Gareth Gore Profile picture
Jul 2 5 tweets 2 min read Read on X
BREAKING NEWS

Opus Dei's number two is formally accused of human trafficking by federal prosecutors in Argentina

He is highest-ranking official indicted in case linked to the enslavement and trafficking of 42 women and girls

Scoop by @paulabistagnino

eldiario.es/sociedad/numer…
Mariano Fazio, pictured here on the right meeting Pope Leo last month, is the heir apparent to the group’s current leader Fernando Ocáriz

Prosecutors request that he now be summoned for formal questioning about his role in this explosive case Image
Four other Opus Dei priests were formally accused in the human trafficking case last September

Some of the victims were only twelve when they were allegedly groomed and then coerced into joining the group

on.ft.com/4gM04is
I write about the case in my book

“A well-told, gripping story” – WASHINGTON POST

“Vividly told and excellently researched” – FINANCIAL TIMES

“A genuine exposé, a fluid, authoritative account” – TLS

a.co/d/7JYTwmM
The excellent @PaulaBistagnino has written extensively about the case in Argentina

Her piece “The Handmaid’s School” is ESSENTIAL reading

buenosairesherald.com/society/opus-d…

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Gareth Gore

Gareth Gore Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @gareth_gore

Jun 23
Pope Leo proclaims “urgent” need to root out “abuse of power, authority, conscience and spirituality” in his first statement on Church abuses

Is he paving the way to shut down Opus Dei, which is accused of all of these?

A THREAD 🧵 Image
His comments about the abuse crisis came in a letter celebrating a new play about the excellent @larryportera

Together with her colleagues @chapatucombi, @danielyovera and Patricia Lachira, Paola worked tirelessly to expose the abuses of the Sodality of Christian Life Image
Image
Just like Opus Dei, the Sodality was a Catholic organisation that abused its membership – whilst at the same time cosying up to the rich and powerful

It was closed by Pope Francis earlier this year – and its founder excommunicated

theguardian.com/world/2025/jan…
Read 16 tweets
Jun 13
“A living hell”

X-Men star talks about growing up gay inside the abusive Opus Dei cult

🧵 A THREAD

smh.com.au/lifestyle/life…
Tim Pocock attended an Opus Dei school in Australia, where he was subjected to “constant monitoring” and “manipulation”

It “left me completely unprepared for the real world, unable to be myself and, most importantly, ashamed of who I was”

The school was supposedly set up by a small group of parents who called themselves “Parents for Education” in 1982

Their mission, as the story goes, was to open a new school “focused on education of the whole person”

pared.edu.au/the-pared-foun…
Read 15 tweets
Jun 11
Opus Dei has *just* confirmed that it has submitted the final draft of its revised statutes to the Vatican for approval

After three years of delays and foot-dragging, reform of this abusive cult now looks *imminent*

🧵A THREAD

opusdei.org/en-us/article/…
This looks set to be the first big test of Pope Leo – will he come down hard on Opus Dei, or will the reforms fall short?

Clearly, this is a priority for him: Leo used one of his first audiences to summon Opus Dei’s leadership for an update on reforms

ncronline.org/opinion/pope-l…
Victims have been told that they “won’t be disappointed” – but, as always, the proof will be in the pudding of the details

Former members believe that the group is incapable of reform – and are worried that abuse will continue

eldiario.es/sociedad/alivi…
Read 12 tweets
May 30
💣 BOMBSHELL NEWS 💣

Pope Leo gives Opus Dei SIX MONTHS to pass comprehensive reforms

Leader of group is told: if you don't clean up by December, “necessary measures will be taken”

🧵 A THREAD 🧵

cronista.com/espana/actuali…
The ultimatum was made in a letter sent directly by the pope to the head of Opus Dei

As well as the reforms, Leo has also demanded an investigation into abuse allegations

These include human trafficking, enslavement – as well as physical and psychological abuse of members Image
The letter shows that the new pope is serious about reforming this abusive cult at the heart of the Church

He summoned the leader of Opus Dei to the Vatican in one of his very first papal audiences, in an indication that this was a clear priority

Read 15 tweets
May 30
With Donald Trump now turning against "sleazebag" Leonard Leo, the man who helped him stack the courts, it feels like a good moment to re-up this piece about Leo's deep connections to Opus Dei

A THREAD 🧵

rollingstone.com/politics/polit…
Interesting how Trump writes that Leo "probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions"

Would be interesting to hear what Trump thinks those "separate ambitions" might be

Maybe someone could even ask Leo - although he usually only speaks to friendly media Image
Trump says Leo "openly brags how he controls Judges, and even Justices of the United States Supreme Court"

That's quite the revelation, and something that the authorities ought to be looking into, perhaps

How is he using that power exactly?

politico.com/news/2025/05/2…
Read 7 tweets
May 20
Opus Dei members told to brace for “dramatic, traumatic, historic and revolutionary” changes as Pope Leo XIV tackles decades of abuse inside the organisation

A THREAD 🧵 Image
Vatican sources have reassured Opus Dei victims who have long campaigned for justice that they “won’t be disappointed” as huge reforms edge closer

eldiario.es/sociedad/alivi…
The latest comes after Opus Dei leaders were summoned to the Vatican last week – in one of Pope Leo’s very first audiences, showing the urgency he places on the issue

opusdei.org/en-uk/article/…
Read 11 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us!

:(