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Legionaries' letter details reforms order has made
Sep. 08, 2009
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Pope Benedict XVI meets with Father Alvaro Corcuera, director general of the Legionaries of Christ and its lay association, Regnum Christi, at the Vatican in this June 16, 2006, file photo.
Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionThe Legionaries of Christ have initiated a number of reforms since publicly acknowledging Feb. 4 that the order's founder, Mexican Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, fathered a child, two U.S. Legionaries priests said in a letter to members of the order's lay association, Regnum Christi.
The reforms include the training of Legionaries on best practices when dealing with minors to protect children from sex abuse; reconfiguring business and management practices; and altering the depiction of Father Maciel in the order's communications, including Web sites and publications, Father Scott Reilly, director of the order's Atlanta territory, and Father Julio Marti, director of the New York territory, wrote Sept. 1.
In February, Legionaries' officials said they had only recently learned their late founder had fathered a child. In the past, Father Maciel had been accused of sexually abusing young seminarians in the order.
Father Maciel died Jan. 30, 2008, at the age of 87. In May 2006 the Vatican decided after its own investigation against conducting a canonical trial, but rather ordered the then-frail Father Maciel to withdraw to a life of prayer and penance.
The two priests acknowledged that more recent allegations of "other relationships and other children" have been made, but they declined to comment specifically about them.
"Given the partial nature of the information available and the impossibility to evaluate immediately and in a definitive manner these complex allegations, the Legion of Christ cannot, at this time, make a statement regarding them," the priests wrote.
While mentioning the Vatican-ordered apostolic visitation the order is undergoing, the letter offered few details of the process, which began July 15. The priests said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver will be visiting Legionaries' seminaries and religious houses in the U.S., but offered no timeline for the visits or a date when his report will be forwarded to the Vatican.
Tracy Murphy, associate director of communications for the Archdiocese of Denver, said Sept. 4 details of the visitation are being kept confidential.
Jim Fair, U.S. spokesman for the order, told Catholic News Service Sept. 4 the letter was sent to Regnum Christi members to provide an update on what the order was doing since it became public that Father Maciel had fathered a child. He said the letter was sent to offer "reassurance to our members because it obviously has been a real challenging time."
The six-page letter, posted on the order's Web site at www.legionariesofchrist.org, was sent after a visit to the U.S. by Legionaries Father Alvaro Corcuera, director general of the order and of Regnum Christi, who presided over the Aug. 29 profession of vows of a group of novices and men religious in Cheshire, Conn.
Father Marti and Father Reilly offered an apology to "all those who have been harmed or scandalized by (Father Maciel's) actions."
"To all we extend a special apology on behalf of the legion and our general director, Father Alvaro Corcuera, who has, in fact, begun to reach out personally and in private to those he knows may have suffered most, offering his heartfelt apology and consolation," the U.S. priests wrote.
They did not address specific allegations against Father Maciel.
Recognizing that "this unexpected turn of events has been traumatic," the priests also acknowledged that many with Legionaries of Christ connections have experienced "shock, anger, disbelief, denial and fear."
"These emotions, the vast tangle of information, supposition, speculation and opinion, the different cultural sensitivities and the Christian duty not to publicize the sins of others, have made it difficult to publish the sort of direct statement that many expected of us," the priests said.
"What we do learn, we will address, respecting the privacy of those who request it of us," they added.
The priests' letter said that the order has begun working with Praesidium Inc., an Arlington, Texas-based risk-management firm which assists religious organizations, schools, recreation programs and nursing homes in preventing sexual and physical abuse.
The company offers online and on-site training "to set standards that ensure safety," according to its Web site. It also offers an accreditation program that certifies an organization as meeting more than two-dozen standards related to appropriate behavior and safeguards against abuse.
The letter also said the order has put in place in recent years new business practices with the help of lay professionals.
In updating its Web sites and other communications, the Legionaries have begun an "adjustment" in the "way we refer to Father Maciel in the Legion and in Regnum Christi," the letter continued.
"While we cannot deny that Father Maciel was our founder and did much good, neither can we deny the reality of what has recently come to light and his grave human failings," the letter said. "We have taken progressive steps to make sure that there is no inappropriate reference to Father Maciel."
