How to get a loved one out of the Legion of Christ & Regnum Christi

What is the Legion's Charism?

2012-01-23T21:54:00.003-05:00

"What is, in any case, the charism of this congregation? What is it that moves hundreds and thousands of people to feel part of it, even despite the founder's stigma? What specific vocation can the Legion have now? According to the author, 'the apostolic fruits appear concretely in the number of vocations, and the number of consecrated members incorporated, as well as the money that is raised.' This is the Legion's real charism: internal growth and money. The means became the end. Everything points towards this goal. The evangelization of society has become a secondary objective. It is evident therefore that the Legion cannot deny that internal growth and the desperate and limitless pursuit of funds are its charism; these are the seeds sown by the founder. The Legion, therefore, needs a total conversion."

Roberto Blancarte (Mexican religion writer)
Prologue to
El Reino de Marcial Maciel, La Vida Oculta de la Legion de Cristo y el Regnum Christi. (2011): Mexico City; editorial Planeta,
The Kingdom of Marcial Maciel, The Hidden life of the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi
Translated by blogger

Recovery from Undue Influence

2012-01-13T09:13:00.000-05:00

Highly recommend Carol Giambalvo's webpage reFOCUS and her newsletter

For those of you interested in this: Carol, a former cult member, researcher, and expert in the field of Cult Awareness, is a practicing Catholic and very good at helping people involved in suspicious Catholic groups.

Pope rewards O'Brien -he saw through the Legion of Christ

2012-01-06T16:37:00.004-05:00

Archbishop Edwin O'Brien, who was moved from Baltimore last year to Rome and Jerusalem has just been made a cardinal. Kudos to him.

He was one of the bishops who saw through the Legion and used the "sect" word in that context

Why Members of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi find it hard to leave

2011-12-28T10:18:00.001-05:00

Bethlehem

This is just one aspect; there is a kind of "thinking error" involved. If a person wants to be 'absolutely sure' about leaving, they will never do it. Because, in this world one cannot be "absolutely sure" of anything; well except that I am alive, I breath, I think, and I feel body sensations...

And this thinking error and fallacy is exploited by Legion superiors and so called 'spiritual directors'. And, my God, even by Apostolic Visitator, Mons. Blazquez: 'you must be absolutely sure before leaving the Legion or the Regnum'. This is so wrong; because when in the organization one lives in such a state of anxiety, brainwashing and confusion that one cannot be sure about anything.

See my dialogue below:

From:
To: la
Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 4:36 PM
Subject: exiting LC and +Blazquez

Recently an LC priest wanted to add me as a friend on Facebook. I didn't recognise him, and in any case I wouldn't befriend any LC priest without good reason. I said hello and mentioned that I didn't recognise him, did we know each other? He replied that he was in Rome in the 90s to early 2000 but then has spent years in the General Direction in Rome. (...) I noticed on his Face Book that he is on a sabbatical year. He mentioned that had read about me online so we are virtual friends. He replied to me that he was living in X again and was to have an appointment with Mons. Blazquez ( blogger's explanation: Archbishop Blazquez was one of the five original papal appointed investigators of the Legion of Christ, 2009-2010, and was later appointed to investigate the Regnum Christi Lay Movement also founded by Maciel*) last Monday. This is his account of the meeting:

Mons. Blázquez es bastante optimista y ve futuro a la Legión, en el sentido que ve que va evolucionando y que el delegado está haciendo su trabajo. Ciertamente, ve legítimo que algunos se quieran separar, pero su consejo es que lo hagan si están del todo seguros. Como diríamos en España, "ve brotes verdes" pero no es un ingenuo.

"Mons. Blazquez is quite optimistic and sees a future for the Legion, in the sense that he sees that it is evolving and the [papa] delegate is carrying out his work. Certainly, he sees it as legitimate that some may want to leave the legion, but his advice is that they do so if they are completely sure. As we say in Spain, 'he sees green shoots' but he isn't naive."

Curiouser and curiouser.

*His Excellency Ricardo Blázquez,

archbishop of Valladolid carried out his apostolic visitation of the RC from January to June 2011

------------------------------------

Dear Bro. X,

if someone waits to be absolutely sure before leaving the Legion they will never leave; because the Legion has systematically wounded the members' capacity to analyze and make self-enhancing decisions. You must leave when you have "good enough" reasons to leave; which is the way normal people "out in the world" make decisions anyway.

Well, you never know what a legionary is up to while he is in the Legion but i suppose you could take a chance; he is "going beyond the pale" by contacting you.

It is kind of refreshing that the Legion has found the "sabbatical" as a decompressing and discernment tool at this late stage in its evolution; should be a time for real free soul searching. Hopefully, it is not a sabbatical 'modus legionis' like those Ignatian Spiritual Exercises of discernment that Maciel manipulated in Salamanca back in the day in such a way as to empty them of their vitality and their true nature.

Your former brother P.

N.B. let us also be aware of the danger of misquoting Mons Blazquez with second or third-hand quotes which may also have been interpreted and filtered by Legion superiors and so called spiritual directors to suit their own ends.

Apostolic Delegate Ordains Legion Priests whose formation system he is reforming

2011-12-21T01:03:00.000-05:00

POPE CONGRATULATES NEW LEGIONARY PRIESTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC. 19, 2011

- At the conclusion of his weekly audience last Wednesday, Benedict XVI had comforting words for a group of newly ordained priests from the Legion of Christ.

The 49 priests were ordained Dec. 12 at Rome's Basilica of St. John Lateran by Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, the papal delegate overseeing the reform of the congregation.

The Pope said he wished God to support them in their ministry, so that they can carry out their mission of evangelical service with joy and fidelity.

------------------------------------

Blogger notes: Curiouser and Curiouser

"Neutral and objective" Cardinal De Paolis, the papal delegate overseeing the reform of the congregation, ordained the 49 new Legion priests formed by the system created by disgraced founder, Marcial Maciel, a system which is currently under review by said Cardinal De Paolis.

A Great Man Goes, Vaclav Havel

2011-12-20T00:51:00.004-05:00

In a world of dictators, impostors, liars, and deceivers

With sadness we see him pass
With gladness we pay tribute
to a champion of Freedom

After clicking link START SIDESHOW

UPDATE- Archbishop McQuaid of Dublin Sexual Abuse Allegations

2011-12-08T10:05:00.001-05:00

Updated 12/09/11

It is chilling to think that the revered Church dignitary that I met with in Salamanca circa 1962 while a Novice of the Legion of Christ -described in Our Father Maciel who art in bed, a Naive and Sentimental Dubliner in the Legion of Christ- may have been a pedophile:

McQ ruled Dublin [and Ireland] with an iron fist; Maciel must have approached him about a foundation in Dublin [1959-60]. McQ sent him first to Bundoran, Donegal, and a year later "let him into" the diocese of Dublin. 

I met His Grace in Salamanca circa 1962 when Fr Lagoa asked me to go with him as his interpreter. "Have you forgotten your English?" was McQuaid's icy comment when i stuttered in the presence of such an imposing person...

Sexual abuse allegations made against late Archbishop John Charles McQuaid

Murphy Commission investigated leader who ruled Church with iron fist

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Thursday, December 8, 2011, 7:56 AM

Updated Thursday, December 8, 2011, 7:56 AM

He was once the man who dominated the Catholic Church in Dublin – now two sex abuse complaints against former Archbishop John Charles McQuaid have come to light.

The Irish Times reports that the recent Murphy Commission into clerical sex abuse in the diocese received two complaints against McQuaid.

The complaints included an allegation of abuse of a 12-year-old boy by Archbishop McQuaid in 1961. A separate concern to the two abuse allegations also brought to the Commission’s attention.

The paper reports that complaints and concern were addressed in a ‘Supplementary Report to the Dublin Archdiocese Investigation’, published on the commission’s website on July 13th, the day it published the Cloyne report.

The Irish Times also reports that Archbishop McQuaid is not identified by name in the supplementary report but is described as a cleric who ‘has been dead for many years’. He retired in 1972 and died in 1973.

The Murphy commission’s findings into the handling of clerical child sex abuse allegations in the Dublin archdiocese were published in November 2009.

The supplementary report states that as the commission was completing its main report in the summer of 2009, it received information which would have ‘brought another cleric’ within its remit.

The report states that the commission was concerned that ‘this may have been withheld deliberately and felt this required investigation’.

An adult alleged in 2003 that he had been abused by Archbishop McQuaid but the complaint was ‘not made known to the commission when the Health Service Executive discovered documents relating to it’.

The paper adds that: “In May 2009 this complaint was made known to Phil Garland, then director of child protection in Dublin’s archdiocese. He informed Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and the commission was “immediately informed”, the report says. The HSE subsequently supplied relevant documentation to the commission.

“The archdiocese then organised a further trawl of its files and found a letter ‘which showed that there was an awareness among a number of people in the archdiocese that there had been a concern expressed about this cleric in 1999’, the report states. The ‘cleric’ is Archbishop McQuaid.”

The commission accepted that the failure to hand over the 2003 documentation was down to human error.

In 2010 however, after the commission’s report had been published, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin revealed that he had received another abuse complaint against Archbishop McQuaid.

The supplementary report said “Archbishop Martin was under no obligation to give the commission this information”. The 2010 complaint is also the subject of a civil action against the archdiocese.

Responding to questions from The Irish Times, the archdiocese said it treated information regarding abuse in a confidential manner, ‘out of respect to all involved’.

Latest Guidelines in Regnum Christi Reform from Papal Delegate

2011-11-28T00:09:00.001-05:00

Translation from the Spanish version

Rome, November 21, 2011

Dear Legionaries, and consecrated men and women of Regnum Christi:

As I mentioned in my October 15th letter, we have begun “an important and
challenging period to study the issues that will come up, as we reflect on the Apostolic
Visitator’s report and begin the revision of the Statutes”. The first step in this path of
reflection has been a meeting with a group of consecrated men and women who live in
Rome this past November 7th, in which I presented a summary of the Visitator’s Report.
I have already authorized that the recording of the first part of this meeting, my
introduction to the meeting and the summary of the Visitator’s conclusions, be made
available to all the consecrated men and women.
In this letter I would like to shed light on some points:

1) Confirming what I said in the October 15th that “The figure of a priest as delegate of
the general director and [of a priest as delegate] of the territorial directors for the
consecrated women in Regnum Christi is suspended.” (#3), I have asked that the
General Director, together with the General Assistants for the consecrated men and
consecrated women of Regnum Christi let me know the faculties of the General
Director and the Territorial Directors in relation to the governance of the consecrated
men and women as soon as possible, so that I can establish which should be given
to the General Assistants for the consecrated men and consecrated women
respectively, and to the Territorial Assistants. Until this occurs, the General Director
and Territorial Directors will provisionally maintain their actual faculties. In any case,
I confirm what I have already said in the October 15th letter in relation to the faculties
of the General Director, that is, that “all of the important decisions regarding the
consecrated women and men of Regnum Christi, particularly admission of new
consecrated persons, transfers, nominations and the dismissals or dispensations
from promises, will need the approval of the Pontifical Delegate, after hearing the
opinion of the general director’s assistant for the consecrated women or the
consecrated men.” (#2), although this list of decisions should be understood as
examples, not as something exhaustive.

2) In the October 15th letter I declared that “The statutes of Regnum Christi approved
by the Holy See on November 26, 2004 remain in force until new indications are
given, barring specific cases” (#2), and they are binding. The “Estatutos y
Reglamentos del Movimiento Regnum Christi”, in spite of the fact that they do not
have a juridical value inasmuch as they have not been approved by a General
Chapter, contain the praxis that regulates the life of Regnum Christi. Therefore, I
have asked that a small commission formed by the General Assistants for the
consecrated men and consecrated women and Fr. Roberto Aspe, L.C. be set up as
soon as possible, in order to elaborate an extract of the articles of the “Estatutos y
Reglamentos del Movimiento Regnum Christi”, which will contain only the articles
which are considered an application of the Statutes from November 26th and are
strictly necessary for the life and governance of the third degree of the Movement,
taking what is established above in #1 into account. This text, once reviewed by Fr.
Gianfranco Ghirlanda, S.J., will be presented for the approval of the Pontifical
Delegate who will publish it as the only Regulations in force during the revision stage
of the Statutes and of the Regulations of Regnum Christi.

