Baltimore archbishop demands greater accountability from Legionaries of Christ

As far as I know, I have never met a Legionnaire, though I have received solicitation letters from them, as from many other communities.

However, I am a little bothered about the "slippery slope" problem that ethicists speak of. What is to keep an Archbishoip or Bishop from kicking out a religious community that is doing truly solid, apostolic work, just because he has decided they are a bother to him, maybe even a reproach. In the history of the Church Bishops do not have a very good record on this matter. Many canonized Saints have suffered at hierarchial whims. Nor does one have to look to dead Saints for instances. Cardinal Spellman certainly violated the property and other rights of some religious communities.

I am certainly not accusing Archbishops Flynn or O'Brien of such motivations. I am asking how are the communities and the whole People of God protected from episcopal abuse of their powers?

There is so much jealousy among bishops and diocesan priests against the Legionaries. I think it boils down to the fact that most lay Catholics who come in contact with the Legionaries find them so impressive and consequently find their own local priests lacking in knowledge, love of Catholic Church authority and sadly love of Christ himself. The legionaries teach Catholicism. Unfortunately, not all parish priests are teaching that to their flocks. When a local priest sees how drawn some of his parishioners are to the clean-cut looking orthodox-sounding young men in clerical suits, it makes them feel small. Perhaps if local priests cared more about God and less about the world, the attraction to orders like the LOC would not be so great. I am not active in Regnum Christi, but I would give $100 to the Legionaries before my own parish or diocese in a heartbeat. I have met the young Legion seminarians. They are kindly and strong in faith. The diocesan seminarians I meet can barely explain why they want to be priests. Legion priests are also kindly and confident in Christ.

In my own local parish, at least one of the priests walks around the neighborhood in shorts and a T-shirt. If you did not know him, you would not know he was a priest. He tells penitents in confession to "say your Act of Contrition outside” [of the confessional]. He and the other parish priests are always soooo busy.

As to the bishop's criticism of them traveling in twos and reporting on each other. Perhaps if he and other bishops had required that of their own priests, in the past, the own sex abuse scandals would not have had a chance to emerge. And he talks about Macial. Those who live in glass houses...

By the way, John Allen's questions on Macial were very leading.

Transparency and accountability are two factors in preventing abuse of any kind. I applaud the move toward that, and I pray that the church shows that all through its organization.
Irene Khan, secretary general of Amnesty International said "Transparency is the best antidote to misinformation".

The Legionaries are a financially powerful group and have their allies in Rome - hence the Cardinals who trip over themselves to defend the group. Any bishop who knows (who wants to know) anything about cults can easily see that the Legionaries, and other groups including Opus Dei, fit the criteria for "cult" activity. Their methodology and their organizational structure simply say "cult" but they are successful in fundraising and half established themselves as defenders of the "tradition" - a pre-Vatican II paradigm of church that is growing more attractive in church governance.

Ultimately the damage to the church comes with time as investigations uncover more of the reality behind these organizations and their links to other movements that are truly insidious. For example, the links between Opus Dei and the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile when clarified might show that the military were far more brutal because of the encouragement provided to them by their Opus advisors. The dubiously anointed St. Jose Maria Escriva may be the first real person "Saint" to be decommissioned, providing that Opus has failed to destroy all evidence that would permit an objective historical analysis of the man. Without a doubt his sainthood had more to do with the support provided by the organization in the election of Karol as JP2 than with the "holiness" of the man.

Archbishop OBrien admits to serious enough doubts that he had blocked the Legionaries from counselling youth under the age of 18. Obviously this is not a decision based on rumours. However his pastoral responsiblity to the diocese is limited by the interests of Vatican officials who are responding to the interests of the Legionairies and its friends in high places. If the Archbishop was dealing with the "Children of God" cult there would be no hesitation, but because the Legionaries are a Catholic cult there is hesitation and back-stepping. Protecting the young and the faithful is obviously not the highest priority for the church

I have met with members of the Legionnaires of Christ and Regnum Christi. these people live in denial about their founder Fr. Maciel. They are like George W. Bush. they have this, "Don't confuse me with the facts. I am going to live in my own reality," attitude. I applaud Arch-bishop O'Brien for his bravery and prudence.

Note to James R. Shaw, Ph.D:

Welcome to 2008. There has been a litle something going on called 'Clergy Sex Abuse Crisis' which has made your call sound rather hollow, and indeed about 15 years (or more) out of date.

Here is the thing: if EVERY bishop has to throw these people out of EVERY diocese to stop ANY young person being abused, then let them go to it with all speed.

The protection of children from abuse is paramount in the exercising of the powers of any Ordinary, and whims and canonized saints are just going to have to adjust to this new reality.

What is to keep an Archbishop or Bishop from kicking out a religious community that is doing truly solid, apostolic work, just because he has decided they are a bother to him, maybe even a reproach.