The letter said pictures of the Mexican priest have been removed from various Legionaries' centers and a review of the order's publications and brochures is under way.
Father Reilly and Father Marti said they expect further steps will be taken across the order in the future.
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Editor's Note: The full text of the letter from Father Reilly and Father Marti is available online at www.legionariesofchrist.org/eng/articulos/articulo2.phtml?se=242&ca=905&....
Chaput? A follower of Escriva
Chaput?
A follower of Escriva will be "visiting" the followers of Maciel?
Typical.
http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS257&q=chapu...
Isn't it though. If the
Isn't it though. If the Vatican were serious about Maciel and the activities of the Legion, Interpol would be doing the investigation.
You note that a follower of
You note that a follower of Escriva will be "visiting" the followers of Maciel, McCluskey.
That's an insightful point.
Already, Chaput is being feted by groups with close ties to the Legionaries of Christ--though he's supposedly beginning an investigation of them!
On Oct. 8, Chaput will receive the annual award of the Envoy Institute at Belmont Abbey College. Belmont Abbey's current president, William Thierfelder, came to Belmont Abbey through an ad the college placed in the Legion-owned National Catholic Register.
In the past year, the bishops of Charlotte Peter Jugis ordained Legionary priests at Belmont Abbey's church.
Patrick Madrid, director of Belmont Abbey's Envoy Institute, is (or says he is) a former Legion member.
For further information about the banquet to fete Chaput as the Belmont Abbey Envoy Institute award winner, see http://www.examiner.com/x-13503-St-Louis-Catholic-Living-Examiner~y2009m....
This investigation is beginning to stink to high heaven, as places with thick ties to the Legionaries of Christ shower awards on Chaput, and big-name right-wing Catholics rally around him. I don't look for much transparency and accountability in this investigation.
Exactly. This is like Al
Exactly. This is like Al Capone looking into organized crime.
W-H-I-T-E-W-A-S-H: Circle the
W-H-I-T-E-W-A-S-H: Circle the wagons, boys! We're onto you!
"While mentioning the Vatican-ordered apostolic visitation the order is undergoing, the letter offered few details of the process, which began July 15. The priests said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver will be visiting Legionaries' seminaries and religious houses in the U.S., but offered no timeline for the visits or a date when his report will be forwarded to the Vatican.
Tracy Murphy, associate director of communications for the Archdiocese of Denver, said Sept. 4 details of the visitation are being kept confidential."
Indeed Craig, it's a foregone
Indeed Craig, it's a foregone conclusion....and what about the victims?
Nice Pic of 'who-ever' with
Nice Pic of 'who-ever' with the Pope.. yes we have seen too much of the popes with Maciel... even Bush learned not to pose with scammers who used the pic in raising money for themselves.. Vatican should hire Rove to learn how not to get photographed with scammers..he learned the lessons the hard way..
Since the order was started
Since the order was started by one who was false about who he was, shouldn't the order be done away with and a new one based on what the people of the old order find good and true be the basis of the new? I can't believe people want to keep going when they have learned their leader was everything he taught against.
How is it that this order
How is it that this order comes so late to the table on this issue. It almost seems that nothing was done until pressure was put upon them. I am very tired of our church being demeaned by their own priests. This seems horrifying. Maybe I should say, it is horrifying. WWJD? I think he might be very angry and also feeling deep sorrow for the betrayal, again, by His own. As for me, I say, "Shame on you!"
McCluskey may wish to recall
McCluskey may wish to recall that Chaput is a Franciscan, so while Chaput may be supportive of Opus Dei, he's not and cannot be Opus Dei.
Please see Tom Roberts'
Please see Tom Roberts' notice of the Legion letter and the comments below at http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/legionaries-letter-outlines-recent-...
I see photos of Legion leaders with popes are still extant as PR tools. This time though, CNS was left with only a 2006 photo.
Still, of course, no apology directly to those abused sexually by Maciel. The same euphemisms so favored by bishops, like "harm" are used in a letter to RC only in the US.