3) At the end of the October 15th letter, I said that “any suggestions and proposals
for the path of revision that is before us can be sent to the Delegate.” I thank you for
your active collaboration and desire to participate in the process we have begun. I
have asked that the General Director and the General Assistants for the consecrated
men and consecrated women propose the names of a legionary, two consecrated
women and two consecrated men (respectively), who will form the central
commission for the revision of the Statutes and of the Regulations. This commission
will be helped by two secretaries, one consecrated man and one consecrated
woman, indicated by the two General Assistants. I ask you to send your suggestions
to this commission, which will be formed as soon as possible, so that they can take
them into consideration. Obviously you can always present matters of a personal
character to me and my collaborators.

4) Based on your own suggestions sent to me and my council members, the work of
reflection will be started by going in depth in fundamental topics such as: the
methodology of community discernment; consecration by evangelical counsels in the
Church and particularly in lay secular life; the content of the evangelical counsels
and of fraternal life in community; the fundamental elements for an integral formation
for consecration of life through the profession of the evangelical counsels; the
participation of lay people in the charism of a religious institute; different associative
expressions in the Church and their canonical discipline, especially in relation to
Movements; and different styles of government in consecrated life. Some
conferences on these topics will be given by the Pontifical Delegate and some of his
council members, and eventually by other experts, which can feed days of study and
reflection. The forms these will take will be communicated as soon as possible.

5) In all this process, not only in relation to Regnum Christi, but also in relation to the
Legion, we need to distinguish between what is simply proposed and what
eventually may be decided, which will always be expressed in a formal action of
personal decision of the Pontifical Delegate or by approval of an action of the
General Director if that is required.

I exhort you once again to begin and continue this path of personal and community
reflection in a climate of prayer in listening to what the Spirit suggests to your own heart
and that of the others, in trusting dialogue and reciprocal respect. Be grateful to the Lord
for the gift of your consecration in the Church and in Regnum Christi, and feel
yourselves responsible for this talent that God has put in your hands so that it may
always produce more fruit. I am deeply grateful, speaking also for my council members,
for your prayers and manifestations of trust and spiritual closeness. May the blessing of
God accompany you.

With my prayers, I wish you every good in the Lord Jesus.
+ Velasio Card. De Paolis, C.S.

Wall St., The Legion, and the Vatican

2011-11-19T08:48:00.001-05:00

Jose Barba, the blogger [standing], Jason Berry and a Cuban journalist

Dear Catholic Parent,

While the USA TV airs indignated protestors on Wall Street few, I believe, consider the direct moral accountability of Goldman Sachs in all this mess; much less are they aware of the fact that only a few months ago the Legion of Christ and Vicar General Luis Garza Medina promoted a two day symposium at the Vatican on "Ethics and Economics" (Goldman Sachs was one of those prominently included in the show).

On both these days the conference began with a
mass at Saint Peter's Basilica. Cardinal De Paolis himself celebrated one of those two rituals.

Is not this a travesty of Christianity as the "good
news" religion for the poor?

These are moments when we should remind people with short memories
who are the true friends of the Legion of Christ, supposedly devoted to establish the Kingdom of Christ on earth. Do not these facts, well observed, prove again and again that the LC is nothing more than meticulous window dressing just like Marcial Maciel
was all through his life? Can't the Vatican analyze the news and reach the necessary conclusions? And what does Zenith Agency have to say about this?

With affection,

Jose Barba, PhD Harvard

"Approved by the Church" Caveat Catholic

2011-10-31T14:56:00.001-04:00

"Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing"

Exchanging emails with Dr. Michael Langone, executive Director of I.C.S.A. to focus on content of next year's presentation in Montreal, Canada.

We are still 'disconcerted' by the facility with which Catholics continue to be deceived by any group that claims to be '"approved by the Church",
a catch-all phrase that could mean a thousand different things and should not be gobbled up by the innocent.
"All that glitters is not gold" and

"Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing" [Remember who said that?]

Will keep you posted.

De Paolis Letter to Regnum Christi re Apostolic Visitation

2011-10-18T00:27:00.000-04:00

Regarding results of recent Apostolic Visitation to the Regnum Christi theLegion/ Regnum gives us their interpretation on their page -like we can't read the letter on our own.... Oh, the members need Daddy big Priest to explain it to them... Well, below we quote the original, unadulterated version:

Cardinale Velasio De Paolis, c.s.
Piazza del Sant‘Uffizio, 11
00120 CITTÀ DEL VATICANO

Rome, 15 October 2011

Dear Legionaries and consecrated men and women of Regnum Christi,
In his apostolic visitation, carried out from January to June 2011, His Excellency Ricardo Blázquez,
archbishop of Valladolid, met almost all of the consecrated members of Regnum Christi in a number
of countries, whether in group meetings or individual interviews. He also received much written
input. At the beginning of September, he turned in his report to the Pontifical Delegate.
We will now carefully analyze the report in order to understand it fully. Then we will undertake
whatever seems necessary to revise the statutes that regulate the life of the consecrated members
of Regnum Christi and how they live in practice. Along with my Council, I began to get acquainted
with the report, albeit necessarily briefly. There was also a joint meeting with Legionaries and
Regnum Christi consecrated persons in which we exchanged our reflections. This exchange needs to
be continued and reflected upon deeply.

A positive point that emerges from the apostolic visitation is that at a personal level the consecrated
members are grateful for their vocation and live their consecration to God according to the
evangelical counsels with joy, aware that they render a valuable service to the Church with their selfgiving.
However, the issues regarding personal and community life that have emerged from this same
visitation on an institutional level initially appear to be many and challenging. We should handle
them with the people that are the first affected, that is, the consecrated persons. This is about their
lives. At the same time we cannot forget their history either, which is intimately linked to that of the
Legion.

In general, there is a positive judgment on the relationship between the Legion and the consecrated
persons in Regnum Christi because of the good fruits that this has borne in the apostolate, for which
we thank the Lord. At the same time, more than a few points surface that need to be clarified and
perhaps rethought. In particular the visitation showed that there is a widespread desire among the
consecrated persons for a proper autonomy – which the consecrated persons should enjoy, and
which pertains to them as a form of association within the Church. The visitator’s report does not
specify the extent this should have, but it should certainly involve responsibility on the part of the
consecrated women and men in the organization and government of their personal, community, and
apostolic lives. The issue of autonomy appears linked to the juridical nature of the group of
consecrated persons itself and to the scope and juridical weight of their consecration in the
profession of the evangelical counsels. On the one hand, it will be necessary to maintain a link of
participation, even if specified in a distinct manner, in the same charism, spirituality, and apostolate, thus saving a precious inheritance. On the other hand, it will be necessary to find an adequate
configuration that corresponds to Canon Law, in order to better conserve, promote and develop this
treasure.

Thus begins an important and challenging period to study the issues that will come up, as we reflect
on the Apostolic Visitator’s report and begin the revision of the Statutes. It is also necessary to find
the right way and a suitable procedure in order to guarantee serious, appropriate and decisionoriented reflection on the fundamental issues along with the commitment of all those involved,
according to each one’s responsibility, whether at the individual or collective level. Even before
beginning the examination of the condition of the consecrated persons in Regnum Christi, a few
guidelines can be useful as of now, even if they are provisional.

1. This process will unfold under the responsibility of the Pontifical Delegate for the congregation of
the Legionaries of Christ, assisted by his personal councilors.
2. The statutes of Regnum Christi approved by the Holy See on November 26, 2004 remain in force
until new indications are given, barring specific cases. For ordinary life the general director of the
Legionaries retains authority over the consecrated persons according to the current regulations
contained in the Statutes. However, all of the important decisions regarding the consecrated
women and men of Regnum Christi, particularly admission of new consecrated persons, transfers,
nominations and the dismissals or dispensations from promises, will need the approval of the
Pontifical Delegate, after hearing the opinion of the general director’s assistant for the consecrated
women or the consecrated men.
3. The figure of a priest as delegate of the general director and [of a priest as delegate] of the
territorial directors for the consecrated women in Regnum Christi is suspended. Meanwhile, the
functions that until now have been exercised by the delegate of the general director pass on to the
general director’s assistants for the consecrated women and the consecrated men, who will be
assisted by three councilors. Any difficulties may be presented to the Pontifical Delegate.
4. All that has been established for the Legionaries of Christ concerning spiritual direction, the
sacrament of penance, correspondence and the use of the Internet, and the protection of the
conscience in dialogue with superiors also applies to the consecrated women and men of Regnum
Christi. As for the sacrament of penance and spiritual direction, the freedom of the consecrated
women and men in the choice of confessors and spiritual directors, as well as in manifesting their
conscience to their directors and to the general director of the Legionaries, has to be fully
recognized (cf. can. 630 of The Code of Canon Law).

Therefore the directors are required to diligently provide that sufficient and suitable ordinary and extraordinary confessors be available for the consecrated women and men, and that among these there always be priests who do not belong to the Legion of Christ. Moreover, what is established in can. 991 must be kept in mind: “Every member of the Christian faithful is free to confess sins to a legitimately approved confessor of his or her choice, even to one of another rite.”

Everyone – consecrated women, consecrated men, Legionaries of Christ – are called to give their
collaboration, in ways that will be specified soon. As of now any suggestions and proposals for the
path of revision that is before us can be sent to the Delegate.
I exhort all to begin and to walk this path of personal and community reflection in an environment of
prayer, dialogue, and respect in order to bring to completion the beautiful reality of consecrated life
in Regnum Christi in the Church. To all I wish every good thing in the Lord and I invoke the Lord’s
blessing with the abundance of his gifts.

Yours truly,
Velasio Card. De Paolis, c.s.

Pontifical Delegate

Archbishop who Saw Through Legion of Christ gets Vatican "Promotion"

2011-10-10T11:40:00.000-04:00

Monday, October 10, 201

Pope Appoints Archbishop O'Brien Grand Master of Equestrian Order of Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

<< Back to List

Archbishop to Serve as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Baltimore Until a Successor is Named

Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien announced today that Pope Benedict XVI has appointed him Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. With the announcement of the appointment, the Archbishop immediately ceases serving as Archbishop of Baltimore, a post he’s held since October 1, 2007; however, he will serve as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese until a successor is named.

In accepting the new position, Archbishop O’Brien assumes responsibility for the ancient lay Catholic Order whose goal is to promote and defend Christianity in the Holy Land and to support the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

“It has been a singular privilege to serve as Archbishop of Baltimore,” the Archbishop said. “It is with a heavy heart that I will be departing…I pray that I will carry out the will of God and that of [the Pope] in preserving the faith in the Holy Land.”

The Archbishop made the announcement earlier today at the Catholic Center in downtown Baltimore in front of more than 200 employees of the Archdiocese’s central services offices, Catholic Charities, the Cathedral Foundation and the Basilica.

Archbishop O’Brien succeeds Cardinal John Patrick Foley who resigned in February due to reasons of health. Cardinal Foley held the position since 2007.

"I would like to thank Cardinal Foley for his excellent service as Grand Master,” Archbishop O’Brien added. “He brought great joy and enthusiasm to the position and accomplished much in his effective leadership of the Order. I would also like to gratefully acknowledge the Cardinal's personal words of congratulations and support. Since learning of my appointment I have spent some time with Cardinal Foley and I am sure I will be turning to him from time to time for his continued good counsel."

Archbishop O’Brien said he was unsure how long it will be before his successor is named, but assured those present that the Holy See is aware of the importance of naming a new Archbishop as soon as possible, citing many critical programs underway in the Archdiocese.

During his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI has stressed the urgency of preserving a strong Christian presence in the Holy Land.

As Grand Master, Archbishop O’Brien will reside in Vatican City and will make visits to the Holy Land and to the Order’s lieutenancies, which are located throughout the world. The Archbishop has served as Grand Prior of the Mid-Atlantic Lieutenancy of the United States, based in Washington, D.C., since 2010.

