Thread by @gareth_gore

Francis did more than any previous pope to address the abuse and exploitative of Opus Dei, a manipulative cult at the heart of the Catholic Church

But his death leaves that work unfinished. So, what’s next?

A THREAD 🧵

It all started out so well

Early on in his papacy, Francis saw Opus Dei as an ally in his efforts to clean up the Vatican after years of scandal and corruption

He picked several Opus Dei figures to oversee those efforts

But the relationship soon soured

One Opus Dei priest with a critical role was found to be a double agent who leaked documents to undermine Francis’ reforms

He was found guilty and imprisoned

nytimes.com/2016/07/08/wor…

Then word began to reach Francis about Opus Dei abuses

He personally intervened to order that it compensate a former member

To leave no trace, they handed the $40,000 to her in a McDonald’s bag

I write about it in my book

simonandschuster.com/books/Opus/Gar…

Word then reached the pope of something much more serious

….of Opus Dei’s systematic recruitment of young impoverished girls into a life of servitude, of human trafficking and other crimes

theguardian.com/global-develop…

Francis stepped in, issuing a personal decree – a motu proprio – that demoted Opus Dei within the Church and ordered it to clean up

That was 2022

Since then, Opus Dei has dragged its feet – and played for time
vatican.va/content/france…

Frustrated at the lack of reforms, Francis issued a second motu proprio in 2023 – one that threatened to intervene if reforms weren’t made

Once again, Opus Dei played for time

Francis responded by seizing an Opus Dei shrine

thetimes.com/world/europe/a…

The standoff continues

Some believe that Opus Dei has been waiting for Francis to pass away – in the hope that his successor won’t push them to reform

Tim Busch, a wealthy supporter in the US, told me as much for my book

Meanwhile, Busch and others affiliated to Opus Dei have been linked to efforts to influence the next Conclave

The “Red Hats Report” contracted former CIA and FBI officers to dig up dirt on liberal candidates to succeed Francis

ncronline.org/news/red-hat-r…

Over the coming weeks, we will see how successful they have been

The future of Opus Dei hangs in the balance

Will the next pope continue Francis’ efforts to force the group to reform – or will he allow this abusive cult to continue?

apnews.com/article/argent…

I cover this and more in my book OPUS

“A sober, fact-based indictment” – WASHINGTON POST

“Vividly told and excellently researched” – FINANCIAL TIMES
simonandschuster.com/books/Opus/Gar…