For a true sense of the level of corruption, financial as well as sexual, in the Legion,
see http://www.life-after-rc.com/2009/09/from-the-territorial-directors/comm...
"I worked for the Legion in their Territorial Administration for many years...There were many donations that were not spent in the manner intended by the donor. There was one poor family that gave over a half a million dollars for a chapel at ICAS in New Hampshire. That chapel was never built and the money was spent on something else."
Chaput is the true fox
Chaput is the true fox guarding the hen house! Simply ridiculous! No decency left by Apostolic visitors. Corruption complete!
Chaput to do the Visitation??
Chaput to do the Visitation?? Now I've heard it all. That's like sending Rob Blagojevich in to investigate corruption in the Illinois State House
There was evil at the top of
There was evil at the top of LC/RC for too many years. It seems utterly impossible that the current leadership was not complicit to some degree. Their recruiting practices are at least dubious. The culture of secrecy seems to remain even after the promises requiring it have been abandoned.
Probably the best to be hoped for is that leadership will rise up to facilitate disbanding, finding new spiritual homes for the membership and disposing of the assets after making provision for Maciel's victims and children.
Boy, the hypocrisy of some
Boy, the hypocrisy of some folks on this site is so deep as to require boots. On the one hand, there are folks who scream "HOW DARE THEY!" when the Holy See launches an investigation and visitation of orders of religious women in the US, and these same folks scream "YES! ABOUT TIME!" when the Holy See launches a similar visitation of the Legionaries of Christ. I would expect honest people to either say that all visitations and investigations launched by the Holy See are wrong, or all are right. Not both and and. I wonder if it is because the Legion is made up of "conservative" men and the congregations of women religious include "liberal" women? Surely not.
In any event, I welcome both visitations. The Legion has serious issues that need to be addressed, without ignoring the great good that its priests and lay members (Regnum Christi) have done and continue to do. In the same way, without ignoring the great good that many sisters have done, and continue to do, there is a serious need for many of those congregations to return to a life more consistent with the mind and heart of the Church. The only real difference here is that the Legion has admitted its mistakes and its errors and is trying to correct them, which is more than can be said for most of the congregations of women religious.
Honest thinking people should be able to see that it is possible, indeed it is consistent with human nature, to be able to do great good while at the same time having serious issues that need to be resolved. The Legion and the vast majority of congregations of women religious in the US are in this position. It is simply evidence that even the best orders, with the finest heritage and best of intentions, are ultimately made up of human beings who are capable of making mistakes and falling short of the ideal. Christ, through His Holy Church, continually calls each human being, lay, religious and cleric alike, to greater fidelity and conversion.
Clint the hypocrisy here runs
Clint the hypocrisy here runs both ways. If the Vatican was playing fair, Sr. Chittister should be doing the investigation of LCWR nuns, or the Archbishop of Baltimore, not Denver, should be doing the investigagion of the Legion.
Actually I really do think Interpol should be doing the investigation of the Legion as Maciel was operating as an international criminal.
It is disgraceful that the
It is disgraceful that the adult victim/surviviors who came forward years ago with their testimony of being sexually abused as children were defamed and vilified by church officials as in documented in Jason Berry's book.
These latest revelations only show the levels of corruption that are at the heart of the Legionaries of Christ and its founder, Marcial Maciel Degollado.
The investigations by Archbishop Chaput and company should not take all that long if he and the rest of the investigating team can get the truth out of the LC officials now in charge.
However the institutional RCC already has much of the truth if they care to act on it. The Legion of Chirst should be suppressed and the good men belonging to it given the choice to join another established religious order in the church or seek incardination in a particular diocese.
I would also like to ask chruch authorities investigating the Legion of Christ why it is that men are still being accepted into LC seminaries, their priests are permitted to actually be appointed pastors in some dioceses and they are still opening or taking over schools?
Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims' Advocate
New Castle, Delaware
maureenpaulturlish@yahoo.com
13
In spite of the problems, we
In spite of the problems, we the faithful do OK with regular parish Catholicism and the traditionaly historic orders. We don't need these start-up cults based on personality and elitism. The Vatican should discourage them and certainly not allow new ones.
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