The Roman Catholic organization Opus Dei has been accused of secrecy, cultlike practices such as brainwashing, political ambitions, aggressive recruiting, and human trafficking, though it denies these accusations.
In Spain, where Opus Dei was founded in 1928, many members were recruited by leader Generalissimo Francisco Franco as ministers in his government and to institute economic reform in 1956. In the 21st century Spain’s Banco Popular, which collapsed in 2017, allegedly had many Opus Dei members among its leadership and shareholders. The organization has also been accused of influencing right-wing political policy in the United States, particularly the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.