Opus Dei Challenges Media Coverage in Lawsuit Filed by Former Members

Opus Dei Denounces “Manipulation” in Argentine Human Trafficking Case

Opus Dei has strongly condemned what it calls the “manipulation of judicial proceedings to create a media and public opinion case” in an ongoing lawsuit involving former assistant numeraries in Argentina. The Catholic organization is pushing back as prosecutors seek to implicate its highest authorities in alleged human trafficking activities.

The case, formally filed in court in 2024 but drawing media attention for years prior, centers on allegations that Opus Dei authorities recruited women while they were minors and subjected them to conditions resembling slavery within their residences.

What began as a labor complaint evolved into a lawsuit seeking compensation for damages, before eventually escalating to allegations of labor exploitation. Since June 2023, Argentine judicial authorities have been investigating claims that a group of women were victims of human trafficking and exploitation.

In a significant development, the Argentine prosecutor’s office has requested an investigation into the last four regional vicars of Opus Dei in Argentina. This includes Monsignor Mariano Fazio, the current auxiliary vicar and second-in-command of the worldwide organization. The plaintiffs’ legal team has gone further, urging prosecutors to also summon Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, the prelate of Opus Dei and its highest authority.

Opus Dei has countered these moves by noting that the presiding judge has not yet charged any individual with crimes, ruled on the prosecutor’s requests, or formally named those who might be summoned for questioning.

In a detailed statement, the prelature clarified that the judicial investigation centers on the personal situation of one woman during her time with the apostolate. The organization characterized the request to question Monsignor Ocáriz as lacking “factual or legal basis” and representing part of “a deceptive and sustained media strategy” designed to transform a labor compensation claim into a criminal investigation.

“The case as a whole represents an attempt at manipulation by introducing the charge of a criminal offense (human trafficking) that actually has no connection with the facts described by the complainants themselves, much less with the reality of Opus Dei,” the statement asserted.

The organization further contends that attempts to summon high-ranking officials like Ocáriz and Fazio represent efforts to “artificially extend the scope of the criminal investigation” to include individuals with no direct connection to the alleged events. According to Opus Dei, these maneuvers aim to amplify public opinion impact and pressure the justice system.

The statement specifically mentioned that the request for Monsignor Fazio to testify was announced with what they describe as “an orchestrated media blitz,” suggesting a coordinated effort to influence public perception.

Opus Dei also argued that the allegations reflect a “complete decontextualization of the freely chosen vocation of the assistant numerary of Opus Dei,” implying that the plaintiffs’ experiences have been misrepresented in the proceedings.

The prelature expressed regret that “judicial mechanisms are being used to sustain a prefabricated narrative that seeks to establish blame without any basis in the facts that actually occurred” and called for respect for the presumption of innocence.

Despite the contentious nature of the proceedings, Opus Dei reaffirmed its “complete willingness to cooperate with the judicial authorities” while expressing confidence that “the truth will prevail.”

The case highlights tensions between religious organizations and secular legal systems in addressing allegations of labor practices and exploitation. It also underscores the challenge facing Opus Dei, a prominent Catholic institution founded in 1928, as it navigates serious accusations in Argentina, a country with one of Latin America’s most active Catholic populations.

The legal proceedings continue to unfold, with significant implications not only for those directly involved but potentially for Opus Dei’s operations and reputation in Argentina and beyond.