According to the Vatican, the Order’s principal mission is to “reinforce the practice of Christian life by its members…and to sustain and assist the religious, spiritual, charitable and social works of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land; and to conserve and propagate the faith in the Holy Land and the rights of the Catholic Church there.”

Members of the Order must be practicing Catholics of good character and be recommended by their local Ordinary, or bishop, with the support of several members of the Order. Today, there are close to 18,000 members of the order who give generously to the Holy See and its institutions, particularly in the Holy Land, where it gives substantial aid to the humanitarian and religious projects of the Patriarch.

In 2009, members contributed over $10 million to the Holy Land, providing support for the patriarchal schools there and humanitarian relief.

In a statement issued today, Cardinal Foley cited Archbishop O’Brien’s “experience and splendid dedication as priest and archbishop” and said the Archbishop will be “an outstanding leader” of the Order. “I could not be happier that he is my successor,” the Cardinal added.

During his tenure as the 15th Archbishop of the nation’s oldest Catholic diocese, Archbishop O’Brien has focused the Church’s ministry in several key areas, including the promotion of vocations, fostering a culture of respect for the dignity of every person, improving the quality of life in Baltimore City, and to help Catholics in the Archdiocese—young, old, and those who may have left the Church—renew and strengthen the bonds of their faith.

Since arriving to serve as Archbishop of Baltimore in October 2007:

Archbishop O’Brien has ordained seven new priests for the Archdiocese and over 120 men have entered the program for priestly formation.
The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, a comprehensive fundraising program designed to aid the parishes, schools and charitable programs within the Archdiocese, has generated more than $23 million in pledged donations and is projected to surpass the $30 million mark this year.
The Archdiocese has raised and distributed more than $7.5 million in tuition assistance for children in inner city Catholic schools.
More than 3,100 new Catholics entered the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese.

While many areas of Church life have experienced growth in recent years, Catholic school enrollment continued to decline, a trend that was accelerated by the economic downturn that began in the fall of 2008.

To reverse this disturbing trend—one that led to the closing of several Catholic schools in the years prior to his installation as Archbishop of Baltimore--and to head-off the dire consequences that the financial crisis posed for Catholic schools, Archbishop O’Brien initiated an unprecedented review and strategic planning process for the entire school system. These efforts led to the painful but necessary consolidation of a dozen Catholic elementary schools and one high school, as well as the creation of a long-term strategy for strengthening Catholic schools. As well a number of new educational initiatives to help Catholic schools remain competitive were developed, including dual language, Montessori and STEM, with the promise of additional programs to follow.

Guided by a blue ribbon committee of educational, community, business and philanthropic leaders, the Archbishop called for the creation of a new Archdiocesan School Board and a new model for school governance that puts the Superintendent of Schools in charge of school leaders and puts priests in charge of the spiritual identity of the school. The critical issue of bridging the affordability gap many families are facing was also a key area of focus for the Archbishop, as he called on every Catholic parish in the Archdiocese to financially support Catholic school education. This resulted in the implementation of an annual special assessment and a special collection for Catholic education, both designed to help fund tuition assistance and other forms of assistance to families and schools.

“While the thought of leaving Baltimore—which I have come to think of as a permanent and welcoming home—saddens me, the news underscores the fact that the Church is built and ordered on Christ, alone,” said Archbishop O’ Brien.

Archbishop Dolan Sucks Up to Legion of Christ

2011-10-03T12:45:00.001-04:00

"Sucks up" according to a Legion-tinted report

Living the Truth:

New York Archbishop tells Legionaries he admires them as they “stand at the feet of Christ”

Thornwood, New York --

New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan considers having a Legionary house in New York a “jewel in the crown of the Archdiocese.”

This is one of the comments the Archbishop made to the members of the Legion during a September 15, 2011, visit to the Thornwood Center in Thornwood, New York.

Priests from across the country had just completed their annual spiritual exercises at Thornwood on the previous day. The Archbishop came to celebrate Mass at the invitation of Fr Julio Marti, LC. The date of September 15 was chosen because it is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, a principal feast for the Legion.

Archbishop Dolan told the 40 priests concelebrating with him and the 100 religious brothers attending that he had known and admired the Legionaries since he was a seminarian in Rome in 1972.

“He said his admiration has increased seeing us living in truth, no matter how much pain, sorrow and embarrassment we have suffered,” said Fr. Michael Brisson, LC, community superior of the Legionaries in Thornwood. “We should stand at the feet of Christ and never lose sight of him.”

During his remarks, the Archbishop focused on the presence of Mary in the life of Christ and the Church. She was present in the two most famous scenes of Christ’s life, his birth in Bethlehem and his death on Calvary. Archbishop Dolan suggested his listeners take a lesson from Mary, who knew how to live both in times of joy and in times of sorrow.

After Mass, the Archbishop asked to be able to visit with each person present.

“And he did just that!” said Fr. Michael. “He spent the next hour shaking hands, laughing with and encouraging everyone.”

ZENIT founder, Jesus Colina, Ousted by Legion because of Questioning

2011-09-30T13:23:00.001-04:00

Christ is my Life, Jesus Colina interviews Marcial Maciel, Founder of the Legion of the Christ and the Regnum Christi Movement

News item received from Info-Secte, the Canadian cult-watch group

Founder of Zenit forced out by Legion

Rome, Italy, Sep 29, 2011 / 10:08 am (CNA).-

Jesus Colina, the founder and director of the news agency Zenit, has announced his resignation after a decision by the Legionaries of Christ to enhance the Legion identity of the agency.

Established 14 years ago as an independent agency seeking to report on “the world seen from Rome,” Zenit has established a strong presence on the Internet, with daily editions in seven languages.

Colina was appointed a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications by Pope Benedict XVI, and has received the Path to Peace Award from the Path to Peace Foundation, which works in close collaboration with the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations.

In an exclusive interview from Rome with Catholic News Agency, Colina explained the details behind his departure.

What are the reasons for your resignation?

The current chairman of the board at Zenit, Legionary priest Father Oscar Nader, requested I take this step based on the view that as a person linked to various Catholic communications initiatives, I do not offer the clear idea of the institutional identity of Zenit that the Legionaries of Christ wish to communicate from now on.

How do you explain this decision?

Well, in reality I think this decision is the culmination of a gradual mutual loss of trust which began several years ago. The manner in which the Legion of Christ hid the information about Fr. Marcial Maciel, which was discovered bit by bit by the press, caused a breakdown of trust in this institution on the part of the director of the news agency.

I understand the difficult situation in which the superiors of the Legionaries of Christ found themselves. Now in public statements they have said they already had proof of Fr. Maciel’s different lives for years before his death. Nevertheless, despite the statement issued by the Holy See in 2006, they continued to present him as a role model, even at his death and after his death.

The superiors invited me to a Mass celebrated at the chapel of the Legionaries’ Center for Higher Studies 30 days after his death. During the homily, before hundreds of religious, Fr. Maciel was presented as a role model. This is particularly grave, because it is one thing to avoid a scandal in revealing the crimes or the double (although you would have to say the triple or quadruple) life of Fr. Maciel, and quite another to continuing maintaining this myth of sanctity that the congregation had promoted during his life.
Moreover, since a number of years had passed since the Vatican statement was issued calling on Fr. Maciel to retire and to publicly acknowledge his lies and crimes, the impression was spread among the religious and those close to the Legionaries that the Pope had unjustly punished him. This to me is very grave, especially considering everything that this Pope has done for the congregation.

But, in reality since the Legionaries were the ones who asked you to resign, it seems that they also lost trust in you.

Yes, undoubtedly trust is a sentiment that goes in two directions, it cannot be one way. In the last two years, everything the congregation has experienced has created tension. Two years ago, the Zenit staff asked the board to establish a totally separate and transparent management in order to guarantee independence in response to any accusations. Zenit is an agency that depends on donations from its readership and ought to be able to explain where every dollar goes. Although the board promised to set up this kind of arrangement, in practice this has not been done. I am morally convinced that the money we have received from our readers goes directly to Zenit, but I cannot demonstrate this formally and administratively.

As one can understand, my continuous complaints about this situation led the superiors of the Legionaries to also lose trust in me. This trust was completely broken when I proposed allowing other Catholic entities to have a seat on the board of Zenit, in order to address these questions and provide for an editorial future and greater ecclesial representation. Not only was the proposal ignored, it led to my firing as well.

You knew Fr. Maciel well, you even published a book interview with him. Did you know anything about his private life?

Like the vast majority of people who knew him, including John Paul II, I could have never imagined that he was guilty of the crimes that have now been proven. During the meetings I had with him, I always believed I was standing before an authentic priest. This is the “enigma” of Fr. Maciel which Benedict XIV spoke about in his book. I never had any doubts about him until the Vatican published the statement calling on him to retire to a life of prayer and penance. The review of his biography and the amazing growth of the works he founded led me to believe that there had to be Christian authenticity at the origin. There were some details that sometimes surprised me, such as his interest in appearance, for example, but I ascribed that to his cultural origins. Like so many other people, I was also shocked to discover the deceit in someone who had been presented to us as a role model.

For 20 years you have worked as correspondent in Rome, and 14 years ago you began Zenit. What is your assessment?

The Maciel case and its understandably tragic consequences cannot blur the human, spiritual and professional adventure experienced by those lucky enough to spend their lives offering news coverage of the life of the Pope and the Holy See. As a journalist you see human weakness, but you also see a lot of holiness, an immense work of charity at the service of those most in need. I have been able to know John Paul II and now Benedict XVI: two people of surprising spiritual and intellectual stature.

All this depth and holiness cannot be clouded by Fr. Maciel’s lies. Honestly I know many priests and seminarians of the Legionaries of Christ and I consider them to be authentic Christians and, in a certain sense, martyrs of the situation they are confronting with so much love for Christ and the Church.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/founder-of-zenit-forced-out-by-legion/

Maciel's wife and daughter; he on his death bed, and other UNPUBLISHED IMAGES -

2011-09-25T14:08:00.002-04:00

Fr. Maciel relaxing with his lover and daughter

IMAGES NEVER SEEN BEFORE
on this promo for upcoming Mexican TV show THE KINGDOM OF MARCIAL MACIEL:
MM on his death bed
with his 'wife' and his daughter
at the height of his glory
with his men

Maciel embraces Alvaro Corcuera, his protege, on the latter's ordination; Alvaro would be chosen by Maciel to be his successor at the head of the Legion; Alvaro has inherited his father's survival skills, and the art of seducing Church Leaders

PS don't forget to check my other blogs, Understanding the Legion of Christ..., and others which may contain other relevant information.

Former Opus Dei [like RC] Sues over Unslavement

2011-09-23T16:12:00.002-04:00

This is not Van Morrison's 'entrainment' but rather "enslavement" a charge being brought against her previous "employer" Opus Dei by a Numerary

[From a source]

The Telegraph at this site:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/8782610/French-woman-sues-Opus-Dei-for-enslavement.html

reports a story about a former Opus Dei numerary (similar to 3gf) who is suing because she feels she was enslaved for over ten years, forced to make vows of poverty chastity and obedience and was cut off from the outside world. She was 14 years old when she started and left when she was 27.
She has made some interesting claims that sound quite similar to the situation with 3gf's. Assuming she is telling the truth, she was given a wage and then had to provide blank checks to kick back the money. It sounds as if she was subjected to mind control, isolation, excessive work load and when she needed medical help she was sent to a doctor who was also an OD member. He prescribed heavy doses of anti psychotic drugs for her. She was "chaperoned" by her spiritual director.

In her case, there are some striking parallels to life in RC. I realize that you can't judge from one case and of course it is possible that she really was psychotic. But the circumstances sound quite familiar.

1- Miles Jesu and Legion of Christ Intervention; The Founder

2011-09-22T19:31:00.001-04:00

Everything about the Legion and the Vatican Intervention of the Legion has been so secretive it continues to cause confusion;

first thing the Vicariate of Rome does when they start intervening with the Miles Jesu is ask the founder to step down; it says so and says it publicly, through this statement.

