Controversies surrounding the Legion of Christ
Encyclopedia
There are several controversies surrounding the Legion of Christ
, including recruiting practices, property disputes, alleged elitism, and abuse scandals.
, Minnesota
; Los Angeles
, California
; Richmond
, Virginia
; Fort Wayne-South Bend
, Indiana
; Columbus
, Ohio
; and Miami
, Florida
– because of its recruiting practices.
Since June 2008, Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of Baltimore
has also begun to require greater oversight of the Legion in his archdiocese. He has particularly objected to its alleged practice of "blind allegiance", lack of "respect for human dignity for each of its members," and "heavily persuasive methods on young people, especially high school
ers, regarding vocations
." He initially intended to expel the Legionaries from his archdiocese, but was persuaded by the Vatican to instead engage in dialogue with the order's superior general
, Rev. Álvaro Corcuera
. He has since directed both groups to disclose all activities within the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and to refrain from spiritual direction
with anyone under eighteen years of age. He has since mentioned that the Legionaries have fully complied with his requests.
However, there are many other dioceses in which the Legion of Christ is accepted. Those in which it has been placed under restriction is the exception rather than the rule.
arm Regnum Christi
. Some view it as having overly strict demands on its members.
Schools and youth clubs (called ECYD
) sponsored by the movement also have the primary stated purpose of evangelization of youth. In practice though, this is often effected through recruitment into ECYD. According to the movement's founder, Regnum Christi's schools "must not be worn down by operating solely as teaching facilities. They will not accomplish their true goal in God's plan for us if they do not bring a large number... into Regnum Christi."
. The Legion of Christ, like the Catholic Church, is against homosexual activity
as it is considered an act of sin
.
. The lawsuit alleges that written property of the Legion, including letters written by Maciel, and copies of unpublished principles and norms "intended only for dissemination and use by Legion members", were stolen and posted online "out of context... as part of a concerted effort to wage a malicious disinformation campaign against the Legion." The Legion has pled that the value of the alleged stolen property is "worth at least $750,000."
The president of ReGAIN has asserted that, to the best of his knowledge, "nothing was obtained improperly", and expressed the opinion that the lawsuit request for information on anonymous message board posters was an action "proving that the Legion is a cult which controls information, stifles freedom of expression and goes after dissenters."
At the conclusion of the lawsuit, the internet discussion board xlcrc.com about the Legion and its activities was taken down. This case has since become a rallying cry for critics of the Legion.
has ordered an apostolic visitation of the institutions of the Legionaries of Christ following disclosures of sexual impropriety by Fr. Marcial Maciel. The announcement of the unusual investigation by the Vatican was posted on the Web site of the Legionaries of Christ March 31, 2009 along with the text of a letter informing the Legionaries of the Pope's
decision.
On June 27, 2009, according to Vatican commentator, Sandro Magister
, Vatican authorities have named five bishops from five different countries, each one in charge of investigating the Legionaries in a particular part of the world. Ricardo Watti Urquidi http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bwatty.html, Bishop of Tepic, Mexico, in charge of Mexico
, and Central America
, where the Legion has 44 houses, 250 priests and 115-120 religious seminarians;
Charles J. Chaput
, Archbishop of Denver
, in charge of the United States
and Canada
, where the Legion has 24 houses, 130 priests and 260 religious seminarians;
Giuseppe Versaldi
, Bishop of Alessandria
, in charge of Italy
, Israel
, the Philippines, and South Korea
, where the Legion has 16 houses, 200 priests and 420 religious seminarians. (in Italy 13, 168 and 418 respectively);
Ricardo Ezzati Andrello http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bezza.html, Archbishop of Santiago
, Chile
, in charge of Chile, Argentina
, Colombia
, Brazil
and Venezuela
, where the Legion has 20 houses, 122 priests and 122 religious seminarians;
Ricardo Blázquez Pérez, :es:Ricardo Blázquez Bishop of Valladolid
, Spain
, in charge of Spain, France
, Germany
, Switzerland
, Ireland
, Holland, Poland
, Austria
, and Hungary
, where the Legion has 20 houses, 105 priests, and 160 religious seminarians.
said that the pope will name a delegate to review the Legionaries of Christ following revelations that the order's founder suspected abuse of minors and fathered at least three children. In a statement, the Vatican denounced the Rev. Marciel Maciel for creating a "system of power" that enabled him to lead an "immoral" double life "devoid of scruples and authentic religious sentiment." The Vatican issued the statement after Pope Benedict XVI
met with five bishops who investigated the Legion to determine its future. The Vatican statement was remarkable in its tough denunciation of Maciel's crimes and deception.
