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...