In the Legion's case it was never clear why Fr. Maciel stepped down when he did in Dec 2004 [?]; for ill health or some other cock and bull reason? Of course, at that time Cardinal Rode -a great protector of the Legion- was in charge of the Congregation for Religious and Institutes of Consecrated Life [?]. Maciel and the Legion were handled with kid gloves...

Was Maciel asked to step down by the Vatican, or did he choose to do so when he got wind that he was going to be investigated in April 2005 by the Congregation for Faith [Scicluna sent by Ratzinger], or for some other reason. Why did he step down? The Legion is so deceptive that as a matter of course I never believe their face reason for anything. I am sorry to say but "once bitten, twice shy" as they say in Dublin.

Why so much secrecy and confusion related to the Legion of Christ and the Vatican investigation?

Miles Jesu, another Legion of Christ in the Catholic Church

2011-09-17T00:19:00.002-04:00

See REGAIN article

[From a link in the above article]

Leadership

STATEMENT ON THE SITUATION OF THE
ECCLESIAL FAMILY “MILES JESU”

In the spring of 2007 the Founder of Miles Jesu, Fr. Alfonso Durán, was removed from the office as Superior General, a position which he filled since the founding of the Ecclesial Family in 1964. Due to serious mental and physical health problems he was judged unable to continue in his position by the ecclesial authorities. Almost at the same time, thirteen members of Miles Jesu presented a request for an investigation into the Institute, indicating in their request alleged irregularities in the practices of Miles Jesu. The Cardinal Vicar of Rome, his Emminence Camillo Ruini, in conjunction with the Congregation of Religious, initiated an Apostolic Visitation under the guidance of Fr. Anthony McSweeney, SSS.

During the Apostolic Visitation a number of irregularities and questionable practices came to light in the sworn testimonies of many members. Also the behavior of Fr. Durán in regards to certain questionable conduct and his exercise of authority came to light. The conclusion of the Apostolic Visitation was that an outside person should be called in to work with the Ecclesial Family in order to correct these situations and to work with the members in the renewal of the Institute.
In a Decree issued on March 25, 2009, Cardinal Agostino Vallini, the Pope’s Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, named me, Fr. Barry Fischer, C.PP.S., as Commissary for Miles Jesu invested with full authority. The mandate is to write a new Constitution which defines the charism, spirituality, and apostolic nature of the Institute; to develop adequate vocational discernment and formation policies (ratio formationis); to review the financial policies, and in general to completely revise all its practices and customs.

During the past seventeen months, I have worked closely with the membership in pursuit of this mandate, as well as with former members who have left during or after the Apostolic Visitation. In time it has become clear and undeniable, that the Founder, Fr. Alfonso Durán, presented erratic behaviors that were totally beyond the scope of the powers given to him. Some members have identified wounds caused by the inappropriate exercise of authority under his leadership. The mistaken sense of allegiance and obedience instilled in the membership facilitated his behavior, which was totally unacceptable and not in accord with the discipline of the Church nor supportable in any way by a healthy sense of consecrated life.

Members who challenged his actions or behavior were often ostracized. The internal discipline and customs of the Institute provided protection for the Founder. It must be said in justice, that most of the members had no idea of the improper conduct of the Founder. Some of the allegations against Fr. Duran are hearsay and have not been verified. However, many are factual. It is important for all that the truth be disclosed, which is the reason for this public statement.
During this year and a half of my ministry with Miles Jesu I have come to know and admire the membership and the charitable projects of the Institute. All are filled with love of God and a sincere desire to dedicate their lives to God’s service and to the Church. Members are actively involved in the drawing up of new Constitutions and a complete review of the customs and practices of the Institute in the spirit of the Gospel and in fidelity to the teachings of the Church. Particular attention will be paid to developing new government structures ensuring the proper exercise of authority and promoting an active participation and co-responsibility of the members in the life of the Institute.
In my personal contact with Cardinal Vallini, I perceive that he wishes to assure the membership and also the lay associates (“Vinculum”) of his concern and of his assurance that he accompanies them in this process with his prayers and with his conviction that the membership today has a right to a future. We are in close communication as he follows with interest the process of renewal we are undertaking.
As Commissary and in the name of the Church, I wish to express my deep concern for all those members, former members and family members who may have been hurt in the past due to the manner in which authority was exercised. I also am personally grateful for those members who had the courage to solicit the intervention of the Congregation of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, thus bringing to light the situations under question.
Though this communication may come as a surprise and be painful to many members, Vinculum members, and friends of Miles Jesu, the truth cannot be hidden. Only in truth can a better and healthier future for Miles Jesu be achieved. The work of renewal is already in progress and there is enthusiasm for the future that the members are building together. United in prayer and in fraternal love, and assured of the Church’s motherly care, we will get through this time of difficulty and come to the dawning of a new day. We walk towards that day in hope and trust in God’s loving care and protection.

Fr. Barry Fischer, C.PP.S.
Commissary
Miles Jesu

28 July 2010

In May, 2007 Miles Jesu's founding General Director was invalided from office with health problems including neurological degeneration. After an Apostolic Visitation "ad inquirendum et referendum" initiated by the Cardinal Vicar of the Diocese of Rome, Fr. Barry Fischer, C.PP.S., was asked to serve as Commissary (ecclesial superior) of Miles Jesu in April, 2009.

Currently Fr. Fischer is guiding MIles Jesu in a general revision of our constitutions, formation and vocational recruitment programs, as well as other polices and practices of the Ecclesial Family. He is assisted by a council made up of members from the men's domus branch and the women's domus branch, and in collaboration with all the members of Miles Jesu worldwide.

All our members will be very grateful for your prayerful support in this time of renewal.

Should I become a Legionary or a Dominican

2011-09-13T19:02:00.002-04:00

[from my YouTube account]

Legion of Christ

I just hear about this order yesterday and I've been very interested in becoming a Dominican but figured I should keep other orders in mind. So, like I said, I read about this order yesterday and it looked very authentic in its love of Christ and the Church.

Then I read some things about the founder, and that really turned me off. Then I came across a site, who's trustworthiness is questionable, that claimed the order was cult like and sought to remove any sense of individuality, privacy, and even one's free will.

So my question is this: Now that a Papal Delegate has been placed over the order, is the order going to be stripped of these negative features, or are things going to remain unchanged with just different leadership? You probably have a video on the topic since now I see you have a few videos on this stuff, but I just came across one video now so I have no come across your testimony before.

Pax Christi

The Archbishop who Saw Through the Legion

2011-09-06T12:10:00.001-04:00

Archbishop O'Brien leaving Baltimore for post in Rome

He will continue work in Baltimore until successor is installed

August 30, 2011|By Arthur Hirsch, The Baltimore Sun

Archbishop Edwin F. O'Brien flies to Rome next month for a new job leading a global order of Catholic knights, a post that likely will lead to his elevation to cardinal, but which also begins his departure from the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
Pope Benedict XVI named O'Brien, 72, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the Vatican announced Monday. The predominantly lay order, which traces its history to the 11th-century Crusades, now ministers to Christians and people of other faiths in historical Palestine.

The archbishop is being "promoted" to a post in Rome. But it seems to me he is being "demoted" from his diocese. Was it because he dared to bring down the Vatican's Darling Legion of Christ? "Father, forgive the Church hierarchy for the way it treats its 'faithful servants'?"

This is an old article; after it find a recent article from the diocese of Baltimore on Cardinal O'B's new appointment

Archbishop O'Brien raises concerns about Legion of Christ

By George P. Matysek Jr. The Catholic Review

Concerned that the Legion of Christ stifles the free will of its members and lacks transparency, Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien told the religious order’s director general that he cannot in good conscience recommend that anyone join the Legion or Regnum Christi, its affiliated lay movement.

In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the Legion of Christ is affiliated with Woodmont Academy in Cooksville. Regnum Christi is also active in several parishes.

The archbishop’s action came in the wake of revelations that Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legion of Christ, fathered a daughter while serving as leader of the international religious order.

Pope Benedict XVI had previously removed the Mexican priest from public ministry in 2006, asking him to lead a life of prayer and penance after Father Maciel faced allegations of sexual abuse of seminarians and financial irregularities.

“It seems to me and many others that this was a man with an entrepreneurial genius who, by systematic deception and duplicity, used our faith to manipulate others for his own selfish ends,” Archbishop O’Brien told The Catholic Review in a telephone interview following his Feb. 20 Rome meeting with Father Alvaro Corcuera, director general of the Legion.

“Father Maciel deserves our prayers, as every Christian who dies does, that he’ll be forgiven and we leave the final judgment to God as to what his life and death amounted to,” Archbishop O’Brien said.

Saying that the Legion’s founder “leaves many victims in his wake,” the archbishop called for the “full disclosure of his activities and those who are complicit in them or knew of them and of those who are still refusing to offer disclosure.”

He added that the finances of the order should be opened to “objective scrutiny.”

Archbishop O’Brien said he has grave concerns that the Legion fosters a “cult of personality” focused on Father Maciel.

“While it’s difficult to get a hold of official documents,” Archbishop O’Brien said, “it’s clear that from the first moment a person joins the Legion, efforts seem to be made to program each one and to gain full control of his behavior, of all information he receives, of his thinking and emotions.”

The archbishop said many members who leave the order suffer “deep psychological distress for dependency and need prolonged counseling akin to deprogramming.”

Saying that “I know that there are good priests in the movement” and acknowledging that Legion members are in full accord with the theological teachings of the church, the archbishop also said some of the practices of the movement are unhealthy.

“This is not about orthodoxy,” he said. “It is about respect for human dignity for each of its members.”

The archbishop noted that he has heard reports that the movement claims that the first duty of a Legionary is to love the Legion.

Such policies subject a person’s use of reason not to one’s own judgment, Archbishop O’Brien said, but to a spiritual director.

“It’s been said that the founder is alone called ‘nuestro padre’ (‘our father’) and that no one else can have that title,” Archbishop O’Brien said. “All are bound to identify with him in his spirit, his mind, his mission and in his life. This would suggest that the very basis of the Legion movement should be reviewed from start to finish.”

Scott Brown, executive director of the Woodmont Academy, declined to comment and referred questions to Jim Fair, a U.S. spokesman for the Legion who said that revelations about Father Maciel have been a “great shock” and “great disappointment” to members, but that the order has achieved “very positive things” for the church.

“We’re processing that mystery, that the Holy Spirit could use what was very clearly a flawed instrument to do good,” Mr. Fair said. “The Holy Spirit does that with all of us. We think it did it with Father Maciel. So while this is certainly disappointing, we have a charism that is approved by the church and we’ll continue to work on behalf of the church on our various apostolic works.”

The spokesman said the Legion is interested in working with the Vatican to address concerns about the movement.

“We’ll be double-checking our policies and procedures to ensure that we’re in a good position to ensure the integrity of the group,” he said.

Mr. Fair said he hoped the Legion will be able to prove to Archbishop O’Brien that “we have some value that would help his ministries and the archdiocese.”

Last summer, Archbishop O’Brien was on the verge of asking the Legion and Regnum Christi to leave the archdiocese. He wrote a June letter to the order’s leader asking that a liaison be appointed who would inform the archbishop of all of the Legion’s activities within the archdiocese. He also asked for more transparency of Regnum Christi programs and for the order to stop giving spiritual direction to minors.

“As far as we can judge, they are responding well to our requests,” Archbishop O’Brien told The Catholic Review, “but these larger questions are looming ever more threateningly.”

Father Maciel founded the Legion of Christ in 1941. He died Jan. 30, 2008, at the age of 87.

Paul McMullen contributed to this story

-------------------------------------------------------------

Pope Appoints Archbishop O'Brien Grand Master of Equestrian Order of Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

<< Back to List

August 29, 2011

Archbishop to Serve as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Baltimore Until a Successor is Named

Archbishop O’Brien succeeds Cardinal John Patrick Foley who resigned in February due to reasons of health. Cardinal Foley held the position since 2007.

During his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI has stressed the urgency of preserving a strong Christian presence in the Holy Land.

In 2009, members contributed over $10 million to the Holy Land, providing support for the patriarchal schools there and humanitarian relief.