The "very serious and objectively immoral acts" of Fr. Marcial Maciel, which were "confirmed by incontrovertible testimonies" represent "true crimes and manifest a life without scruples or authentic religious sentiment," the Vatican said. The Vatican said Fr. Marcial Maciel created a "mechanism of defense" around himself to shield him from accusations and suppress damaging witnesses from reporting abuse. "It made him untouchable," the Vatican said. The statement decried "the lamentable disgracing and expulsion of those who doubted" Maciel's virtue. The Vatican statement did not address whether the Legion's current leadership will face any sanctions. Actions taken by the current Legion leadership will be scrutinized; but no specific sanctions were mentioned, amid suspicion that at least some of the current leaders must have been aware of Maciel's sins. The Vatican acknowledged the "hardships" faced by Maciel's accusers through the years when they were ostracized or ridiculed, and commended their "courage and perseverance to demand the truth."
As a result of the visitation, Benedict XVI named Archbishop (now Cardinal) Velasio De Paolis
as the Papal Delegate to oversee the Legion and its governance, and review the constitutions on July 9, 2010.
Legion of Christ
The Legion of Christ is a Roman Catholic congregation of pontifical right, made up of priests and seminarians studying for the priesthood. It was founded in Mexico in 1941, by Fr. Marcial Maciel, who directed the congregation as its General Superior until January 2005...
, including recruiting practices, property disputes, alleged elitism, and abuse scandals.
Recruiting practices
In the United States, bishops have barred or severely restricted the Legion and Regnum Christi in several dioceses, notably: St Paul-MinneapolisRoman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is led by the prelature of an archbishop which administers the archdiocese from the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
; Los Angeles
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is an archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the archdiocese comprises the California counties of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura. The diocesan cathedral is the Cathedral of Our Lady of the...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
; Richmond
Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond is an ecclesiastical and episcopal see or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Its current territory was created by Pope Paul VI and encompasses all of central and southern Virginia, Hampton Roads, and the eastern shore...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
; Fort Wayne-South Bend
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend is a Roman Catholic diocese in north-central and northeastern Indiana. The Most Reverend Kevin C. Rhoades was appointed diocesan bishop by Pope Benedict XVI on November 14, 2009, and was installed on January 13, 2010...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
; Columbus
Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Columbus is a Roman Catholic diocese in the Ecclesiastical Province of Cincinnati covering 23 counties in Ohio. The episcopal see of the diocese is situated at Columbus, Ohio. The diocese was erected on March 3, 1868 by Pope Pius IX out of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
; and Miami
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
The Archdiocese of Miami is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. Its ecclesiastic territory includes Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami,...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
– because of its recruiting practices.
Since June 2008, Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
has also begun to require greater oversight of the Legion in his archdiocese. He has particularly objected to its alleged practice of "blind allegiance", lack of "respect for human dignity for each of its members," and "heavily persuasive methods on young people, especially high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
ers, regarding vocations
Vocational discernment in the Catholic Church
Vocational discernment is the process in which men or women in the Catholic Church discern, or determine, their vocation in the Church. Though one may also speak of discerning a vocation to marriage or to life as a single person, discerning a vocation most frequently refers to a special vocation...
." He initially intended to expel the Legionaries from his archdiocese, but was persuaded by the Vatican to instead engage in dialogue with the order's superior general
Superior general
A Superior General, or General Superior, is the Superior at the head of a whole religious order or congregation.The term is mainly used as a generic term, while many orders and congregations use other specific titles, notably:* Abbot general...
, Rev. Álvaro Corcuera
Alvaro Corcuera Martinez del Rio
Father Álvaro Corcuera Martínez del Río is a Mexican Roman Catholic priest. He has been the Director General of the Catholic Order of the Legionaries of Christ since January 2005.-Biography:...
. He has since directed both groups to disclose all activities within the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and to refrain from spiritual direction
Spiritual direction
Spiritual direction is the practice of being with people as they attempt to deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their own personal spirituality. The person seeking direction shares stories of his or her encounters of the divine, or how he or she is experiencing...
with anyone under eighteen years of age. He has since mentioned that the Legionaries have fully complied with his requests.
However, there are many other dioceses in which the Legion of Christ is accepted. Those in which it has been placed under restriction is the exception rather than the rule.