This has happened before. When William O'Connell became Archbishop of Boston, one of the first things he did was to boot the Sulpicians out of the diocese and out of the seminary, as he himself had been in a Sulpician seminary and left under a cloud of some sort. This was really a personal grudge.

The fact of the matter is that in most things, the Bishop is supremo in his own diocese and all work carried out in that diocese is under his auspices.

There are canonical safeguards against arbitrary abuse of power, however, and I would guess that there might be some recourse in Rome if Abp. O'Brien banned them from Baltimore. But, I suspect that the Legionnaires would just (as they said) pack up and go if O'Brien told them to. The disposition of their school property might be a difficulty but not one that could not be settled.

good job John. Many will wonder who the 3 guys in Rome are who have such long reach. It'd be interesting to know their names. Sounds like they are rootstock for Maciel's org.

The Bishop is clear about no long allowing the circular thinking/speaking that some engage in when they are attempting to claim sovereignty from any authority, including the law.

The 'but what about this?' 'what about that?' 'but it isnt this way, it's these ten other ways,' 'or it could be these other five ways, cant you see?' Those kind of defensive responses when confronted are meant to sidestep the issues. This particular Bishop demonstrates above average clarity.

There may be several O'Briens who are bishops in the Catholic Church. If this O'Brien is the same one who is a staunch supporter of our attacking Iraq may best use his time by locating his moral compass before he tries to be critical of someone else. If this O'Brien is the same one, he turned his back on John Paul II who said repeatedly that the Iraq war was wrong and immoral. G.K. Chesterton said, "The greatest stumbling blocs for Catholicism are Catholics." If Catholics clerics do not know right from wrong, the Catholic lay persons are like lambs being ready for the slaughter.

The Legionaries have minor seminaries that are a thing of the past in United States.

Archbishop O'Brien has directed that the Legionaries are not to engage in one-on-one spiritual direction with anyone under 18 but what is the archdiocese's position on these so-called minor seminaries which can really amount to places where children can be brainwashed by the cult and the boys even groomed for future sexual abuse by God knows who.

Just because Maciel was let off with nothing more than a polite reprimand, there is no getting around the fact that the pope knew and knows the extent of Maciel's sexual perversions. Why did John Paul II do nothing? Why has Benedict XVI done so little? How many others like Maciel are there in the organization?

Wouldn't it be a wiser course of action to suppress the order based on their history and the testimony of a number of former Legionaries or have they become too big of a fund raising group for the Catholic Church?

Dr Shaw,
I opine you are asking the wrong question: the question I would ask is:
How are bishops going to protect their flocks from wolves that go around in sheeps clothing backed by the Vatican? [, i.e., by Mons Rode, Prefect of the Congregation for Religious and Lay Institutes, friend of Maciel and the Legionaries of Christ]. The founder of the Legionaries was a wolf; and I think parents should be warned about putting their children into the hands of the offspring of wolves who are emotionally immature and obsessed with money and numbers.

I've got several friends in Regnum Christi. They were recruited by some new families that moved into the area and enrolled their children in our Catholic School in Roanoke.

What is it that they are doing that the church finds offensive? This article skirted around the issues. I'm still confused.

I was very disheartened and sad that Archbishop O'Brien would take such action against the Legionaries of Christ. We are in this faith commitment together. Diocesan or Religious Orders should be working together for the greater glory of God.

The Legionaries for the past 62 plus years have taking seriously the job of increasing vocations and they have the fruits to show for it in their seminaries today. All this was accomplished despite the allegations against their founder, because God, when seeking His guidance, can make good come out of evil.

If the Bishops and Archbishops had been working all these years to their potential to increase vocations and fill the seminaries with wholesome young men as the Legionaries have, the diocesan seminaries would be bursting today too. Instead we have a Clergy Sex Scandal to show for those 62 plus years.

Perhaps Archbishop O'Brien ought to humble himself and be open to creative ways of inspiring young people towards a Priestly or Religious Vocation instead of intimating a jealousy at the success of the Legionaries in his diocese. As a fellow New Yorker, I'm very disheartened by Archbishop O'Brien's actions.

I agree with Dr. Shaw. One wonders how much of this pressure on the Legionaries of Christ is motivated by jealousy regarding their enormous success. I am alarmed by some of the harsh words used by the bishop toward the activities and practices of the LOC. He has a warped sense of recent history. The bishops' own secrecy sustained the priest sex abusers for decades. Yet he calls the "secrecy" in the LOC "endemic." By bringing up the late Maciel, does he think he discredits the many active LOC priests who are good, holy, kind and Christ-focused young men? Is he suggesting that they are sexually abusing kids because the dead Maciel was their founder? It is worth noting that Pope John Paul II was Maciel's biggest and most powerful supporter.

It all sounds like the persecutions of other orders in previous eras. What about how the Jesuits were originally received? How about St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross when they tried to reform the Carmelites? I guess with bishops and priests so at odds with each other these days, its nice for the bishop to find a common enemy to unite them.

My dear doctor,
This is not the abuse of power that the Church needs to address. Start with curial. In fact, stay with that. It'll take you your remaining years.

