I'd suggest that you read the ODAN site for what they have uncovered about O.D.
When I get time, I'll do the same thing. I've heard lots of bad stuff about O.D., but I will be using the ODAN site as a reference to become more familiar with the group.
Disclaimer: I've had no direct contact with OD.
"Disclaimer: I've had no direct contact with OD."
Well, I have. And if they let me go to their Bible studies and talks then anyone can go. Nobody pressured me to join or even to come back to the next talk. They aren't secretive. I would say reserved, and a little boring maybe, but not secretive.
You can read all about them on their web-site - http://www.opusdei.org/ Sceptre Press offers their publications to anyone who wants them - http://www.scepterpublishers.org/ so they can't be that secretive.
Opus Dei is not for everyone, they will be the first to tell you that. People drop out, which they are free to do. The ones that drop out and complain about it tend to be drama queens, like the young woman who is on PMSNBC whenever they do a story about Opus Dei. Btw, the people of Opus Dei pray for her all the time, that she finds peace. I think she is the one that runs ODAN.
What is the worst allegation in this article? That the bookkeeping was sloppy in Australia. So what. In another part of the article it is talking about how terrible it is in Opus Dei and that of those who complained "...some were eventually asked to leave." Well, if it's so terrible wouldn't they want to leave anyway?
I understand you aren't Catholic so you probably don't know the lives of the Saints http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/patron02.htm or the spirituality of religious orders in the old days. Opus Dei is just a modern version of that life.
But I can say a couple bad things about Opus Dei. They actually DON'T have assassin monks. (That was a let-down.) And some of them are lousy bowlers. I saw that with my own eyes.
Inquiring minds wonder why the villain in this movie is an albino assissin working for the Pope, which also happens to have been a character in the innocuous movie Foul Play, (Chevy Chase and Goldie hawn comedic murder mystery circa mid 70s)
There is nothing sinister about Opus Dei. The woman who started ODAN did not have the right personality for Opus Dei. There are many people who find spiritual fulfillment by living according to Opus Dei's rules. Unfortunately for her and her family, she became a robot. It was as much her fault as anyone's.