Similar practices of Regnum Christi
Members of Regnum Christi, under supervision of the Legionaries, have organised various ministries, such as youth ministry and small faith communities, which complement the ministries of the local parishes. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien's request also called for greater "transparency and accountability" from the Legionaries and its layLaity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
arm Regnum Christi
Regnum Christi
Regnum Christi is an international Roman Catholic lay ecclesial movement associated with the Legion of Christ, founded by Fr. Marcial Maciel. Regnum Christi is dedicated to promoting the Catholic faith. Their motto is "Love Christ, Serve People, Build the Church."-History:The first draft of the...
. Some view it as having overly strict demands on its members.
Schools and youth clubs (called ECYD
ECYD
ECYD stands for Education, Culture and Youth Development. In translating the original Spanish Educación, Cultura y Deportes , the acronym was kept while changing the words slightly. It is a Catholic youth organization affiliated with the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi movement for youth aged...
) sponsored by the movement also have the primary stated purpose of evangelization of youth. In practice though, this is often effected through recruitment into ECYD. According to the movement's founder, Regnum Christi's schools "must not be worn down by operating solely as teaching facilities. They will not accomplish their true goal in God's plan for us if they do not bring a large number... into Regnum Christi."
Alleged elitism
Critics also cite the Legion's bias in favour of recruiting wealthy and/or socially prominent individuals and families. Though critics say Legion priests tend to be drawn almost exclusively from the upper classes, and once ordained, often move in very exclusive social circles, those familiar with Legionary seminaries say that they are from a broad variety of backgrounds. Critics say assistance and aid to the poor by members of the Legion appears to be tokenism, especially when comparing the number of poor children it educates to the number of wealthy and socially elite children coming out of its schools. The Legion has traditionally responded that the congregation's mission is to Christianize society through the formation and evangelization of leaders. The Regnum Christi Member Handbook states "The Movement understands that for this action to be most effective it must give Christian formation to and apostolically mobilize the men and women that exercise greater leadership in society, in its religious, cultural, intellectual, social, economic, human, artistic and other sectors."Politics
Many have argued that the congregation incorporates right-wing and conservative politics. The Legion, however, states that its focus is not on political alliances nor activism, but on advancing the Church's social agenda as articulated by the Holy See. Its priests are particularly active on bioethical issues; the Legion's emphasis on bioethics is demonstrated by the fact that its Pontifical Atheneum in Rome, the Regina Apostolorum, is the first university in the world granting bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in bioethics. The congregation is pro-lifePro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
. The Legion of Christ, like the Catholic Church, is against homosexual activity
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
as it is considered an act of sin
Sin
In religion, sin is the violation or deviation of an eternal divine law or standard. The term sin may also refer to the state of having committed such a violation. Christians believe the moral code of conduct is decreed by God In religion, sin (also called peccancy) is the violation or deviation...
.
Abuse scandal
The Sexual Scandal of Father Marcial Maciel is a chapter in the order's history.Buying influence
The Legion is accused of buying influence to gain favors from the Vatican and to protect it from allegations of impropriety.ReGAIN Lawsuit
In August 2007, the Legion filed a lawsuit against ReGAIN, an organization founded by ex-Legionaries critical of Legion practices and its founder Marcial MacielMarcial Maciel
Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado was a Mexican-born Roman Catholic priest who founded the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi movement. He was accused of pedophilia early in his life and having fathered at least one child...
. The lawsuit alleges that written property of the Legion, including letters written by Maciel, and copies of unpublished principles and norms "intended only for dissemination and use by Legion members", were stolen and posted online "out of context... as part of a concerted effort to wage a malicious disinformation campaign against the Legion." The Legion has pled that the value of the alleged stolen property is "worth at least $750,000."
The president of ReGAIN has asserted that, to the best of his knowledge, "nothing was obtained improperly", and expressed the opinion that the lawsuit request for information on anonymous message board posters was an action "proving that the Legion is a cult which controls information, stifles freedom of expression and goes after dissenters."
At the conclusion of the lawsuit, the internet discussion board xlcrc.com about the Legion and its activities was taken down. This case has since become a rallying cry for critics of the Legion.
Apostolic visitation
The controversies stem form the order's late founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel. The VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
has ordered an apostolic visitation of the institutions of the Legionaries of Christ following disclosures of sexual impropriety by Fr. Marcial Maciel. The announcement of the unusual investigation by the Vatican was posted on the Web site of the Legionaries of Christ March 31, 2009 along with the text of a letter informing the Legionaries of the Pope's
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
decision.
