A brave group of 43 women are making moves to hold the organization accountable by suing them. They claim that they were subjected to extreme psychological abuse and humiliation as members of this insular and ultra-right Catholic sect. According to the lawsuit, Free the Girls forced these girls, teenagers, and wives into domestic servitude. They did this all while maintaining a veneer of providing education and a path to prosperity. These allegations go back as far as 1972 through 2015, begging the question of how ethical are the practices used by this organization.
Today Opus Dei works in more than 70 countries around the world, with its deepest roots in Spain, Italy and Latin America. Most famous for its conservative teachings and heavy-handed approach to enforcing traditional Catholic orthodoxy, the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Yet, as the new allegations point out, there is a much uglier aspect to the organization’s work, especially in Argentina.
The female plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege that Opus Dei lured them with false promises of education. Instead, they discovered that they were cut off from their loved ones. They told us how they were only permitted one phone call home and one letter home per month. This limitation created feelings of powerlessness and control in their everyday life. These young women were often on call for up to a grueling 12 hours per day. Sadly, they were not rewarded financially for their hard work.
The women open up about being made to fulfill domestic duties as numerary aides. This involved the surveillance of and laundering for high-ranking members of Opus Dei’s elite, such as cardinal-priests. There was a strict timetable for each day, outlining what was to be done at each minute of the day, with no respect for their freedom or choice.
“I was not allowed to spend Christmas with my family or attend my grandmother’s funeral. Often, they denied our requests, telling us to ‘offer it up’ as a sacrifice to God. They hid behind God to use us.” – Carrero
The most recent allegations even go further, accusing the institution of imposing draconian standards of personal behavior. The women were forced to wear cilices—spiked metal chains—as punishment. This punishment brought a particularly cruel physical dimension to this emotional and psychological terror. In addition, as numerary assistants, they were required to live celibate lives, completely dedicated to service inside the organization.
In their testimonies, former members describe experiences that suggest a coordinated campaign to keep them from developing close friendships. They frequently shuffled between ranches in their native Paraguay, or in Uruguay. This ongoing displacement task further created a burden connecting them to networks that could help them support their transitions.
“I was moved many times from cities to cities, countries to countries – Paraguay, Uruguay – with no choice,” – Carrero
The lawsuit highlights how these women felt trapped in an environment that stifled their growth and autonomy. One former member admitted that their only two reads were children’s books or Bibles. This restriction robbed them of a quality education and prevented them from living in the real world.
“The only texts we were allowed to read were children’s books or religious studies. There was no more school. I was trapped,” – Delgado
Many women reported feeling duped about the kind of commitment they were making to Opus Dei. They signed up for the program full of hope and ambition to learn hotel management skills and other employable skills. Instead, they found themselves employed as housekeepers or cooks.
“We led a quiet, religious life,” she says. “My father was a laborer and my mother a housewife. Opus Dei said that if I came to the school, I would learn about hotel management and that I would get to travel. I was excited, but they did not take me there to study,” – Carrero
Incredibly, the organization has responded to these serious accusations with blanket denials. In an unusual public statement, Opus Dei said that the charges have been taken “entirely out of context.” For former members such as Martínez, however, their painful experiences have left permanent scars. They are looking for acknowledgment of the effect of what they have suffered.
“We want Opus Dei to accept what they have done and recognize its impact,” – Martínez
The case against Opus Dei goes right to the heart of important issues surrounding accountability, liability, and transparency within religious organizations. As this lawsuit progresses through the legal system, it may shed light on the practices of Opus Dei and influence how similar organizations operate in the future.