Since arriving to serve as Archbishop of Baltimore in October 2007:

Archbishop O’Brien has ordained seven new priests for the Archdiocese and over 120 men have entered the program for priestly formation.
The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, a comprehensive fundraising program designed to aid the parishes, schools and charitable programs within the Archdiocese, has generated more than $23 million in pledged donations and is projected to surpass the $30 million mark this year.
The Archdiocese has raised and distributed more than $7.5 million in tuition assistance for children in inner city Catholic schools.
More than 3,100 new Catholics entered the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese.

[Video] Paul Lennon interviewed by Cult Expert, Steve Hassan

2011-08-24T18:24:00.001-04:00

It was longer than we planned; hope you can gather some pearls of wisdom and a vision of how the Legion is seen outside the narrow confines of Conservative Catholicism;

Mind Control is Hassan's Specialty and many parents of Legion and Regnum members have sought information on the Freedom of Mind webpage and through consultation.

Song for Legion Leaders Losing Power

2011-08-17T18:49:00.002-04:00

[Following in the footsteps of their "Our Father" they are getting moved, removed...away from Rome, away from the seat of power; they have been asked to leave quickly, just like they dished it out to others for decades; they know who I mean; you do too, reader]

You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun
Crying like a fire in the sun
Look out the saints are comin' through
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense
Take what you have gathered from coincidence
The empty handed painter from your streets
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets
This sky, too, is folding under you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

All your seasick sailors, they are rowing home
Your empty handed armies, are all going home
Your lover who just walked out the door
Has taken all his blankets from the floor
The carpet, too, is moving under you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

Leave your stepping stones behind, something calls for you
Forget the dead you've left, they will not follow you
The vagabond who's rapping at your door
Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
Strike another match, go start a new
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

Listen to it

Legion/Regnum Not Hunky Dory in Mexico

2011-08-10T13:38:00.004-04:00

+ Friends, last night there was an exchange on the "Life After RC" blog that was interesting.

The mother of a Consecrated Female (3gf) expressed her frustration that her daughter was still deeply entrenched, and might be moved to Mexico where (she believed) everyone was still very absorbed in the Movement.

Someone responded:

Excuse me, but in Mexico not all people believe MM is innocent... Schools are losing students by hundreds. Just one in Monterrey lost 80 families. Not all RC members are going anymore to their activities... nor are they raising money for LC/RC. It's a different scenario than the US. Territorial Directors are mute since all this has happened, no accountability. Everybody is very disappointed with their constant silence. They continue working as if nothing have happened and live in denial. Trying to accomplish their objectives 'efficiently' with less men and women committed to the cause. However, our media is louder than the US's. Take for example Nelly Ramirez's, Alejandro Espinosa's and Fernando Gonzalez's, Carmen Aristegui's books.... And the continuous battle Alberto Athie and José Barba are giving. Or the constant articles in almost all of our newspapers... Your worst fears if your daughter was sent to Mexico should be, besides the constant insecurity that we live in because the war against drug dealers, is the director to whom she may be assigned. Some are true examples of how to break people. Careful with Paula Errazuri, Marisa Rodríguez, Marian Moreno... among others. Or in Venezuela with Juani Lozano, and even Chile with Aracely Delgado. I will also pray for your daughter.

========
Full exchange:

OK, all this talk about moving the LC/RC operation to Mexico is feeding my worst fears as the mother of an American 3gf. I can so see that scenario happening and it makes me sick in the pit of my stomach. If my daughter goes to Mexico, I'm pretty sure we will never be able to get her back home. She is drunk on Kool Aid now and if she is in that intense devotional Mexican environment, where people still think MM is an innocent, she just may end up delusional forever.
Somebody feed me a bone here and tell me that VdP will not co-mingle the cultures; at least not any more than they already are. Really, there is so much at stake here and I have absolutely no confidence in the process.
BTW, she has two new e-mail addresses. One for now and another one for October. I think that is a solid clue that the directives for 3gf will come down in October.
Please continue the prayers. I am so greatful for them. That is the one thing that helps me hold on to faith in these awful times; knowing there are good people praying for her helps me a great deal. PAX

Posted by: Just Saying | August 09, 2011 at 10:13 PM

Just Saying... I haven't been praying for your daughter but I will now. Your message really moved me. She will be prayed for in my daily Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Posted by: Polish Pilgrim | August 09, 2011 at 11:42 PM

Just Saying...
Excuse me, but in Mexico not all people believe MM is innocent... Schools are losing students by hundreds. Just one in Monterrey lost 80 families.
Not all RC members are going anymore to their activities... nor are they raising money for LC/RC.

It's a different scenario than the US. Territorial Directors are in mute since all this has happened, no accountability.
Everybody is very disappointed with their constant silence.
They continue working as if nothing have happened and live in denial. Trying to accomplish their objectives 'efficiently' with less men and women committed to the cause.

However, our media is louder than the US's. Take for example Nelly Ramirez's, Alejandro Espinosa's and Fernando Gonzalez's, Carmen Aristegui's books....
And the continuous battle Alberto Athie and José Barba are giving.
Or the constant articles in almost all of our newspapers...

Your worst fears if your daughter was sent to Mexico should be, besides the constant insecurity that we live in because the war against drug dealers, is the director to whom she may be assigned. Some are true examples of how to break people. Careful with Paula Errazuri, Marisa Rodríguez, Marian Moreno... among others. Or in Venezuela with Juani Lozano, and even Chile with Aracely Delgado.

I will also pray for your daughter.

Posted by: Lala | August 10, 2011 at 02:59 AM

http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/08/where-we-are-now.html

A Cult Conference Presentation Regarding the Legionaries of Christ Religious Order

2011-07-21T12:51:00.002-04:00

When Faith is Corrupted Into a Coercive Ideology - The Driving Forces At Work In a Religious Community With Cultic Behaviors

http://www.regainnetwork.org/article.php?a=47246177

Garza, Legion Vicar General, Shafted by Vatican

2011-07-16T00:32:00.004-04:00

Nice Catholic News Agency tells us nicely that Fr. Garza - who is anything but nice- apparently became a liability, and is now shafted. You can read all the holy blarney below to learn how nicely that was done in the voice of nice Fr. Alvaro Corcuera -who should be next!- as the Legion continues to massage the information to make it as palatable as possible to its fawning multitudes.

It is encouraging to learn that De Paolis has the necessary testicular fortitude to do this.

It also seems that De Paolis has one velvet glove and another of steel. He had just complained about the dissidents who were hindering his reform and then out of the blue puts Garza -a person who had seemed to be so on board with the Reforms - to the sword
=======

“America and Canada are countries that I have always admired and I am humbled to serve as territorial director of the united territory,” said Fr. Garza in a statement issued to media July 15.

Only last month Fr. Garza told CNA that he had no intention of stepping down from his post as vicar general – essentially second-in-command of the Legion. Instead, he hinted that there may be a general turnover of the organization’s leadership after their next General Chapter meeting.

Today’s news comes as the Vatican is reviewing both the purpose and constitution of the Legion. That process is being headed up by Italian cleric, Cardinal Velasio De Paolis.

The cardinal was appointed as ‘Papal Delegate’ last year after a Vatican investigation condemned the late founder of the congregation, Fr. Marcial Maciel, as a being guilty of “serious and objectively immoral behavior” as well as “real crimes.”

Fr. Maciel had sexually abused seminarians over many years and fathered several children with different women. He died in 2008, aged 87. The Vatican report summed up his life as “devoid of scruples and of genuine religious feeling.”

“We are working together to face the challenges for our communities and our apostolates around the world, and with particular intensity in the United States and Canada,” said Fr. Alvaro Corcuera, the general director of the Legion.

“We must lay more solid foundations on which to build and re-launch our service to the Church in those countries.”

And so the Legion’s activities in North America that were previously split into two territories – New York and Atlanta – will now merge into one with Fr. Garza at the helm.

“In the consultation, various candidates were considered for the new position. Although both of the current territorial directors have done an extraordinary job, there was broad consensus in favor of Fr. Luis Garza,” said Fr. Corcuera.

Fr. Garza is originally from Monterrey in Mexico. He joined the Legion of Christ in 1978 and was ordained a priest in 1985. He’s been vicar general of the Legion since 1992. His critics have suggested he must have been aware of Fr. Maciel’s misdeeds, a charge Fr. Garza has always denied.

He will take up his new post on August 1.>
---------------
The blogger has boldened typical Legion blarney, misinformation, and downright lies from Corcuera. He tells the barefaced lies with such a sweet and innocent look on his face. But for people who love appearances of holiness, that should do the trick.

When was any decision been taken democratically or consensually in the Legion of Christ or when has any thoughtful screening of candidates ever take place! The newly elected is imposed enceremoniously on the present territorial directors in the usual dictatorial way.

Could it be that De Paolis is bowing to pressures from some Legionaries inside to get rid of Garza who has been so disliked for so long?

Leger and Lennon deliver papers at Cultic Studies Conference in Barcelona, Spain, July 8, 2011

2011-07-08T17:52:00.005-04:00

Today, as part of series of studies around the Issue, "Do Cultic Groups Exist Inside the Catholic Church", Paul Lennon presented an update on the Vatican Intervention of the Legion of Christ, and Xavier Leger, a Parisian former Legionary, presented When Guilt and Ideology prevail in a Catholic Group.
Both presentations were well received by an audience of priests, religious, sociologists, psychologists, concerned parents and friends of people in High Demand Groups.

Articles will either by published by the International Cultic Studies Association or by REGAIN

Scion of Spanish Aristocracy leaves Legion of Christ ranks

2011-06-22T18:47:00.003-04:00

Charismatic preacher, recruiter, founder, and fundraiser Fr. Juan Pedro Oriol

Juan Pedre Oriol, that is Father...has just left the Legion -after 31 years. He the Legion a headache by critiquing it while still in and while going out the door.
See info on life.after.rc and on http://www.regainnetwork.org/ which will soon carry a full translation of Fr. Juan Pedro's swan song. He has joined the diocese of Guadalajara, Mexico, where he had been working as a Legionary.
Padre Oriol's testimony, full of love and nostalgia for the Legion, for his companions, and respectful towards the current General Director, Fr. Alvaro Corcuera, must make other Catholics reflect and rethink their adhesion to the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christ which are presently being probed, reformed and propped up [?] by Apostolic Delegate, Cardinal De Paolis.
Padre Oriol's testimony is riveting and heartrending

Legionaries of Christ spy on this page!

2011-06-14T10:23:00.001-04:00

The author, previously sued by the Legion

Done some checking with a computer whiz and I find that certain Legionaries secretly monitor this page and report to their superior and thence to lawyers to see if they can sue the blogger.

All in the name of the Christ of the Legion and while supposedly being under Vatican supervision!

Cardinal De Paolis please wake up!

Vatican Continues to Fawn on the Legion of Maciel

2011-06-09T21:54:00.001-04:00

"The Legionaries of Christ together with the Vatican launched an International Econonmic Summit which will not only have important businessmen but also the Order's Vicar General, Luis Garza Medina, among the presenters."

Los Legionarios de Cristo convocaron junto con El Vaticano a una cumbre económica internacional que tendrá entre sus relatores no sólo a empresarios de alto nivel sino también al vicario general de la congregación, Luis Garza Medina

Full Spanish text below; bloger has enlarged some important data and names which can be

understood by English speakers to get the gist:

Noticias Internacionales del 9 de Junio de 2011

Organizan Legionarios de Cristo cumbre económica en El Vaticano.10:16h. Fuente: NOTIMEX

Los Legionarios de Cristo convocaron junto con El Vaticano a una cumbre económica internacional que tendrá entre sus relatores no sólo a empresarios de alto nivel sino también al vicario general de la congregación, Luis Garza Medina. El “Encuentro sobre la Etica para el Mundo de los Negocios” es promovido oficialmente por el Pontificio Consejo de la Justicia y de la Paz junto con dos instituciones vinculadas a la Legión: el Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum y el Fidelis International Institute. La reunión tendrá lugar los próximos 16 y 17 de junio en la Casina Pio IV, la exclusiva sede de la Pontificia Academia para las Ciencias Sociales ubicada en el corazón de los Jardines Vaticanos. Aunque la cumbre será presentada oficialmente este 10 de junio en una conferencia de prensa, Notimex pudo acceder al programa detallado que incluye la participación de personalidades de primer nivel tanto de la Sede Apostólica como del mundo de las finanzas. Los trabajos iniciarán el día 16 por la mañana con una misa en la Basílica de San Pedro presidida por el cardenal Peter Turkson, presidente del Pontificio Consejo de la Justicia y de la Paz. En la sesión inaugural pronunciarán discursos el “número dos” del Vaticano, el secretario de Estado, Tarcisio Bertone, el presidente de la Pontificia Academia para las Ciencias, Marcelo Sánchez-Sorondo y el mismo cardenal Turkson. En los dos días de trabajo los participantes escucharán algunas conferencias magistrales y paneles que abordarán temas como “negocios sociales y crecimiento económico”, “caridad y verdad en el mundo de los negocios” o “ética e integridad para un nuevo liderazgo”.

