Transcript:  CNN, Paula Zahn Now, May 19, 2006 (in part)  regarding Opus Dei and the Da Vinci Code (http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0605/19/pzn.01.html)

Interview with Colleen O'Neill, former Opus Dei numerary assistant

GALLAGHER: At the center of the controversy is a real-life group called Opus Dei, unwillingly cast as the villains in Dan Brown's book and brought to life on film by an evil bishop and a killer monk who lurks in shadows and whips himself bloody.

But what is Opus Dei?

Opus Dei describes itself as a Catholic organization whose mission is to enable people to serve God through work and everyday life. But in "The Da Vinci Code," Brown describes it as a deeply devout Catholic sect, a brainwashing cult and a secret society.

Neither Brown nor the filmmakers are the first to cast Opus Dei in a negative light. A handful of former members have made similar accusations on this Web site, the Opus Dei Awareness Network, which claims to list the group's questionable practices, like corporal mortification, aggressive recruitment and alienation from families.

COLLEEN O'NEILL, FORMER OPUS DEI NUMERARY ASST.: The main target in Opus Dei is to get people to join. They won't tell you that, but that's the focus, to get more members.

GALLAGHER: Colleen is among them.

O'NEILL: They can coerce you, they play with your mind. Your parents are not brought into the picture. You're not told exactly what you're getting into.

Looking at this makes me feel sad.

GALLAGHER: Colleen says she joined Opus Dei just out of high school, becoming what's called a numerary assistant, which required her to make a life-long commitment to celibacy, to working for Opus Dei and to living in an Opus Dei residence.

For 20 years, Colleen cooked, cleaned and waited on other members, earning a small paycheck that she says ultimately went back into Opus Dei coffers.

O'NEILL: Opus Dei preaches goodness and peace and love, but really what they do is not ethical. You give up all your time, you give up all your money, you give up all your possessions. You give up everything. Basically, living like a slave. Because you have to do everything you're told and you're not given any money and any freedom.

GALLAGHER: Last year, with the help of family, friends, an exit counselor and an attorney, Colleen left Opus Dei for good.

O'NEILL: Opus Dei is a cult. And you know, I want people to know that a year ago, I would have never said that. I still have nightmares every night that I'm in Opus Dei and I can't get out.

GALLAGHER: Numerary members of Opus Dei, like Colleen used to be, are encouraged to practice strict rituals, like corporal mortification -- striking themselves with a knotted whip called the discipline, or wearing a spiked metal chain, the cilice, as a reminder of Christ's suffering.

(on camera): The albino monk in "The Da Vinci Code" wears a cilice so tightly he makes himself bleed. This is an actual cilice, worn by numeraries around their bare thighs for two hours a day. You can see for yourself just how sharp these spikes are. Depending on how tightly you tie it, it could be pretty painful.

REV. MICHAEL BARRETT, OPUS DEI PRIEST: Corporal mortification is harmless to your health. It doesn't cause any physical damage whatsoever.

GALLAGHER (on-camera): It doesn't make you bleed?

BARRETT: Not a bit.

GALLAGHER: But I think what's so radical is that in the modern day people would be doing this.

BARRETT: I don't think it's that radical. It's our way to connect with Christ. In the most important moment when redemption takes place, he's suffering on the cross, and we're trying to be in solidarity with him in that moment.

GALLAGHER (voice over): Reverend Michael Barrett insists that Opus Dei is not a cult and that its members are not mistreated or forced to do anything. He thinks that "Da Vinci Code" director Ron Howard should have left any mention of Opus Dei out of the movie.

BARRETT: The trailers that I have seen are so sensational I have this little bit of hope that maybe it's going to fall on its own foolishness.

GALLAGHER (on-camera): He says it's a work of fiction.

BARRETT: It's a work of fiction, but it still doesn't entitle a person to say whatever he wants about real institutions.

GALLAGHER (voice over): Among those real institutions, Opus Dei's $47 million headquarters on Lexington Avenue, described on the first page of "The Da Vinci Code."

This is the actual building. It's 17 stories tall with separate entrances for men and women. Inside, separate facilities divide male and female members called numeraries who promise to remain single, childless and to living in an Opus Dei residence. There are his or her chapels, dining rooms, classrooms and fitness centers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the exercise room, also known as the torture chamber.

GALLAGHER (on-camera): The real torture chamber.

(voice over): Tona Varela has been a numerary for 25 years. (on-camera): Two hours you wear the cilice, for example, on the thighs.

