Is the Legion of Christ still up to their old tricks, or are they finally learning?
by Greg Krehbiel on 26 March 2010
It would be nice to believe that the Legion of Christ has finally decided to man up and straight-forwardly admit that they’ve been woefully, horribly wrong about their founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel. And maybe they have. There’s always that hope.
See On the current circumstances of the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi Movement, in which they admit that Maciel sexually abused seminarians and fathered children.
And yet … the language is still slippery re: the sexual abuse of minors.
… the CDF reached sufficient moral certainty to impose serious canonical sanctions related to the accusations made against Fr Maciel, which included the sexual abuse of minor seminarians. Therefore, though it causes us consternation, we have to say that these acts did take place.
“We have to say”? Huh?
The wording leaves room for the impression that they’re only “saying” it (they don’t really believe it) in martyr-like obedience to the Vatican.
They’re a little more clear on the illegitimate children.
We later came to know that Fr Maciel had fathered a daughter in the context of a prolonged and stable relationship with a woman, and committed other grave acts.
Okay. That’s progress, although they’re still trying to defend him. “In the context of a … stable relationship”? Yeah. Real stable. He was lying about who he was and embezzling funds to support his “family.”
I’ve been following these clowns for many years now, and while I hope they are stumbling their way to stage 1 in their recovery, there’s another plausible interpretation to this.
The Legion has a history of making pre-emptive leaks and “news releases” to undercut something that’s brewing in the background. (They did it several times when the controversy about Maciel was heating up a few years ago.)
Since the apostolic visitation of the Legion recently concluded, and since a report / decision / stroke of doom should be issued shortly, I suspect they’re making this announcement to influence that process. E.g., “How can you come down so hard on them? See, they’ve renounced their founder and are moving on.”
Of course there’s way more to it than that. Who covered for the guy? How could they be so inept as to miss all the signs? What fundamental flaw in the spirit / organization of the Legion allowed this to continue?
The confession of Maciel’s guilt is nice, but it’s too little too late to save the order, in my opinion.
-- 2010-03-26 » Greg Krehbiel
26 March 2010 @ 9:48 am
I say old tricks. Did you see the general director’s accompanying letter?
http://www.life-after-rc.com/2010/03/letter-from-father-alvaro-1.html
26 March 2010 @ 10:02 am
It’s painful to read. Self-congratulatory, simperingly pious B.S.
26 March 2010 @ 12:06 pm
I agree with Chad.
“If it turns out that anyone culpably cooperated in his misdeeds we will act according to the principles on Christian Justice…”
Really? All the money laundering, sexual misdeeds, children, perversions and abuses against seminarians and NO ONE knew? Check out the pictures over at exlc.com and you will see the mother of his child and his daughter along with the Dear Leader himself surrounded by consecrated women. And yet nobody knew…
Simpering pious BS and a few other choice words I can think of-and the RC are still drinking the koolaid.
26 March 2010 @ 12:18 pm
After re-reading it the “stable relationship” comment seems even more weird. What does that mean?!
Maybe they should have said, “Although Our Founder was an embezzler, sodomizer of young men, serial womanizer, liar, fraud and cheat, we are happy to report that he was in a stable relationship with a woman, proving that even God can make straight the crooked path.”
26 March 2010 @ 12:37 pm
“Damned if they do and damned if they don’t.” We have been clamoring for a statement such as this – and now that it’s out, we should totally disregard it and say it’s worthless? Maybe it is – but time will tell. Meanwhile, I think it naive to assume that the Vatican itself is not pulling the strings – including the timing and wording of these statements. My 2c.
26 March 2010 @ 12:45 pm
Kelly — Yeah, it is rather strange that they think they can get away with comments like that. “Look at us, we’re so committed to justice. (Never mind all the crimes we’ve covered up and so on.)”
Monk — I’m not sure what your point is. Damned if they do or don’t what? Admit to their failings? Apologize? They haven’t really done either. At least not without some double speak. And if the Vatican is pulling the strings on the recent statement, what does that say about the LC’s apology / admission?
26 March 2010 @ 12:51 pm
Monk, how can you keep saying this? The same people are still in place that knew/covered up MM’s crimes and stood by while his accusers were vilified.
If the leadership removed half of the people who signed the letter than I would be satisfied. It would show that LC is serious about reform. Other than that, it is just more blathering.
I really don’t believe ANY of this would have ever come to light if the Vatican had not become involved..