A few of many important and relevant LC rules:

SECRECY:
“3) learn to be discrete at all times in sharing information about the current situation or reality of the Movement itself, especially with those families who do not belong to it; ”
– maybe the Archdiocese thinks someone should know?

“569. Never facilitate, without serious cause, oral or written distribution of reports or facts about legionaries, or writings of the Legion without authorization by superiors. Be very prudent and discreet in your comments so as not to unnecessarily damage the Legion. ”

– clearly the Archdiocese must INSIST on reports, or they clearly will not receive any information.

“570. Be shrewd when dealing with strangers. Respond with precision, moderation and discretion to questions they may ask, keeping in mind the good or evil they are capable of doing to the Legion and to each other in passing along a fact or expressing an opinion.”

– In the LC paranoid mindset, the Archdiocese IS A STRANGER.

“572. Avoid dealing with or discussing personal problems with your companions. It is better to refer these problems to those whom God has designated to help you on your road to loyalty and satisfaction.”

– not even fellow LCs know what each other really thinks.

FAMILY

“65. When receiving family visits, always appear happy, cordial, attentive, grateful and satisfied with the vocation that God has granted you. ”

– even when the youth is unhappy? Yes.

“66. Do not fall into states of sadness or homesickness in your relationship with your family and do not become accustomed to discussing with family members your emotional state when you are experiencing depression or some unresolved difficulty so that you do not disturb them with problems that relate solely to your personal relationship with God and with the Legion.”

– why shouldn’t one feel free to discuss issues with family?

“68. Try to rouse family members sympathetic to the Legion so that they may support it with their prayers and sacrifices, in word and in deed, and especially so that they may become instruments in the search for new vocations.”

– so they should turn their family into recruiters?

How do they recruit?

103. Recruitment must happen in stages:
From friendliness (some manuals say "kindness" or "sympathy") to friendship.
From friendship to confidence.
From confidence to commitment.
From commitment to submission (total "surrender")

94. To achieve its apostolic objectives, the Regnum Christi Movement chooses “cellular action” as its working model - person-to-person, top-to-bottom relationships - or action directed through leaders, so that the dignity and relational character of the human person can be better reconciled, greater results can be achieved within societal structure and diversity, and which fully respects the divine charater and human free will that distinguishes the process of faith and salvation.

96. All things being equal and taking into account various needs and possible inconveniences, always try to choose and accomplish, with the approval of the appropriate directors, those works which by their nature and are most effective and can thereby provide the Movement with greater influence in the establishment and expansion of the Kingdom of Christ.

99. In accordance with a spirit of apostolic humility and evangelical discretion, avoid launching open campaigns or issuing publicity statements concerning the nature, goals, methods and apostolic activities of Regnum Christi. Never communicate to outsiders the number of its members nor give them lists of persons or works of the Movement.

*** Note that last sentence of 99 - "Never communicate to outsiders the number of its members nor give them lists of persons or works of the Movement."

More on their "methodology" :

243. Try to establish personal connections aimed at recruiting, especially of leaders, and to promote among your friends and professional acquaintances the open activities of the Movement, whether they be related to personal formation such as retreats, spiritual exercises, study groups, spiritual dialogue or orientation, etc., or to spreading of Catholic culture such as conferences, workshops, conventions, etc., or to some other specific apostolate.

244. Try to attain important posts in social, civic, cultural, professional, economic and other organizations in order to instill Christian spirit into the public and private lives of their members and thereby into all of society, and in order to procure a growing number of members for the Movement.

Just a small sampling... The LC sued a website to bring this stuff down.

The Archbishop of Baltimore is a corageous and wise man. I spent 17 years in the Legion of Christ and can testify to the fact that Legionaries feel themselves superior to other Religious Communities and Diocesan Bishops. In the Novitiate we were taught that a special revelation by the Sacred Heart of Jesus told Fr. Maciel that his community would always be close to the heart of the Pope. We interpreted Fr. Maciel whom we called "Nuestro Padre" (literally Our Father) as being another Francis of Assisi who received a revelation from the Crucified Lord "To build my Church."

Therefore, I agree with Archbishop O'Brien that the problems priests,bishops, and laity around the world are experiencing with the Legion of Christ and the Movement Regnum Christi are endemic to the organization, to its core beliefs and most intimately held aspirations. They do love the Church. They just love being the salvation of the Church a little more.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Archbishop O'Brien. I think bishops around the country would also be met with spontaneous applause from their solid, decent, down-to-earth diocesan priests if they were to confront this problem boldly like you are doing.
In a nearby archdiocese, which has welcomed Regnum Christi (and other groups that also work secretively and with a "report on anything anyone says" attitude), a galloping fundamentalism and climate of fear prevails largely because of an "I'm more orthodox than you are" approach to Catholicism. From what I hear, it is a toxic atmosphere.
Is any bishop, anywhere, also looking into whether the Catholic radio stations around the country have effectively "highjacked" their local church? It's especially insidious when the chancery is run by someone whose father is an officer of the radio organization, as is happening in that nearby archdiocese. Is the archdiocese running the "independent" media, or the other way around? It seems to be a conflict-of-interest scenario of the ecclesial variety.
Thanks for your breath of fresh air, Archbishop O'Brien! Maybe Catholics in the U.S. may now begin to be able to breathe freely again in the Church that they love! I say hallelujah to that notion.

