Conspirituality

233: DC’s Catholic Power Center (w/Gareth Gore)

Nov 21, 2024

Gareth Gore, financial journalist and author of "Opus," sheds light on the secretive Catholic organization Opus Dei. The discussion dives into its controversial beginnings and disturbing practices, including recruitment via deception and manipulative tactics. Gore details its historical ties to authoritarian regimes and presents alarming revelations about scandals like child abuse and human trafficking. The conversation also reveals Opus Dei’s influential presence in U.S. politics and its complex relationship with power, faith, and ethics.

01:18:18

Episode guests

Gareth Gore

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Quick takeaways

Opus Dei, founded in 1928, employs rigorous control and spiritual manipulation techniques to maintain influence over members' lives and decisions.

The organization's connection to powerful political figures in Washington D.C. highlights its role in merging religion with reactionary political agendas.

Recent allegations of human trafficking and financial misconduct suggest a troubling pattern of abuse and manipulation within Opus Dei's operations.

Deep dives

The Origins and Structure of Opus Dei

Opus Dei was founded in 1928 by José María Escrivá following a vision from God, initially recruiting a small inner circle of students into a high-demand, secretive Catholic organization. Members known as numeraries commit to strict lives of celibacy, poverty, and obedience while often living in gender-segregated residences. They are required to engage in corporal mortification practices, which include self-flagellation, all framed as acts of devotion. This structure allows Opus Dei to exert significant control over members, with regular spiritual counseling sessions that serve both to guide and monitor their lives.

Intro

2min

Opus Dei and Political Paradoxes

9min

Navigating Confusion: Revelations from Hurricane Helene

4min

Belief and Distraction: Mapping the Terrain of Wokeism and Late-Stage Capitalism

2min

Politics, Culture, and Faith

4min

Unveiling Opus Dei: Power and Controversy

20min

Exploring the Dark World of Organized Crime

2min

Unveiling Opus Dei: The Complexity of Influence

20min

Dark Influences: Opus Dei and American Politics

15min

Josemaria Escriva founded Opus Dei, an ultra-conservative, high-demand, secretive Catholic organization in Madrid, Spain, after receiving a supposed vision from God in 1928. His small inner circle initially initiated university students into strict obedience, celibacy, medieval practices of self-flagellation, and deceptive recruitment techniques to convert their friends.

Operating outside of the mainstream church, Opus Dei rose to prominence under Spain's authoritarian dictator, Francisco Franco. Escriva was eventually canonized as a saint while the group amassed enormous wealth and influence around the world.

Today, their reactionary religious and political mission has established a foothold in Washington DC through the Catholic Information Center—the tabernacle closest to the White House.Bill Barr, Leonard Leo, and Project 2025 mastermind, Kevin Roberts, all visit for spiritual guidance. Meanwhile, scandals and lawsuits involving child sex abuse, money laundering, and human trafficking plague Opus Dei's reputation. Gareth Gore joins us to discuss his controversial new book on the past and present of this secretive organization, Opus.

Show Notes

Pew Research Center: America’s News Influencers

How Opus Dei Converted DC

Gareth Gore Author page for his book, Opus

Opus Dei Paid $900K to Settle Sexual Misconduct Claim

Argentine Prosecutors Accuse Opus Dei of Human Trafficking

Maria del Carmen Tapia Book Summary on Opus Dei

Financial Times on Opus

Biblical omen uncovered in aftermath of Hurricane Helene | Daily Mail Online

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