Today our guest is Gareth Gore, journalist and author whose new book Opus is about Opus Dei, an ultra-conservative Catholic sect, its harmful practices, its history of dark money, and its connections to modern day right-wing American politics. Gareth shares how he came to this story while investigating the shady practices at a bank in Spain, the history of the group and the leader’s goals of recruiting elite members of society, and its cultic practices like living in gender segregated homes with a highly controlled life and doing body mortification rituals. He tells about how members would groom kids as young as 11 or 12 to become people of influence in the group, how there are a number of reports of trafficking low-income young women and girls in various countries to exploit their labor at Opus Dei retreats, how some people were fed a cocktail of prescription drugs they didn’t need, and whether there’s been any accountability for these practices—which the group tries to officially distance themselves from. Plus, its ties to prominent US conservative activist Leonard Leo, who’s had an outsized influence in naming three of our current Supreme Court appointees and who’s tied to Project 2025, seeking to “crush liberal dominance.”

Check out our great sponsors!!

Quince: Get cozy in Quince's high-quality wardrobe essentials! Go to Quince.com/trust for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Shopify: Upgrade your business! Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.com/trustme 

BUY OUR MERCH!! bit.ly/trustmemerch

Got your own story about cults, extreme belief, or abuse of power? Leave a voicemail or text us at 347-86-TRUST (347-868-7878) OR shoot us an email at [email protected]

INSTAGRAM

@TrustMePodcast

@oohlalola

@meaganelizabeth11

TWITTER

@TrustMeCultPod

@ohlalola

@baberahamhicks

TIKTOK

@TrustMeCultPodcast

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.