Seems to me the Catholic church core, majority membership will eventually be these fanatic cults. Reasonable, spirit-filled parishioners are being driven out. There are traditionalist pastors being assigned here in Phoenix, AZ, probably because there are no others available. These "doctrine police" are creating an abusive environment. There is apparently no "transparency and accountability" to the local bishop. Letters and reports of this abuse of parishioners, including deacons, have garnered no response from Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, AZ. Many are walking out the church door. The sex abuse scandal was hidden BUT this abuse is insidious because it is open and condoned. I always felt there was room for ALL. But I now see the writing on the wall. TRADITIONALISTS ONLY in the future.
I applaud Archbishop Edward O'Brien and encourage him to stick with his instinct to monitor or remove abusive elements.
Sorry to be "anonymous" but named parishioners must deal with the prevailing currency of retribution (removal from parish ministry).

I trust that Pope Benedict, in light of his comments about sexual abuse in the recent past, will review exemptions by the Holy See that keep local bishops from their Scriptural and canonical role as episcopoi, overseers, the eyes of Christ for the sake of the Body. Rome is too far away to keep harm from the lambs in the shadows of secrecy, lit up by the sparkle of more attention from adult strangers than is good for a young person.

I am a little distressed by the measures taken by Archbishop O'Brien. It seems to me that the Legionaries are one of the only groups that dedicates a good deal of its time to spiritual direction. Diocesan priests don't; they haven't got the time. How can you deprive young people of spiritual direction if their parents approve? Isn't the archbishop usurping the rights of parents who want this? I am not in Regnum Christi but my 16-year-old has regular spiritual direction with an LC priest that has helped him immensely. The priest has never pushed the seminary on him, but has simply helped him develop a closer relationship with God. Also, how can you make a religious order hand over lists of its lay members? What about the privacy rights of those people? I doubt they would all want their names in some diocesan archive. I truly hope that the Legionaries don't obey these unjust demands, though I fear this will mean banishment for them. If you give in on something like this, where will it end?

The Legionaries have minor seminaries that are mostly a thing of the past in United States.

Archbishop O'Brien has directed that the Legionaries are not to engage in one-on-one spiritual direction with anyone under 18 but what is the archdiocese's position on these so-called minor seminaries which can really amount to places where children can be brainwashed by the cult and the boys even groomed for future sexual abuse by God knows who.

Just because Maciel was let off with nothing more than a polite reprimand, there is no getting around the fact that the pope knew and knows the extent of Maciel's sexual proclivities.

John Paul II did nothing about the sexual abuse scandal. We know that.

Why has Benedict XVI done so little?

How many other males like Maciel are there in the organization? Wouldn't it be a wiser course of action to suppress the order or have them become too big of a fund raising group for the Catholic Church?

And finally, would Archbishop O'Brien like to share just who in the Holy See was so quick to put the brakes on his intention to ban the Legion of Christ in the Archdiocese of Baltimore?

Ah, I thought not.

I appreciate Anonymous putting up "A few of many important and relevant LC rules," that speaks to their SECRECY.

I had the pleasure of meeting two of the men who have been reprsenting their cases to the Holy See for years without success and I can only marvel at their love of the Church for standing up for Right. It must have been terribly hard to actually cut the ties after being a Legion priest for so long, having been recruited before they were even teenagers.

MACIEL ALLEGATIONS

When he talks about "Demonstrably false allegations" and "Fr. Marcial Maciel's innocence as proven by the documentation" (NCR, Letters, Nov. 12), Fr. Owen Kearns is attempting revisionist history. Marcial Maciel's innocence has never been proven, quite the contrary.

The Vatican first investigated the Legion of Christ between 1956 and 1958. Seminarians were so coerced, as some later admitted, that they lied at the time to protect Maciel from the charges of drug and sexual abuse. When the investigation was concluded, the Vatican never released any report clearing Maciel, as claimed by the Legionaries.

Part two of the book Vows of Silence by Jason Berry and Gerald Renner is a well documented expose of the Legionaries. The Hartford Courant newspaper ran a series on the Legionaries of Christ in 1997.

One bishop who stood up to the Legionaries and strictly curtailed their activities in his diocese was James A. Griffin of Ohio. Effective Oct. 15, 2002, the ban on the Legion and Regnum Christi applied to all of the parishes, facilities and organizations in the Columbus diocese.

The truth of the awful allegations against Marcial Maciel and the Legionaries is too well documented by NCR, The Hartford Courant, Jason Berry, Gerald Renner and other legitimate sources to be dismissed by Owen Kearns.

