Heart and Soul: Seeking justice from Opus Dei

Opus Dei is a controversial Catholic organisation with schools and conference centres across the globe. Close links to the Vatican mean members are highly influential within the Catholic church. Opus Dei is Latin for “Work of God” and their aim is to help people to achieve holiness through their everyday work. The vast majority of members are lay people. Within Opus Dei, “assistant numeraries” are women responsible for cooking and cleaning in Opus Dei centres. They tend to come from poor or working-class backgrounds often recruited through hospitality schools. Former assistant numeraries say they were overworked, unpaid, isolated from their families and emotionally and spiritually abused. Many women are now speaking up and seeking justice. Journalist Antonia Cundy speaks to survivors in Latin America about their experiences.