Women in Opus Dei

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Women form 57% of the membership of the Opus Dei prelature. [1] The role of women in Opus Dei has sometimes been a source of criticism for the organization. [2]

Contents

Segregation of men and women

Some of these gender-related criticisms have been directed specifically towards Opus Dei. Unmarried male and female numeraries are segregated, with only limited contact between genders—male and female numeraries live in separate centers and attend separate classes and retreats. Some[ who? ] have said that Opus Dei's U.S. Headquarters even has separate entrances for men and women, but this is not so: there are separate entrances to the men's house and to the women's house, but men and women can enter either house through the appropriate entrance. [3]

"Assistant numerary" members and criticisms

In Opus Dei, there is a sub-group of female "assistant numeraries" who perform cooking, cleaning, sewing, and other household duties in centers of Opus Dei as their professional work and as a way to serve the others. Members emphasize that the numerary assistants clean both men's and women's centers, but critics take issue with the fact that while women clean for men, men never clean for the women.

In recent years, Opus Dei has faced a number of accusations of exploitation of assistant numeraries, for example, recruiting them from poor families while young, even as minors, working them for 12 hours a day, with few days off, not paying them fairly, and not providing financial support to those who leave.

These accusations were accepted by the French appeal court of Amiens in 2016, which convicted a hospitality training center controlled by Opus Dei members of criminal breaches of French labor law and awarded compensation to former assistant numerary Catherine Tissier. See Controversies about Opus Dei#Legal disputes

In 2021, a group of 43 former assistant numeraries from Argentina and other countries in South America made a joint complaint to Opus Dei and the Vatican relating to similar matters. [4]

In early 2024, three Irish former assistant numeraries made similar accusations in the media, with 13 other assistant numeraries from USA, Europe and Africa also interviewed by the Financial Times. [5] [6] [7]

Escriva's teachings on women

Critics also object to some of Escriva's teachings on women. He once wrote, "Wives, you should ask yourself whether you are not forgetting a little about your appearance. Your duty is, and will always be, to take as good care of your appearance as you did before you were married—and it is a duty of justice." Escriva similarly stated that "Women needn’t be scholars—it’s enough for them to be prudent." [8]

Opus Dei's view on the equality of men and women

Opus Dei and its supporters reject any suggestion their policies are inappropriate. While they admit women are sometimes treated differently than men within Opus Dei, supporters emphasize that men and women are nonetheless regarded as equals. A spokesman has said that Opus Dei is committed to the "equal dignity of men and women." In the opinion of one member, women should not enter the workforce as "one more" but as a "different one," given that "the only ontological difference among human beings is determined by the sexes," and that care for the family and the home are "eminently feminine." [9] Supporters say that Opus Dei, with its emphasis on work, is a strong advocate of women becoming professionals—according to one scholar, "Opus Dei has an enviable record of educating the poor and supporting women, whether single or married, in any occupation they choose." [10]

Women in the governance of Opus Dei

Supporters also point out that women participate in the governance of Opus Dei—for example, the Central Advisory, which oversees the women's branch of Opus Dei, is made up entirely of women. Thus, John Allen reports that half of the leadership positions in Opus Dei are held by women, and they supervise men. [11]

Similar criticisms directed at Catholicism as a whole

Many of these criticisms are directed not just at Opus Dei, but at Catholicism as a whole. [12] As in the rest of the Catholic Church, women may not join the priesthood or participate in the very highest levels of church governance. The Catholic prohibitions against abortion and birth control have also drawn criticism. While a minority of Roman Catholics have advocated for changing these stances, Opus Dei is generally seen as supportive of them.[ citation needed ]

Traditionalist approach to women

Many critics of such policies have therefore opposed Opus Dei, as in the case of one author who views Opus Dei "as one of the most reactionary organizations in the Roman Catholic Church today...for its devotion to promoting, as public policy, the Vatican's inflexibly traditionalist approach to women, and reproductive health." [13] Those who approve of the Vatican's policies, meanwhile, applaud Opus Dei's stance on those issues. [14]

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References

  1. ↑ Vecchi, Gian Guido (24 January 2017). "Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz è il nuovo Prelato dell'Opus Dei". corriere.it. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "The women of Opus Dei". indiancatholic.in. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "Justina and David: As members of Opus Dei, the McCaffreys seek perfection -- even in their wedding dresses". ottawacitizen.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  4. ↑ "Women in Argentina claim labor exploitation by Opus Dei". apnews.com. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  5. ↑ "The Opus Dei Diaries". ft.com. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  6. ↑ "Upfront with Katie Hannon: from 31:05". rte.ie. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "Unveiling Opus Dei: Anne Marie Allen speaks out". rte.ie. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  8. ↑ "News - The Scotsman". news.scotsman.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  9. ↑ Marta Brancatisano, a supernumerary, cited by Allen
  10. ↑ "Women of Opus Dei Explain "True Feminism"". religiondispatches.org. 8 August 2009. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  11. ↑ Julia Baird (2006-05-18). "Tall tale ignites an overdue debate". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2007-04-04.
  12. ↑ "Page Not Found". cathnewsusa.com. Retrieved 12 April 2018.{{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  13. ↑ Urquhart, Gordon (1997). "Opus Dei: The Pope's Right Arm in Europe". Conservative Catholic Influence in Europe an Investigative Series. Catholics for a Free Choice. Retrieved 2006-05-16..
  14. ↑ "Opus Dei and women". opusdei.org. Retrieved 12 April 2018.

Bibliography

Women of Opus Dei: In Their Own Words by MT Oates, Linda Ruf and Jane Driver, MD

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