Pope John Paul II said it best: "There is no place in the priesthood and religious life for those who would harm the young."

It is too bad that John Paul II was never very serious about following up on that statement.

Perhaps Benedict XVI will get the job done but he hasn't done anything substantive yet beyond the pious platitudes that have been the hallmark the Holy See.

I have met with some members of the Legionaires and Regnum Christi and they have assisted with training adults from some of the parishes I serve.

It is good that this bishop is calling for them to be transparent.

My initial experience with the Legionaires and Regnum Christi was very postive, healthy and mature. They have been reaching out to me since then, inviting me to some of their events. As of yet, I have not felt pressured.

What you bring to light about separating children from their parents is disturbing. I hope that this is not true, for it goes counter to the nobility of the Family.

I remember a priest from a religious order (unlike the Legionaires, this fellow was from a real liberal religious order) years ago attempting to do something similar with me and my wife. He wanted to give one-on one counseling to my wife alone, even after she requested I be present. We felt violated.

Such arrogance, therefore, is not just limited to conservative groups like Opus Dei and Legionairs.

Let us keep all religious orders and diocesan priests accountable and at the same time pray for the legionaires so that they grow in harmony with different dioceses.

The problems with the Legionaries and Regnum Christi are their cult-like methods that embrace and encourage secrecy and mind control. Those things are antithetic to Catholic moral principles, even while those groups wrap themselves in the banner of all things Catholic. The good and relatively new Archbishop of Baltimore is rightly challenging these tactics; in the light of the recent clergy sexual abuse scandal that is still rocking the church, he must do that; it is his sacred duty. There is a restorationist agenda that is endemic with groups like these. They are hell bent on taking the church back to its glory days, and that usually means pre-1960. I believe that the archbishop is correct in his assessement that these groups will be unable to change, as the hatred of change is what they are fundamentally about. As such, they are at best a distraction for the people of God; and at worst--a virus that must be eliminated. Time will tell.

Transparency is key!
My wife and I are devout and traditional Catholics - I would like to be able to say we are just Catholic but in this day and age of moral relativism and "pick and choose catholicism" it is necessary to actually spell it out!

We declined to join Regnum Christie when recruited by a couple we had grown close to in our new neighborhood. We are impressed by the Legionaries. All those we have had contact with have seen exemplary in their devotion, dress and demeanor. We are too impressed with the families in Regnum Christie who appear dedicated to daily mass, adoration of the eucharist, frequent confession and modest dress. All things my wife and I do already. We were simply put off by the ardent persistence in trying to recruit us to "join". We are already Catholic - in our minds there was nothing to "join".

I truly believe this is a good solid group trying to do God's work - I ask that they become transparent in their methods and actions. If they are all they claim and everything I have witnessed then they have nothing to lose by being honest and open. Transparency is the key.

Au contraire Joachim:

About the only things I have ever known about Maciel are that he was the founder of the LOC and that he was very probably a child molester. I am all in favor of airing the Church’s FILTHY laundry since my own brother was a victim of that awful sin that cries out to Heaven for vengeance way back in 1967.

Back then you could not get anyone to believe that a Catholic priest would even think about doing such a thing. I was just a little girl at the time and had nothing explained to me. But I remember the pastor coming and going. I remember the whispers, and I remember being told never to speak to that priest ever again. I remember my pious devout mother who loved and respected priests changing over night to a woman who could never trust a priest again. Yet she remains to this day a faithful Catholic. My brother turned his back on the Catholic Church that day. Our happy Catholic family life was shattered. DAMAGE.

My point is that Allen seemed to be leading a willing bishop down the road they both wanted to ride. Allen has had an ax to grind with the LOC for some time. His repeated sour comments about their fund-raising abilities have become tiresome. If Maciel’s sex crimes are relevant to a discussion of the current practices of the LOC, then the bishops’ own misdeeds in the sex scandals are also relevant. If, for example, Allen had asked why the bishops had resisted “transparency” by hiding behind statutes of limitation or by employing tactics to pay victims in exchange for public silence, then the interview would have seemed balanced. Instead it just read like a hatchet job.

For instance, consider Allen’s question “Could one say the same thing about their judgment of Fr. Maciel himself?” and the bishop’s answer.

I am insulted by this question. Every time I hear priests or bishops questioned about the sex scandal here in the U.S., the response is inevitably “please pray for priests.” Well, if my child has just been violated by some sex fiend priest, I do not want to hear THAT. I want to know what the Church and the law are going to do for my child. So the bishop has some nerve passing judgment on the LOC’s painful reaction to the fall of their leader. I say to the bishop, instead of attacking the LOC, pray for the priests of the LOC.

A righteous journalist and a pompous bishop make a bad marriage.

