their education at its institutions. The women claim that they were promised access to education. Instead, they end up toiling in dangerous conditions for no wages at all for the benefit of elite male Opus Dei members. So egregious, the response of the Argentine government has received international criticism including, most recently, Vatican censure and a federal investigation in Argentina.
Opus Dei, which operates in over 70 countries, has faced accusations of exploiting vulnerable individuals, particularly young teenagers and women from impoverished rural backgrounds. The charges have already prompted the Vatican to review the organization’s practices. Most recently, Pope Leo XIV has called on Opus Dei to convene a summit to address these issues. At the same time they are now in the process of adopting revised organization-wide statutes.
Federal prosecutors in Argentina are now investigating these serious claims. They claim that top officials of Opus Dei were directly responsible in the exploitation and trafficking of vulnerable girls, adolescents, and women from 1972-2015. Claudia Carrero, one of the claimants, was taken to an Opus Dei school at the age of 13 in 1979 under the pretense of receiving training in hotel management. Instead, she soon discovered that she was enmeshed in an indentured servitude.
“They did not take me there to study, but to work,” – Claudia Carrero
According to Carrero, her life was intensely regimented while she attended the school. She described a lack of autonomy, stating, “I had no control over anything in my life. I had to ask for permission to call my parents; all our mail was read; we were not allowed to go out alone.” This feeling resonates with the other women in the case, each of whom has had similar experiences.
“All of us lived the same experiences, identical ones. That is no coincidence,” – Claudia Carrero
Paula Bistagnino, an Argentine investigative journalist, was instrumental in starting to expose these allegations. She feels the world needs to hear these women’s stories. It’s time to pursue accountability on their behalf.
“It is time for the world to listen to them and for justice to be done,” – Paula Bistagnino
Sebastián Sal, the attorney for the women, said many of them are afraid. Overcoming all of these challenges, they are fiercely committed to telling their stories. He remarked, “They’re afraid, but they want people to know what happened to them.”
Even though Opus Dei has denied these allegations — which they do, of course — the investigation continues. The Holy See has not yet responded officially to these objections. Many think otherwise and that they had a hand in provoking Pope Francis to act last year by changing Opus Dei’s statutes. Recent developments indicate that Opus Dei’s reputation will soon come under fire. Long-held privileges based on a professional pedigree, bloodline, or other anachronistic factors would be ripped away in the process.
The case has been mired in delays over the last several months as two witnesses—both of whom have connection to Opus Dei—have delayed their depositions. What the future holds for this investigation is anyone’s guess. It could have far-reaching consequences not only on the future of Opus Dei but on its activities globally.