The Good Spirit: Behind the Doors of Opus Dei

The Good Spirit: Behind the Doors of Opus Dei is a Spanish documentary series that pulls back the curtain on the controversial Catholic organization Opus Dei. Fourteen former male members from 11 countries speak about their experiences from inside the organization. The series examines allegations of psychological manipulation, spiritual abuse, financial control and recruitment methods that are said to have had serious consequences for the men involved — according to the series' sources, some of them were sent abroad as young teenagers and never returned home.

Opus Dei, Latin for 'God's Work', was founded in Spain in 1928 and today counts hundreds of thousands of members worldwide. The organization has been surrounded by controversy since its founding but has rarely allowed outsiders insight into its daily practices and internal culture. According to HBO Watch, it is precisely this secretive aspect the series sets out to uncover.

The documentary does not center on a single criminal case or a named victim in the traditional sense. Instead, it functions as a broad institutional investigation into Opus Dei's practices, told through personal accounts from men who have left the organization. The 14 witnesses come from 11 different countries, underlining that the allegations are not isolated to one national setting but describe patterns spanning continents and cultures. Their accounts center on recruitment methods aimed at young people, isolation from family and the outside world, demands for financial contributions, and what the sources describe as a systematic breakdown of individual will in favor of the organization's goals.

One of the most striking claims in the series' promotion is that some of the interviewed men were sent to foreign countries as teenagers — reportedly to serve the organization — and were never given the chance to return home. This practice raises questions about the line between religious conviction and deprivation of personal freedom, though no lawsuit or conviction has yet been linked to these claims. Opus Dei as an organization consistently denies allegations of abuse and presents itself as a legitimate, voluntary Catholic institution. It has not publicly commented on this specific documentary series in any way reflected in available sources.

The series was made by Catalan journalist and documentarian Mònica Terribas, known for her thorough work on investigative subjects. With this series, she persuaded 14 men to break the silence many former Opus Dei members typically maintain, whether out of fear, loyalty or shame. It was produced with support from MEDIAPRO, one of Spain's largest production companies, and is available exclusively on HBO Max in Spain. The production consists of three episodes that together build a picture of the organization from the inside — from recruitment to daily life and finally departure and its consequences.

Ahead of its premiere, the series received significant attention in Spanish media, and Noticias de Navarra highlighted its potential to spark broader public debate about Opus Dei's methods and influence in Spanish society. As the series premieres on 25 September 2026, no verified reviews, IMDb user ratings or official viewing figures are yet available.

No confirmed lawsuits, indictments or convictions are directly linked to the claims made in the series. Opus Dei continues to operate as a recognized Catholic institution under the jurisdiction of the Vatican.