I have three daughters who are consecrated women within Regnum Christi.My eldest daughter was head girl at her junior school , and subsequently head girl at her senior school.She was a provincial athlete and a straight-A student.She is a very strong person and has a most wonderful love for life , for people and Our Lord.There is no way someone with her strength and courage will be blinded by what you so disrespectfully refer to as a cult.Her two sisters followed her into consecrated life , and my son will join the seminary in September this year.We have met with several Regnum Christi priests and religious , have visited the formation centre in Rhode Island , and the school in New Hampshire , and on every occassion thank God for The Legion , and Regnum Christi.As Catholics we could not ask for more spiritual and dedicated people for our children to work and live with.If our Catholicism is to survive and thrive , we need these strong , honourable people to carry the flame of our faith.No wonder they are attracting vocations , the young people of today want the truth ,and if they are to be religious , they want the whole truth - not some watered down version , served up by lukewarm congregations.

From the first line in the article, the Archbishop's name is Edwin, not Edward, O'Brien.

Marylander:

I am a post Vatican II baby, but I find it quite interesting that you and many others here keep attacking what you call "pre-1960" "traditionalists." Since what is really at issue here is the bishop’s unspoken allegation of child molesting, it is worth noting that the statistics in this area show a direct correlation between the Church revolution after Vatican II (1965) and the exponential growth in priest sex abuse. If that is what modernism produced, take me back to the good old days.

It's really a shame that so much of the information in this article and interview came from just a few sources. After have 5 children in the Legion for over 8 years and experincing none of this, I am wondering how much research has gone into the allegations and accusations against the Regnum Christi and the Legion. It is very sad when the very Church that we represent turns on the people who love it the most.

This is a cult pure and simple and the fact this pope has benn protecting and harboring pedofiles is a disgcrace!

I am not a canon lawyer, but I am a practicing Catholic and I understand that a bishop has not only the authority to exercise control over Church teaching and activity in his diocese - he as the responsibility for it as well. Before a priest can be allowed to hear confessions in a diocese he has to have permission (faculties) from the bishop. If that is the case, then a bishop can certainly ask for clarification of the practices of confession within his diocese.

Archbishop O'Brien is a man of integrity. This matter with the Legionaries is not something that he would have gone looking for and he is certainly not rushing to judgment. But as he sees something questionable about the behavior he feels obligated to investigate.

Many years ago I had my own encounter with the Legionaries when I went through something like a postulancy. I never saw any suspicious behavior, but I did experience first-hand the cult of Fr. Maciel.

Archbishop O'Brien seems to recognize that so much of what the Legionaries of Christ do is very good. That doesn't sound like someone who is attacking the "traditionalists". But he has every right, as the Ordinary to ask for clarification and transparency. If the Legionaries are as loyal to the Church as they claim then they will have no trouble submitting to the requests of the legitimate authority of the local bishop. If they do not - it is more telling of them.

Several of the posts here ascribe the legitimate actions of Archbishop O'Brien to ulterior motives. There has long been a tendency among members of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi to blame others for problems these organizations have themselves created. This example was set by Marcial Maciel, who often attributed his being expelled from three different seminaries during his youth to jealousies and misunderstnadings. He never completed formal seminary training and was finally ordained by the Archbishop of Cuernavaca, who happened to be his uncle. We can see the tendency continuing today by those who illogically accuse Archbishop O'Brien of sanctioning the legion out of jealousy and an aversion to their religous orthodoxy.

The fact is the legion refuses not only to face the truth about Maciel but the truth that their actions invite backlash from those whose paths they happen to cross. In recent years the legion has either been banned or seen their activities severely limited by the ordinaries of Columbus, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Richmond, Baton Rouge, and now Baltimore.
When will the legion learn that the problem lies with them? The reason given in several of these cases has been that the legion appeared to be trying to establish "a parallel church." Is it really reasonable to assume that all these bishops were acting out of jealousy or a sense of hierarchial privilege?

If the Legion and the Regnum have nothing to hide then they will have no trouble abiding by Bishop O'Brien's rules. The wisdom of including parents and pastors in spiritual counseling appears to be unassailable.

The most important thing is that the authorities protect the children from abuse. However, it may well turn out that the Legion will become a healthier and more effective organization.

The famous Catholic Lord Acton was right: "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Most of us do not cherish having to justify our conduct but accountability improves all of us. Thanks to Bishop O'Brien and with a little luck, the Legion and the Regnum will become much stronger organizations.

Harvey:

You asked "Is it really reasonable to assume that all these bishops were acting out of jealousy or a sense of hierarchial privilege?"

Yes. What about all the other bishops who have had no problem with the LOC or RC? You dismiss the majority but inflate the importance of the minority. I do not get it.

Yockel:

It is good to view a balanced post. But remember if the LOC increases and becomes stronger, it will be by the Grace of God not by "a little luck."

