Any old apology is not good enough for victims of Sexual Abuse, diffamation and calumny. Ask a lawyer or a mental health therapist or...them
Maciel's victims were abused in very specific ways: they were sexually abused by Maciel on several occasions, having their childhood and youth stolen from them by the one who was supposed to be their father; a form of incest.
When they came forward in different ways the Legion Leadership [v.g Bannon and Owen Kearns] branded them as "disgruntled ex-members", "bitter old men", "envious of Fr. Maciel and the Legion". That is calumny and diffamation. A public offense requires an OFFICIAL, PUBLIC apology, to INDIVIDUALS PERSONALLY, and to the GROUP. This would also require AN OFFICIAL LEGION PUBLIC STATEMENT, press release, published in the Legion's own Newspaper by the Editor, Fr. Kearns, etc., and several other steps.
For an apology to be valid it has to be SPECIFIC as to the offenses/crimes, there has to be REPARATION [damages], moral and material, just as in the cases of Sexual Abuse by diocesan priests and other members of religious orders...
http://www.periodistadigital.com/religion/america/2009/11/23/legionarios-corcuera-perdon-iglesia-religion-maciel.shtml
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI perused that Spanish article and it refers to some letter of Corcuera to the membership talking a lot about begging forgiveness for Fr. Maciel's crimes. Poor old Maciel is no longer around to defend himself so they can place the blame on him avoiding their co-responsability in the crimes and cover-up. And as we said above, unless the request for pardon is accomanied by sincere repentance, a firm resolve, and reparation it is vain.
On closer observation, this article refers to a recent letter from Fr. Alvaro to the membership. Here is the Spanish language article:
ReplyDeleteDice que no están solos y cita los Manuales de Maciel
clipping
El jefe de los Legionarios pide perdón
"Pido perdón a todos los que sufren por los hechos tan dolorosos que hemos vivido"
Geolocalización de la noticia
José Manuel Vidal, 23 de noviembre de 2009 a las 13:18
Dios nos invita a vivir este período intensificando la vida de oración, los actos de caridad y el espíritu de penitencia
* Carta de Alvaro Corcuera
Con motivo de la festividad de Cristo Rey, que celebró la Iglesia el pasado domingo, el Director General de los Legionarios de Cristo y del Regnum Christi, padre Álvaro Corcuera escribe una carta a los miembros de su institución en la que pide perdón. "Quiero aprovechar esta carta para pedir nuevamente sincero perdón a todas las personas que hayan sufrido o estén sufriendo por los hechos dolorosos que hemos vivido".
Y añade: "Dios nos invita a vivir este período intensificando la vida de oración, los actos de caridad y el espíritu de penitencia, para unirnos más a Jesucristo y a nuestros hermanos los hombres".
Pero a renglón seguido acude a una de las obras de referencia del fundador, el polémico Padre Maciel. Y cita varias de las máximas del 'Manual del Miembro del Regnum Christi'. Como la que dice que "la razón de ser del movimiento estriba en servir a la Iglesia y a sus Pastores". Y, para animar a sus fieles, el Padre Corcuera repite, una y otra vez: "No estamos sólos".
Sorry I deleted a post about Giving Thanks and George Winston
ReplyDelete