On June 27, 2009, according to Vatican commentator, Sandro Magister
Sandro Magister
Sandro Magister is an Italian journalist who writes for the magazine "L'espresso". He specializes in religious news, in particular on the Catholic Church and the Vatican...
, Vatican authorities have named five bishops from five different countries, each one in charge of investigating the Legionaries in a particular part of the world. Ricardo Watti Urquidi http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bwatty.html, Bishop of Tepic, Mexico, in charge of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
, where the Legion has 44 houses, 250 priests and 115-120 religious seminarians;
Charles J. Chaput
Charles J. Chaput
Charles Joseph Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. is an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He is the ninth and current Archbishop of Philadelphia, serving since his installation on September 8, 2011. He previously served as Archbishop of Denver and Bishop of Rapid City .Chaput is a professed Capuchin and...
, Archbishop of Denver
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Denver
The Archdiocese of Denver is the Roman Catholic Archdiocese for Denver, Colorado and the Colorado counties of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Jefferson, Larimer, Logan and Weld in the northern part of the state. The Archdiocese's home is at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate...
, in charge of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, where the Legion has 24 houses, 130 priests and 260 religious seminarians;
Giuseppe Versaldi
Giuseppe Versaldi
Archbishop Giuseppe Versaldi is the president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, since his appointement by Pope Benedict XVI on 21 September 2011. He had previously served as bishop of Alessandria....
, Bishop of Alessandria
Roman Catholic Diocese of Alessandria della Paglia
The diocese of Alessandria della Paglia is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in Piedmont, northern Italy. It is a suffragan of the diocese of Vercelli.-History:Alessandria della Paglia was made a see in 1175 by Pope Alexander III...
, in charge of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, the Philippines, and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, where the Legion has 16 houses, 200 priests and 420 religious seminarians. (in Italy 13, 168 and 418 respectively);
Ricardo Ezzati Andrello http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bezza.html, Archbishop of Santiago
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile
The Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago de Chile is part of the Roman Catholic Church in Chile. The current Archbishop is Ricardo Ezzati Andrello...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, in charge of Chile, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, where the Legion has 20 houses, 122 priests and 122 religious seminarians;
Ricardo Blázquez Pérez, :es:Ricardo Blázquez Bishop of Valladolid
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Valladolid
The Archdiocese of Valladolid is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Spain. It was erected as the Diocese of Valladolid by Pope Clement VIII on September 25, 1595, and was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan archdiocese by Pope Pius IX on July 4, 1857, with the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, in charge of Spain, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, Holland, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, where the Legion has 20 houses, 105 priests, and 160 religious seminarians.
Formal denunciation of founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel, by the Vatican
On May 1, 2010 The VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
said that the pope will name a delegate to review the Legionaries of Christ following revelations that the order's founder suspected abuse of minors and fathered at least three children. In a statement, the Vatican denounced the Rev. Marciel Maciel for creating a "system of power" that enabled him to lead an "immoral" double life "devoid of scruples and authentic religious sentiment." The Vatican issued the statement after Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
met with five bishops who investigated the Legion to determine its future. The Vatican statement was remarkable in its tough denunciation of Maciel's crimes and deception.
The "very serious and objectively immoral acts" of Fr. Marcial Maciel, which were "confirmed by incontrovertible testimonies" represent "true crimes and manifest a life without scruples or authentic religious sentiment," the Vatican said. The Vatican said Fr. Marcial Maciel created a "mechanism of defense" around himself to shield him from accusations and suppress damaging witnesses from reporting abuse. "It made him untouchable," the Vatican said. The statement decried "the lamentable disgracing and expulsion of those who doubted" Maciel's virtue. The Vatican statement did not address whether the Legion's current leadership will face any sanctions. Actions taken by the current Legion leadership will be scrutinized; but no specific sanctions were mentioned, amid suspicion that at least some of the current leaders must have been aware of Maciel's sins. The Vatican acknowledged the "hardships" faced by Maciel's accusers through the years when they were ostracized or ridiculed, and commended their "courage and perseverance to demand the truth."
As a result of the visitation, Benedict XVI named Archbishop (now Cardinal) Velasio De Paolis
Velasio de Paolis
Velasio de Paolis, CS JCD STL is an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was president emeritus of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See and is Pontifical Delegate for the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ.-Early life:De Paolis was born in Sonnino, and became a...
as the Papal Delegate to oversee the Legion and its governance, and review the constitutions on July 9, 2010.