Thanks from RC Member :
God Bless Archbishop O'Brien! I am a member of Regnum Christi in Baltimore and have children involved in Regnum Christi apostolates. The Movement has been a source of great spiritual support to my family. In stark contrast to the comments made in the above article Archbishop O'Brien issued an invitation (dated June 13, 2008) to all of the members of the Regnum Christi Movement in the Baltimore Archdiocese to meet with him so that he can discuss the contents of the letter he gave to Fr. Alvaro and to answer any questions we may have (read letter at www.archbalt.org/news/upload/Corcuera-Letter-From-Abp-OBrien-06-06-08.pdf). In his letter he states "...I write to you today to affirm the Legion and Regnum Christi's charism, which supports the unity and communion that Christ wants for His Church. I welcome your presence at this gathering and very much look forward to meeting you...Let us work together in a programmed and systematic way so that in unity and charity we can discuss how we can work together for the glorification of God and His Church." As a Member of Regnum Christi as well as a parishioner in the Archdiocese of Baltimore I thank Archbishop O'Brien for his concern for my family. I welcome this invitation to transparency and am confident that the result will be a healthy relationship between Regnum Christi and the Archdiocese. To be clear...since the June 6th letter came out, I have witnessed firsthand the response from both the Legionary priests as well as the leadership and the other members of the movement and it is one of COMPLETE OBEDIENCE TO, COOPERATION WITH, and SUPPORT FOR THE ARCHBISHOP. This is an opportunity for members of Regnum Christi to live their charism to the fullest. I pray Christ's prayer for His Church "that they may be one even as we are one" (Jn 17:11) so that TOGETHER we might build His Kingdom in this world.

Susan Baldwin
Granite, MD

I'll try to keep this short. I was a Legionary for about 11 years after I entered the Novitiate when I was twenty. No one held a gun to my head or forced or manipulated me to enter. I was free to enter and remained free to leave at any time, which I eventually did after freely discerning that I was not called to the priesthood. I never witnessed any of those things commonly attributed to the LC or RC at any time. I am always puzzled when I hear the accusations - since I was there too and lived the same experiences but saw none of that. They were just a bunch of folks who were trying their best to live their Christian and priestly vocations - nothing sinister at all. And I have since never met finer, more saintly, better formed priests than the ones I had the privilege to know during those years.

I have no doubt it is an authentic work of God and I hold no grudges or regrets, and am eternally grateful to God for granting me the privilege to have been counted among them. I will always treasure those years and miss the fellowship lived in a spirit of true charity. Was it perfect? No, nothing ever is in this world. But it was overwhelmingly good - as I can now more clearly see with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight. I have to agree with those of you who perceptively discerned that most of the "problems" brought to our attention about the LC exist mostly in the minds of highly inventive and jealous (envious) individuals. I also think that as long as Archbishop O'Brien and the Legion representatives continue to work together in good faith, the difficulties will be resolved. The Archbishop is to be congratulated for his prudence and openness to finding a just solution.

It seems to me that the only one making any headway here is the devil himself as he snickers at the church pulling itself apart. The real judgement of RC and the Legionaries is by the fruits of the movement and the Order. I am not a part of RC and have had my own doubts as well but they are based mostly on articles like this that are full of supposition and hearsay rather than actual facts. Is it not true that the Legionaries have more seminarians than most other Orders? Everything I have seen from my local RC organization is always good and driven first by much reflection and guidance from the Holy Spirit.

From the pew to Rome, the Catholic church is a hierarchy. Bishops here have an obligation to adhere to this one Roman Catholic Church. If one is a traditionalist or conservative, then this notion is the foremost thought. If you, the reader, applies this notion to the tone and actions reported in the article--it then becomes clear what is at force here. The Holy See did exactly what it saw fit with Marciel. The matter was resolved in the church. It is disobedient for a bishop to take up this matter himself and or to use it to batter an approved order. One could say that O'Brien now deems himself worthy of second guessing the Vatican? This begs the question of who is establishing a parallel church.

Thank you so much for this information. I was a member of Regnum Christi for 7 years, 5 of them as 2nd degree. I left after serious disillusionment. I struggled with serious red flags for 3 years before I could finally make the decision to go inactive so I can empathize with the anxiety felt by the 10 members who met with the Archbishop. I feel that the evil of the LC is endemic to the very structure of the organization. The evil that I experienced was the same as others have experienced all over the country. Thank God for Regain! It is the LC priests that are the culprits. They use Nazi-like methods to psychologically manipulate members, especially members that they want to go inactive because they are beginning to catch on to the bigger picture. It is very traumatic. I complained about the "reporting system" that is used across the board and the lack of confidentiality in spiritual guidance. I was disturbed by the grave abuses of charity, the supposed queen virtue of the movement, that the LC priests were encouraging. From that point on a process of psychological abuse began to induce me to go inactive. The following is a summary of the abuse:

I was a member of RC for many years. I was very (100%) committed to it for a long time. I remember when I first heard stories about abuse in LC/RC. I had a panicky feeling that if these stories were true what would I do? If I had to let go of RC I don’t know if I would know who I was. My very identity was tied to this movement. So I did what every member who is inordinately attached to RC/LC does; I rationalized every gnawing feeling I had. I found a way to blame the accusers. I let the mesmerizing words I heard from the LC priests drown out the voice of my conscience. But God did not let my peace from this “coping mechanism” last for long. He began to gradually reveal the reality of the situation. I was living in an illusion. I really thought that LC/RC were a foundation in my life. I associated this foundation with Christ. What I came to find out through much heartache was that my faith in RC/LC was built on sand. Through a series of events my eyes were opened to the truth and I began to question and object. At that point I became not useful to them any longer. Once you become useless to them psychological abuse takes the place of the previous flattery that had been the Modus Operandi.One of the modern techniques(so much more is known about psychology) that is used today by evil is inverted psychiatry(psychological abuse to destroy minds). There are subtle threats to damage your reputation if you let the truth be told; you are purposely isolated from your close friends; the LC priests purposely try to stir up jealousy between you and your friends; the LC priests try to provoke outbursts of anger by stirring up your pride or vanity; whisper campaigns are started against you to undermine your influence as you are indirectly pressed to go inactive. The legionaries are trained in emotional manipulation. The know exactly how to say the bare minimum with just the right look or sigh to plant seeds of doubt or to steer your very dear friends away from you. At the same time they appeal to the pride and vanity of your friend with flattery to secure an inordinate attachment to them and this is another potential source of division between the flattered friend and the rejected member. These are just a few aspects of the MO that is part of the methodology of the movement. It is not just the weakness of the priest. This is the way the more integrated priests of the LC are trained to force the useless member out of the movement. Stories like this are common in all parts of the country.
When someone is considered “useless” to RC/LC it is usually because that person has begun to catch on to the bigger picture of what is going on simultaneously with all the “good fruits.” Their conscience has begun to be very bothered over the very uncharitable way seemingly holy priests, consecrated women, and other formators treat certain people and this member begins to question and object to these sins against charity (the supposed “queen virtue” of the movement). This causes a gradual disintegration for the disillusioned member. That is when the methodology of “promote to remove,” “press to release,” and “isolate” come into play. As if that is not enough, the psychological abuse goes deeper. At the same time the LC priests cover their tracks legally by publicly offering the secretly blacklisted member aids to persevere in their RC vocation so it seems to the rank and file members that everything is being done out of charity to help this person who is struggling with their vocation. What the rank and file members do not see are the psychological abuses that are going on simultaneously. On a side note, The blacklisted member has never been directly told that they are being “kicked out” so he/she is very confused as he/she tries to read between the lines. Talk about evil. Many accusations like these are being investigated by the vatican.
The best way to defeat this evil, I believe, is to cooperate with God in using our suffering for the good of the Church. We are so lucky to have the charism of redemptive suffering available to us.
God willing, as we, the victims of LC/RC, grow in true charity by offering up our suffering(in union with Christ especially in the Mass) for the very ones who inflicted this on us,God will act and all will work for the good(Rom 8:28). This suffering can also be used for penance for our own personal sins as a purification(purgatory). In the mean time we are given the opportunity to grow in the patience of God and true charity(love Him above all things and everyone else as He loves us). As we attend Mass and offer ourselves and our suffering with Him our hearts will begin to heal and we will be overcoming evil with good(Rom 12:21) Our suffering will not be in vain. It will be used for an eternal purpose. Our speaking out is very important as well. I found needed support from Regain as have many others. The isolation that is part of the psychological abuse of the legion is greatly overcome from the testimonies of Regain. The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church. Our Blessed Mother will help us to be a part of crushing the head of the serpent and to defeat him by “blood of the Lamb(Mass) and the word of their testimony”(regainnetwork).(Rev12:11)Let us unite together for this purpose. Thank you regain for letting us know that we are not alone!!!

Wow is the only word I could utter at the moment. Seriously, You have the eye for it. Most importantly, Instead of stuffing all the features in the theme, you thought about the real needs of the common user and did it. The design, colors, typography and everything out there sits perfectly.

Thanks for your lovely article. I really like it very much. Keep it up. Nicely written and well informative. Thanks for sharing with us. keep it coming.

It is instructive article. Thank you very much. The current youth will be helpful to read it.

Do you know.

Oggi comprare viagra generico. comprare viagra sildenafil 2929.
Ora ordinare cialis tadalafil. comprare viagra generico 5826.
Subito ordinare viagra generico. acquisto cialis generico 2252.
Subito ordinare cialis generico. ordinare cialis sildenafil 2771.
Ora acquisto cialis generico. ordinare viagra sildenafil 3079.

Ciao.

Simoneau says, “Being a Daniel Webster Scholar alışveriş gave me confidence in my ability to practice law. More importantly, my employers knew because I was erkek giyim bayan giyim bayan giyim erkek giyim doğal ürünler a Webster Scholar, pet shop I could handle a Supreme Court appeal.” As a Daniel Webster Scholar, giyim he was evaluated each semester by a New Hampshire Bar bilgisayar Examiner, counseled clients under supervision, appeared before judges, and developed his skills and judgment in clinical settings. oto aksesuar The program is unique alisveris in the nation.