TONA VARELA, OPUS DEI NUMERARY: Let me tell you, you get a little more uncomfortable for two hours. And it is a little reminder, a little etch of remembering, well, Christ died for me.

GALLAGHER: So it's not correct that it tears at the flesh?

VARELA: It does not do any harm to the body.

GALLAGHER (voice over): Not all members of Opus Dei are celibate. The majority of the roughly 3,000 American members are what is called Supernumeraries. They can marry, have children and live in their own homes. Terri Carron is one of them.

TERRI CARRON, OPUS DEI SUPERNUMERARY: We are neither a cult nor a secret society. Opus Dei is open to everyone. That's just it.

GALLAGHER: Aside from her commitments to Opus Dei, Terri is a wife, mother of four and public relations consultant who goes to church every day and follows the teachings of Opus Dei founder Josemaria Escriva, a Spanish priest who was fast tracked to sainthood after his death. She says Opus Dei does not recruit members.

(on-camera): So what is the difference between being a regular Catholic and being a member of Opus Dei?

CARRON: Well, I mean, Opus Dei members are regular Catholics, but I think that when you get to a point where you really want to deepen your Christian faith, you have to find a spirituality that will help you develop. And Opus Dei is that for me. You know, we're just people, lay Catholics looking for God in our everyday life.

GALLAGHER: You don't have monks?

CARRON: We don't have monks, albino or otherwise.

GALLAGHER (voice over): Opus Dei asked Sony Pictures to add a disclaimer to the movie, reminding viewers that it's fiction, but Ron Howard declined saying spy thrillers don't start off with a disclaimers. Despite the negative publicity, representatives for Opus Dei say 3 million people visited their web site just last year and many inquired about joining.

(on-camera): What would you say to moviegoers of "The Da Vinci Code?"

BARRETT: I would say to see the movie with your eyes open, not to just take things in as though everything presented is fact and true.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ZAHN: So Delia any reaction from Opus Dei headquarters to the film coming out? GALLAGHER: Paula, I wanted to show you this. It's from an Italian paper, and this man here is the actual head of Opus Dei worldwide. And he says Dan Brown doesn't know it, but he has strengthened Opus Dei. So I think that about sums it up in terms of what Opus Dei thinks about the whole "Da Vinci Code."

ZAHN: Of course some of tractors say wishful thinking. We'll continue to watch from here. Delia Gallagher, thanks so much.

Right now, I want to turn now to one of the people we just met in Delia's report, Colleen O'Neill, a former Opus Dei numerary assistant. Thanks so much for joining us. We heard you talk about the 20 years that you were in Opus Dei. You said it wasn't until a year ago that you would have called it a cult. What was the tipping point for you? What happened?

O'NEILL: Well, my family intervened, and they got an exit counselor to show me what a cult is and how people are brainwashed. And when she explained it to me, I saw that, yes, Opus Dei, you know, falls under all of these categories. And I thought, oh, my gosh.

ZAHN: And Opus Dei, as you know, denies this happened. How would you say Opus Dei coerces people into joining the fold? And how did they brainwash you?

O'NEILL: Well, they -- well, I was a young kid. I was 17. And they started telling me God has chosen you to be in Opus Dei, and it was never my idea. And they put the fear of God into me and told me this is God's plan for you. And if you don't do it, you're never going to be happy.

So I was scared, and I basically joined because I thought I was never going to be happy if I didn't do anything else. And they tell that to everybody, you know, that they think can be in Opus Dei because that's all they want is just spread, spread, spread. And they take away every ounce of freedom you would ever have in your life.

And they -- you think you're giving it up to God, but they just control everything, everything. And they separate you from your family. You're financially controlled. So it's very hard to leave. They'll tell you, oh, you can leave, it's so easy, but you don't know everything when you get in. You just don't know everything. You think you give your life up to God, and you don't know what you're getting into.

ZAHN: Well of course, Colleen, as you know, there are still people, the 3,000 members or so who are quite happy there, but it is very interesting to hear your perspective on all of this. We appreciate your joining us tonight. Quick yes or no, do you plan to see the movie?

O'NEILL: I'm still thinking about it.

ZAHN: Yes, I understand. It will be pretty painful for you to try to relive some of what you say you've been through. Colleen thank you, again, for your time tonight. Moving up on just about 14 minutes before the hour. That means we're right around the corner, that is, from "LARRY KING LIVE."