Entre los conferencistas destacan Andy Zelleke de la Universidad de Harvard, Stefano Zamagni de la Universidad de Boloña en Italia y Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, presidente del Instituto para las Obras de Religión (IOR), mejor conocido como el “banco del Vaticano”. La misa matutina del 17 de junio será celebrada por el cardenal Velasio De Paolis, presidente de la Prefectura para los Asuntos Económicos de la Santa Sede y delegado pontificio para la reforma de los Legionarios de Cristo. Entre los panelistas del encuentro se cuentan representantes de la Banca Central Europea, del Boston Consulting Group, del Strauss Group, del Club de Roma, del HSBC de Francia, del Grupo Acerero del Norte y del Goldman Sachs and Company.

"Legionary Fathers Michael Ryan and Luis Garza Medina will head the "technical conclusions"

La sesión dedicada a las “conclusiones técnicas” estará a cargo de los sacerdotes Michael Ryan y Luis Garza Medina, el polémico vicario general de la Legión quien ha sido señalado como uno de los encubridores de los delitos del fundador, Marcial Maciel Degollado. Garza ha sido también indicado como el “cerebro financiero” de la congregación, responsable del manejo de las finanzas de esa obra religiosa las cuales siempre se han mantenido bajo el más estricto hermetismo. El Pontificio Consejo de la Justicia y de la Paz calificó al congreso, en una nota de prensa, como “una cita única en su género” en la cual la comunidad internacional de los negocios podrá compartir las “buenas prácticas” éticas aplicadas en las empresas. “Por desgracia es aún actual preguntarse: por qué la economía, la política, la tecnología y la ciencia no están en condiciones de ofrecer perspectivas prácticas y compartidas para un desarrollo integral del hombre”, indicó el comunicado. “Para responder a esta pregunta –agregó- es que los organizadores del congreso proponen una perspectiva de estudio y de análisis que sea capaz de inspirar a los grandes empresarios el ideal de un crecimiento económico en armonía con la dignidad de la persona”.

Fr. Maciel's Daughter to Marry in Madrid [not a joke]

2011-06-08T11:56:00.004-04:00

in this secret photo Norma Hilda may be the young lady standing beside Fr Maciel

[he in lay attire hands to door post; mother and Maciel's "wife" closest to camera]

Just caught this news item in Spanish:

beginning with a phrase from Don Quixote "You will see some [extraordinary] things, Sancho!" it continues with

"How many religious orders can see their founder's daughter get married?"

the news item informs us that Fr. Maciel's daughter, Mexican born Dª Norma Hilda Rivas Baños, -Fr Maciel used the pseudonym Senor Rivas in this particular incarnation- will marry a former Legionary of Christ religious, Don Juan María Piñero from Barcelona. They met at the Legion's Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid. Perhaps Fr. Gabriel Sotres, LC, who for years was the messanger who took money from Fr. Maciel to his daughter, will perform the ceremony.

The blogger, naturally, considers both mother and daughter victims of Maciel's exploitation of people. We should pray for Norma Hilda and her mother -and hope the Legion continues to indemnify them.
=======================

Below original Spanish text:

"Cosas veredes, Sancho!"

Dios y... Maciel los hicieron y ellos se juntan.

Hola amigos, para manterlos informados al día aquí les va la útlima noticia...
¿Cuántas congregaciones ven casarse a la hija de su sacerdote-fundador? Un

éxito más para la LC.
¿Quién la entregará en el altar? ¿Quien bendecirá la unión? Dicen que el P.

Gabriel Sotres iba a Madrid todos los meses a llevarle un regalito metálico a Norma. Se hospedaba en la Dirección Territorial y salía vestido de seglar para cumplir su misión especial... tal vez sea él quien bendiga la unión.

El próximo viernes día 10 de Junio, D.m., a las 18 horas, en la Iglesia
de las Salesas Reales de Madrid (Plaza de Santa Barbará), contraerán matrimonio canónico,
D. Juan María Piñero de Miguel y Dª Norma Hilda Rivas Baños.

Dª Norma Hilda es hija del que fuera fundador de los Legionarios de Cristo, Padre Marcial Maciel Degollado. D. Juan María Piñero, realizó el noviciado y los estudios de Humanidades Clásicas en la Legión de Cristo, y tras dejar la vida religiosa, prosiguió sus estudios en el Centro Universitario Francisco
de Vitoria de Madrid, perteneciente a la citada congregación. En dicho centro, se conocieron los contrayentes. D. Juan María es natural de Barcelona (España). Dª Norma Hilda nació en México.

Legionaries Despair of Vatican Intervention?

2011-06-06T13:27:00.000-04:00

After reading of the "defection" of three more prominent Legionaries in the Atlanta area in the USA on the heels of the departure of the last [?] of the influential Spanish Oriol brothers in Spain and Mexico [Guadalajara] my feelings are mixed. I have fought for years to bring truth to the Legion and Regnum Christi phenomenon but instead of the "gloating" that some might maliciously attribute to me and other critics a strange melancholy prevails.

Legion members will always be our brothers, no matter their attitude to Maciel, Legion and Regnum; leaving the Legion was the hardest thing I ever did in my life, and it must be for them too: so much has been invested for so long. They are brave to leave. They are courageous to carry on with a priesthood which is -though they try to hide it- damaged by the flaunted "Legionary formation" where conscience is often replaced by guilt, and honesty often substituted by lies & deceit for the cause of the kingdom.

These men seem very fine, and they well may be. Blessings to them, their families and friends.

Do I detect in their farewell messages a [an unexpressed] dissatisfaction with the results of the Vatian Intervention. These men are giving up on the Legion and on the Vatican Reform. They are not sticking around any longer. Reform is too slow and too whimpy and half-hearted. The Vatican appears to not want to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs =money and vocations. But as more naive members enter the sack, there is a big hole in the bottom where the sad and wise fall through...

3 LC Priests abandon the Legion in Atlanta

2011-06-04T20:29:00.000-04:00

Fr Maciel must be turning over in his grave!

From a letter to the Regnum Christi membership from local director Fr Daley, LC:

Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Regnum Christi Members in Atlanta,

As we begin summer vacation, I would like to take this opportunity to give you an update on important developments within the Legionaries of Christ community in the Atlanta area. As we near the celebration of the Ascension of the Lord, I would like to highlight a fundamental truth of our faith: God’s Providential love for us. We are in His hands. We are under His providential care. And we are all being led by Him in mysterious ways to fulfill our lives as sons and daughters of God, created in His image.

First of all, you may have heard about three Legionaries who have been serving in Atlanta who have asked for time to discern their possible future in the diocesan priesthood. They are Fr Paul Moreau, Fr Todd Belardi and Fr John Donahue. As Superior of the Spalding community where they resided, I want to make sure you are aware of their decisions.

Any closer to the New Constitutions?

2011-05-26T20:10:00.001-04:00

The following old news item recently appeared on Google search for Legion of Christ; it comes with a nice video of the Legion in all its splendor; it refers to the Pope ordering new constitutions to be drawn up by the Legion;
so that would mean a General Chapter;

the old superiors/guard coming up with new constitutions...

And Jesus said: you can't put new wine in old wineskins
======
Legionaries of Christ to hold extraordinary chapter

By Dennis Coday

Created Jul 13, 2010

by Dennis Coday [1] on Jul. 13, 2010 NCR Today [2]

The television news agency Rome Reports says that Pope Benedict has told the Legionaries of Christ that they must hold an extraordinary chapter to adopt new constitutions. The message is contained in a letter give to Archbishop Velasio de Paolis, the Vatican financial chief whom Benedict appointed the pontifical delegate of the Legionaries last week.

According to Rome Reports, Benedict says in the letter that it is "necessary and urgent" for the Legionaries to take a journey of "deep review of the charisma of the Institute."

At the same time he tells members of the Legionaries he wants to "accompany them" and asks them not to leave "disheartened" at the "sad events" that took place.

Rome Reports is a private and independent international TV news agency based in Rome, Italy, specializing in covering the Vatican.

Maciel and Sodano go Unchecked by Vatican

2011-05-09T19:22:00.003-04:00

The reflexions below were prompted by reading "What To Do About Sodano" at

http://ncronline.org/blogs/all-things-catholic/what-do-about-sodano

COMMENTARY
The Vatican is a bit like an English 'old boys club'; there is an 'honor code' an "omerta" in the Vatican, too; they always stick up for each other; they never take public action against each other, and never punish each other -Bernard Law is an example of this -they off loaded him in a way that was not humiliating or detrimental to his 'cardinal dignity'. Maciel is, also and example. After decades of serious accusations including sexual abuse of his own own seminarians and giving them absolution after sex he was investigated. The investigator's report was incriminating. But Fr. Maciel, "a friend of the pope", was excused from a trial "because of his advanced age and health" and was given a rap on the fingers. He did not follow the recommendations given by the Vatican regarding a life of prayer and penance but the Vatican did not take action. He was allowed to live his last years in peace, and even introduce his lovers to each other and to a select group of Consecrated women in the Regnum Christi Movement and a small group of the Legion hierarchy...Now after a "Vatican Investigation" launched a year ago Fr Maciel's hand picked successors are confirmed in their places and the message given by the Benedict XVI and his right hand man Cardinal De Paolis runs:

Look at all the good Fr. Maciel has done for the Church!" which covers up a multitude of sins. "He was a false prophet but somehow he did a lot of good and the work he bequeathed to the church was essentially good. God used this unfortunate man to do his work on earth. Let us now purify this Work of God of any negative influences Fr. Maciel may have left."

Maciel Mishandling Mars John Paul II's Memory

2011-05-01T16:19:00.001-04:00

Cardinal DePaolis ordains new LC Priest at St Paul Outside the Wall in December 2010, thus sending mixed messages about his "reform" of the Legion

http://proceso.com.mx/rv/modHome/detalleExclusiva/90804

Secret Vatican Documents - The Stigma of Maciel

Salvador Corro y Rodrigo Vera

The embarrassing case that ignited the Catholic church – the sexual abuse of minors by Fr. Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legion of Christ – Is gathering steam once again. Three Mexicans, among them one of Maciel’s victims, have received a package of documents, secretly kept in the Vatican until now, which show that for almost a half century Catholic officials had full knowledge that the founder of the Legion of Christ was a sexual abuser of children, a corrupt manipulator, and a drug addict. The three are surprised at the speed with which John Paul II has been beatified, considering that the pontiff was fully aware of Maciel’s criminal misconduct.

MEXICO CITY, April 30, 2011 (Proceso). Documents from the Vatican archives, kept in secret until now, show that from 1956 the Catholic hierarchy, headed by the pope, protected Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legion of Christ, in spite of numerous accusations that he was a pedophile, drug addict, and corrupt manipulator of church structures.

Among the officials who knew of the Maciel case were Benedict XVI, the current pope, and the recently beatified John Paul II, who during his final years took in and protected the Legion’s founder. For those familiar with the case – which should be enough to halt the beatification process – it is inconceivable that Wojtyla should be beatified so quickly, apparently without a full review of his record as pope.

