Parents' Guide to How I Left the Opus Dei

This intriguing but talky documentary series showcases former female members of Opus Dei as they recount their personal experiences within the secretive and patriarchal religious organization. The women in How I Left the Opus Dei all describe the cult-like grooming and indoctrination processes that were used to recruit them as young teens. Some also point out how the numeraries who approached them deliberately targeted them because they were economically disadvantaged, and used promises of scholarships and educational programs as a way of encouraging them to join. They also describe how their phone calls, mail, and behavior were constantly being monitored, and how questioning things was seen as unfaithful. How the years of combined emotional, psychological, spiritual, and economic abuse made it almost impossible for them to leave is also addressed.

Granted, no one from Opus Dei chose to respond to their declarations, nor does How I Left the Opus Dei strive to be objective. But it does address some of the reforms the Vatican imposed on the organization after women started to come forward, file lawsuits, and speak to media about about their experiences only a few years prior to this series. Nonetheless, this is an unapologetic and worthwhile presentation of survival stories, and gives voice to women who want to protect others from an institution that is more interested in having women serving the needs of powerful men rather than allowing them to be full participants in a larger spiritual journey.