The documents – 212 files relating to the Legion of Christ, safeguarded in the archives of the Congregation for Institutes and Societies of Consecrated Life, and covering the years 1944-2002 – were handed over to Fernando M. González, a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Alberto Athié, a former priest and academic at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM), and José Barba, one of Maciel’s victim, who are including them in a book currently being prepared for publication.

Proceso has reproduced a letter from Marcial Maciel dated October 3, 1956, and addressed to Cardinal Valerio Valeri, prefect of the Sacred Congregation for Religious. In it he responds to the suspension resulting from accusations against him of pedophilia and drug addiction which had come from, among others, prominent Mexican officials of the time, including Sergio Méndez Arceo, bishop of Cuernavaca, and Cardinal Miguel Darío Miranda, primate archbishop of Mexico.

In the document Maciel states that the charges against him “are nothing but a slanderous accusation.” Although he complies with the two-year suspension to seek clinical treatment, he warns that under the circumstances he will not be able “to control the future acquisition of funds, or their management,” which could result in “possible financial imbalances.”

Former Regnum Christi Consecrated, Nelly Ramirez, on her Memoir, Brainwashing, Family, Church

2011-04-22T17:51:00.003-04:00

Taken from a complete article at http://www.regainnetwork.org/

On a visit in Madrid, the author spoke with MILENIO about her experiences in the Legion.

Following is an English translation of her interview with Milenio:

“Why did you write this book”?

“I got the idea after seeing that within the Legion there was no awareness of the realities and the truth about Marcial Maciel’s life. By necessity you have to be aware that something is bad before it can be changed. What I have done in essence is to support the condemnation that Pope Benedict XVI made in a May 1, 2010 statement in that talks about how Maciel’s conduct impacted the structure and life of the movement. The objective of my book is to explain how this perverse conduct pervades the Legion”.
“Was writing the book therapeutic after dredging up all the muck”?
“Yes. It always helps to be able to express things on a personal level - the work of investigating, of talking to other people. . . who were explaining to me how we deviated from church doctrine, how we no longer had personal freedom, and how there was no respect for intimacy”.
“When did you realize that things in the Legion were not as you had thought, and did they want to make you think otherwise”?
“I realized it as I was leaving. I had been reassigned to Madrid. Previously, I had been a directress for seven years in León (Mexico). I received this assignment, and I went home for a month and a half, but I dragged the time out because I had begun to receive information, and things were not adding up. It was then, in the summer of 2009, that I began my investigation, and had the idea of writing a book”.
“They said they would ask God to forgive me for writing this book”.

- Nelly Ramírez
“How did your uneasiness lead you to begin investigating”?

“I had received information from outside. I also felt a strong desire for change in the institution. I wanted to know whom I was standing up for. After getting the news about Maciel, I was interested in knowing everything on a deeper level, and then to find out if it was consistent with my ideals. I never got to Madrid. I stayed at home because I realized how things were”.
“Whom did you tell that you would not be going to Madrid”?
“My directors. They respected me, and I did not give any explanations. I said only that I felt uneasy, and that I was staying in Mexico”.
“Did you have any fear in writing this book? Did you receive threats before or after”?

“Not threats against my life. But several legionaries visited members of my family to try to convince them that what I was doing was unnecessary because they knew that I was writing something, but not what it was exactly. Previously there had been some moral blackmail. The told me things like, As you judge, so shall you be judged. They told me that Jesus Christ did not judge, and therefore neither should I”.
“What is the reaction among Legionaries about the book’s publication”?
“It varies. There is one group that wants to see a renewal, that is aware of the realities, and another that is steadfast, that thinks any change is an affront to God. I believe that, within the culture of the Legion, a book like this is seen as an act of aggression, which it is not. It is simply a proposal for change, and my objective is to facilitate an internal dialogue. They also told me that they would ask God to forgive me for writing this book”.

“What did you lose by being in the Legion for twelve years”?
“I would rather focus on what I have gained by leaving. I have regained my freedom, the closeness to my family, the opportunity to share with friends what I am feeling inside, and above all the power to make my own decisions. That is a blessing”
“What form does “brainwashing” take within the organization”?
“You live in a type of, quote-unquote, free enslavement. The statutes say that obedience means surrendering your judgment and free will. But in the church it is not like that because you have the ability to differ, to not surrender your judgment. You are free to decide if something makes sense to you or not, and that is the value in obedience. In the case of the Legion, that is not the way it is, because even before you approach your superior, you have already surrendered your judgment. They can ask things of you that are against the law, against your conscience, but out of wanting to please God, you accept it”.
“How does the family come into play”?

“The rules are very strict. The first year you can talk with them only seven times. After that, you can see them twice a year. You really live a life disconnected from their troubles, from what a family is. You live separated from reality. They completely control you, they read your emails and letters, you have to ask permission to make a phone call, etc”.
“Do they expect you to meet certain monetary quotas”?
“There is an annual quota for the consecrated women, but it is not obligatory. But it is a congregation that encourages you to request financial donations. The annual quota for each consecrated is $7,000. In each center they ask for 40% of the annual budget, more than the benefactors contribute, more than they receive”.

“Did you know Maciel personally”?
“Well, I don’t think I saw him more that four times. . . he would only pass by and wave”.

“Did he impress you”?
“Yes, a lot. But also because of all attention surrounding him. Everyone idealized him. They would say, “Here comes the saint, the great one. . .” They would tell us stories about how he had helped others, how he did not have time to do anything but pray. Later you realized that he did not pray, and did not even celebrate mass”.

“Did it ever occur to you that he might be a pedophile? Did you hear rumors, or anything else”?

“I never thought he could be a pedophile or homosexual, or that he would misuse money. To me he was a saint, a martyr in life. . . In 1997 I found out about the sexual abuse, but I never believed it. I thought it was another test for him”.

“Did you know his daughter lives here in Madrid”?

“I found out in 2009. It was a painful moment, not only for the daughter, but for everyone else as well. That was when I began to ask questions. For example, why was this man so idolized”?
“Is it enough to reform the Legionaries of Christ”?

“There is an entirely new road to be traveled, as an institution and at the personal level, by each member and by the movement. . .there is an important road to be traveled with the victims”.

“After everything you have experienced, do you still believe in the church”?

“I believe there is a need to rediscover it. I believe in the church because there were other priests who took me by the hand to help me through this process of change”.

ReGAIN expects that this book because it has been written by one of their own will have an impact on those consecrated women especially in Mexico, who are trying to sort out the confusing situation they are in and help them to discover the truth.

Former Consecrated Regnum Christi, Author of "The Kingdom of Marcial Maciel", letter to Members

2011-04-13T18:09:00.001-04:00

Thy Kingdom Come!

Mexico City, February 25, 2011

Anonymous Regnum Christi Consagratti

Dearly beloved in Christ:

First of all, allow me extend a greeting full of affection and gratitude for all that I received from you during my passage through consecrated life in the Regnum Christi movement. I continue to remain in contact with the many of you with whom I have a true friendship, and with those of you with whom I share the grand ideals that have nourished my life.

I am taking the opportunity to write you these few lines in response to information circulating in some quarters about the book “The Kingdom of Marcial Maciel,” which I have just finished writing, and which will soon be in bookstores.

In contrast to what is being said in some quarters, I can assure you that this book was not born out of resentment, of which there is none, but rather out of my commitment to truth and to you. I have done this with all the Christian love and respect for truth that you deserve. I am placing it in your hands, offering to you knowledge based on facts, so that together we may seek what it is the Lord expects of us in the renewal of the Regnum Christi Movement, rising above shady dealings and untruths.

I have avoided the purely morbid and harmful, and have only collected solid and verifiable testimonies. Unfortunately, I have had to raise some negative issues, but you will see that I take no delight in doing so. I raise them as things that we have to overcome, and I am convinced that we can overcome them.

In the book I have collected many painful testimonies from persons both near and dear because it seemed to me that this would help to provide a comprehensive point of view, so different from the idyllic and utopian visions with which we have lived. I have maintained the anonymity of anyone who asked me to do so, and have always tried to be sincere in expressing what I think. Like any human being I may have many faults, which you will no doubt go on discovering, but I assure you that I have researched and verified all the assertions I make, always consulting with the men and women religious specialists in the various subjects with which I was dealing. I ask forgiveness from those who may feel offended or impacted. It was not my intention to do harm to anyone.

I promise to send your team a copy so that you may judge for yourselves.

With that, I bid you farewell, wishing you a free and committed experience in your consecration to God, one devoid of snares or manipulations.

I can assure you of a very special place in my heart and in my prayers, hoping for the same in yours.
Most affectionately yours in Christ and the Movement,

Nelly Ramírez Mota Velasco

Vatican Pardons Legion of Christ Leaders [Corcuera, Sada & Garza]

2011-04-09T10:07:00.002-04:00

The Vatican Forgives Them

[Good Translation courtesy of REGAIN member]

Alejandro Gutierrez, Madrid

3/28/2011

“I think it is more likely that the demise of the Legion of Christ will come about due to its own decadence rather than from a serious an in-depth investigation by the Holy See, which would prefer to see them bleed to death on their own as a result of some new scandal,” says Jesús Rodríguez.”

A journalist for (the Spanish daily) El País, and author of a book recently published in Spain, The Confession; The Strange Adventures of Marcial Maciel and Other Mysteries of the Legion of Christ, Rodríguez is convinced that “there will not be an in-depth investigation by the Holy See. It will never be concluded. No way.”

Rodríguez speaks of the uncertainty caused by certain decisions made by Velasio de Paolis, the pontifical delegate in charge of the Legion of Christ, that left the current leadership of the congregation, founded by Marcial Maciel, untouched.
“In a sense all his decisions amount to one step forward, one step backward. Changes are announced so that everything may remain the same. It is the doctrine of intentional ambiguity,” he said in an interview with this weekly.

As an example he notes that on Friday, March 18 the Maciel-installed leadership suffered a setback when it was announced that the Legion’s secretary general, Evaristo Sada Derby, would not be re-elected, and that his successor would be appointed by autumn.

Sada, whom Rodríguez describes in his book as “an attractive sort, personal, unctuous,” carries out “the orders of the director general with an iron hand. . . For the last decade he has been the Legion’s official pastry chef, the one in charge of cooking up the congregation’s public image, the leadership’s man of action.”

According to a priest who spoke to the author, Sada has, since the 1990s, been in charge of preparing annual reports for the Vatican in which “he systematically lies about figures – inflating the number of vocations and the rate of retention, while understating the total amount of financial expenditures.”

Seemingly aware of what was awaiting him, Sada told Rodríguez in an interview for the book, “They would do me a favor by kicking me out of the General Secretariat. My vocation is to go to the missions. I am not in this position because I want to be. This in not a political party. I only took it on out of (a sense of) obedience.
De Paolis’ backtracking came to light on Monday, March 21 when the news agency Notimex announced that the papal delegate was ruling out the establishment of a “truth commission” to investigate involvement by the legionary leadership in a cover-up with Maciel because, he claimed, it would be impossible to identify his “hypothetical accomplices.”
“In regards to the Legionaries of Christ, the investigation will never be concluded. No way,” claims Rodríguez. “They would prefer to see them bleed to death on their own.”
The censure by Benedict XVI on May 1, 2010 was, in his opinion, “a crucial moment” in the investigation of the congregation. Thereafter “there was a reversal of position.” He adds that backtracking by the pope’s representative “put an end to (a period of) humility by the legionaries that did not even last six months.”

As reported in his book, this show of humility came to an end on November 19, 2010 when the apostolic delegate sent a letter to the legionaries “that seemed to indicate he was taking a step backwards - as though he had been co-opted by Macielists - causing dismay among the reformists. He all but ruled out the possibility of a speedy reorganization, and punishment of those legionaries involved in covering up Maciel’s criminal activities.”
“The obdurate breathed a sigh of relief,” Rodríguez says, adding that they now headed “a Legion free of guilt, as was being affirmed by the pope’s own man.”
In an interview with Proceso the journalist points out that the only aspect that could result in a satisfactory outcome would be an eventual agreement with Maciel’s sons, members of the González family, who are pursuing a lawsuit against the Legion in American courts. The suit alleges sexual abuse by Maciel against his own sons. “I believe that, faced with the possibility of a guilty verdict in a court of law, they might agree to a settlement before some new scandal erupts.”

The Legion’s Own “Madoff”
In 2010 Jesús Rodríguez began a journalistic investigation of the congregation that was published in El País Semanal. It was the first time he had dealt with the subject.
“I did not approach it from one of the established positions (that of Maciel’s supporters versus those who condemned his wrongdoings). I approached it only with the intention of reporting what I found out. The anti-Macielists actually became angry with me for not attacking the leadership,” though he points out that the book “certainly does contain reporting which exposes the scaffolding.”
When asked why he the Legionaries agreed to grant him access to their organization and their facilities, allowing him to talk with their directors, he says, “I believe I surprised them at their weakest moment, in May, when they really believed the pope might disband them because of Maciel’s criminal misconduct.”.
He is referring to a statement issued by the Vatican on May 1, 2010 which acknowledged, in the sternest of tones, Maciel’s “double life,” as well as his “very serious. . . immoral conduct” which, it added, “at times constitutes true crimes, and is evidence of a life devoid of scruples and genuine religious sentiment.”
The author was allowed to visit their headquarters in Rome as well as their schools, to learn firsthand how they live, about their monastic life, and their rigorous discipline. The only person who refused an interview with Rodríguez was Luis Garza Medina, the congregation’s vicar general, whom he describes as the central element in the whole scheme, the congregation’s Bernard Madoff, and the chief executive of a “religious holding company.”
“Maciel was their public relations representative with the Vatican,” he says, “but Luis Garza Medina was the key to the success of the Legionaries of Christ,” from a time thirty years ago, “when they were nothing, to what they are now.”

He adds, “To be successful, the Vatican’s investigation of the Legion will have to address the role of Luis Garza Medina,” who forms part of the trio of Mexicans who head the legionary leadership. They are the director general, Álvaro Corcuera, whom he describes as “a mask,” Evaristo Sada, who “controls much of the apparatus,” and Garza Medina.

“He is the Legion’s CEO, the man who makes the decisions, he says. “That is why he is keeping his mouth shut. And he will keep it shut unless he sees this approach becoming a disadvantage.”
Originally from Monterrey, Garza is the brother of Dionisio Garza Medina, who until March, 2010 headed Grupo Alfa. Luis Garza is, he says, “the key to the hidden operations and financial machinery of (the 20 thousand employee) Grupo Integer, a racket of legionary foundations, schools and money.”
Citing published reports by Vatican analyst, Sandro Magister, Rodríguez’ book puts the Legion’s fortune at some 25 billion euros, with an annual budget of 650 million euros. Much of this money is, according to the author, “invested in financial havens in non-transparent corporations, specifically in financial products.” As an example he cites the Integer Ethical Fund, which is registered in Luxembourg, and whose profits help subsidize the Legion’s growth.
“Although (Garza) was the logical successor to Maciel, it makes sense that he was not chosen,” Rodríguez says. “He (Maciel) needed someone like Corcuera, a man who could be manipulated. Garza is a man with an important professional function. He studied at Stanford, and speaks several languages. Maciel, though quite a charmer, always remained more of a common man.”

When asked about the book’s description of a “civil war” between Luis Garza and the papal delegate over decisions by the latter, as well as between Garza and Archbishop Ricardo Blázquez, the apostolic visitor for consecrated life for Regnum Christi, Rodríguez replies, “Luis Garza is not co-operating with the Vatican’s representatives. And the apostolic delegate is not going after him because that would mean losing access to the wealth of information he controls. Luis Garza is a very strong character with a many sharp edges. I have information indicating that he got into an argument with de Paolis when de Paolis removed him as territorial director for Italy, and as general prefect of studies. Nevertheless, these positions went to his staunch supporters.” He adds that, in spite of this, Corcuera appointed him as the congregation’s territorial advisor “without De Paolis’ knowledge.”

His confrontation with Blázquez occurred when the archbishop, after being appointed apostolic visitor for consecrated life, “blocked Garza and Everisto Sada from participating, without intermediaries, in a meeting he had called with the consecrated women. . . in Valladolid, Spain on November 2 of last year.”
“De Paolis has also demanded that Garza provide him with audits, and that he not move a single euro without letting him know,” Rodríguez adds. “Obviously, the economic and educational future of the Legion remains unclear.”

Be a Legion of Christ "Gift Officer" [ Telemarketer] -Work for Integer!

2011-04-05T10:13:00.001-04:00

"Complete respect and enthusiasm for the Catholic Church and the Legion of Christ required"

[Catholic Church and Legion of Christ are mentioned in the same breath. It's because they are almost the same thing.]

Gift Officer

Job ID: 7809099

Position Title: Gift Officer

Company Name: Legion of Christ Inc

Industry: Advertising / Marketing

Job Function: Customer Service

Entry Level: No

Location(s): Thornwood, New York, 10594

Posted: March 30, 2011

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Duration: Indefinite

Min Education: BA/BS/Undergraduate

Min Experience: 5-7 Years

Required Travel: 25-50%

Research Tools:

See Location on Map Learn More About Location

Terms of UseMapSatelliteHybrid

APPLY FOR THIS JOB

Email Address: careers@integerusa.com

Save Job Email Job Print Job

Job Description

The Gift Officer will work out of our Thornwood, NY office.

The Nature of the Position is to solicit gifts for the Annual Fund and build relationships with donors, primarily through phone calls and personalized email contact. Working in an organized fashion through telephone, email and personal contact , you will work with donors who wish to give on a regular basis and build a group of donors who respond to personalized cultivation. You will secure appointments and visit planned giving prospects for the purpose of encouraging planned gifts of all types. 50% to 75% of time will be spent in phone cultivation with 25% to 50% in travel,visiting with donors.

Complete respect and enthusiasm for the Catholic church and the Legion of Christ.

Job Requirements

5 or more years sales with excellent phone and interpersonal communication skills, marketing or relationship building experience.

Knowledge of estate planning and investments, with experience in charitable planned gifts preferred.
Familiarity in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel a must and preferred experience in Rasiers Edge 7 software.

Education: Baccalaureate degree, preferably in Marketing or related field.

OR: Equivalent combination of education and experience

Hours of work: Must be able and agree to work within flexible hours, such as designated peak calling times (5pm to 8pm) when calling from the home office of Thornwood.

APPLY FOR THIS JOB

Email Address: careers@integerusa.com

Pope and Vatican legitimizing Maciel's bastard Legion?

2011-03-17T23:12:00.004-04:00

Maciel: historia de un criminal. Conversaciones y testimonios (Spanish Edition)

"Bring on the Players!"
this was a fun moment a couple years ago when Aura and I met with a group of players dressed in Geneva's Calvinist garb of the 17th Century.

But today I return from my vacation in warm and sunny Guatemala, looking back at Vatican intervention in the Legion of Christ Case. Is this a kind of farce, too, a cruel comedy of errors where the innocent are punished and the guilty go free? Darkness and cold envelop my soul.

-Investigation in 2005 into Maciel's sexual abuse of seminarians
-Slap on the wrist for Maciel in 2006 who disregards Vatican punshment until the day he dies
-Legion carries on in denial of founders sins, ubraiding accusers as rabble rousers...
-Vatican takes no serious measures taken against Maciel or Legion
-Maciel dies defended by his Legion hundreds and Regnum Christi thousands
-"For whatever reason" his fathering of illegitimate children is revealed by Legion in 2009, leading to a communist like "Historical Revision" of the person of Marcial Maciel
-Vatican gets serious again; launches investigation: bishops reports are seriously crticial of Maciel and his work
-Legion finally fesses up to Maciel's double life and hetersexual relations [A] and accepts the fact that he sexually abused his own seminarians[B]; rationale of transition from A to B is never clear; Legion and Vatican "reasoning" appear muddled and confusing.
-Left in forefront of public attention is that Maciel is a "sinner" who led a disordered life; his pedophilia therefore lies hidden under 'the scandal' of illegitimate children and the founder is ultimately portrayed as "hetero-sexually loose" rather than a Narcissistic Pedophile Psychopath.
-Pope, De Paolis and Legion henceforth cleave to this stance.
-Legion Superiors, Pope and Apostolic Delegate separate "depraved Macel" from "fundamentally wholesome" Legion
-No substantive changes take place in Legion/Regnum Christi leadership or ranks:
-Maciel cohorts/superiors left in place and they continue to control the members with Vatican approval -"trust your superiors"
-In Interviews Pope describes Maciel as a "troubled person", a false prophet who spawned a work of God: Pope Benedict in "Light of the World" page 39: That is the remarkable thing, the paradox, that a false prophet , so to speak, could still have a positive effect. It takes some Jesuit casuistry to wrap your head around that! Thank God BXVI was not infallible here!
-In October 2010 letter to Legion members Papal Delegate wants end to criticism from the inside and outside and back to normal in the Legion and Regnum; rank and file members to 'trust' their superiors.
-All will be set right with the token reparation to victims [exclusively Maciel's and not those of other superiors] who tow the line and humiliate themselves anew...Victims who have sought legal assistance will not be heard. Fr. Florencio Sanchez, LC, a total Maciel clone, heads the Comission. How in God's name can there be impartiality and justice!
A Chapter General and revision of the Constitutions will weed out Maciel's evil influence- according to De Paolis' plan.

How disappointing and totally disheartening for all those who suffered and continue to suffer in the Legion!

"But isn't it better than all these annoying complainers suffer rather than Fr Maciel's Divine Work be destroyed?" the Vatican seems to say.

Are Vatican and Pope performing a beautiful 'sanatio in radice', trying to legitimize the bastard Legion spawned by Maciel's concubinage with the Curia?

===============
Maciel: historia de un criminal. Conversaciones y testimonios (Spanish Edition)

Latest book by CNN reporter Carmen Aristegui. I began to read her introduction to collected testimonies after penning this blog; the blogger is pleased that his points agree with Aristegui's; her explanation is more extense, better written, and more detailed.

Legion continues Major Fundraising among very rich wannabe Catholics

2011-03-15T02:20:00.002-04:00

Let's play golf to keep training seminarians according to Fr. Maciel's system

Cardinal DePaolis, do you know the Legion of Christ is still Threatening Former Members?

2011-02-17T12:12:00.001-05:00

Don't know if this will reach the Cardinals ears.

As Cardinal DePaolis reforms the Legion, the Superiors continue to threaten former members, friends and family with law suits if they speak out, or muzzle them with settlements

Pope Benedict and Cardinal DePaolis, please wake up!

Can the Legion of Christ be Salvaged? A former Legionary, now Active Priest responds

2011-02-11T19:03:00.001-05:00

Fr. Richard Gill's statement featured in Chiesa by Sandro Magister

Fr. speaks from a position of knowledge and experience; he was in the Legion for over 20 years, he was a prominent Legionary in the USA
He has made a good transition to the diocesan priesthood [New York]
Please read his thoughs/convictions/ message

The Outreach Commission a Ploy by Legion/Vatican to Control Victims?

2011-02-07T15:45:00.005-05:00

A careful reading of the small print re Outreach Commission could lead one to believe that it is set up to by-pass victims that have their cases in civil or ecclesiatical courts. If you don't believe see underlined passage in official info -and forgive us for being paranoid. On a cynical note: the announcement was made just as a very well known Maciel victim was being flown into Rome to speak with Superior General, Corcuera; good timing! He was told that his case would be at the top of the list...

The Legion's message is clear: be nice to us and we will be nice to you. Quite in keeping with the teachings of Jesus...

"Outreach Commission Created

The papal delegate’s decisions will be based on listening to the victims and a detailed report on each case.

Rome, Italy. January 31, 2011.

Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, the papal delegate for the congregation, has created the Outreach Commission, as announced in his October 19, 2010 letter.

The members of the commission....

Those who wish to be heard by the commission can write to the following address, briefly explaining the situation they would like to present:

Mailing address:

Outreach Commission
c/o Legionari di Cristo
Via Aurelia, 677
Italia – 00165 Roma

E-mail: acercamiento@legionaries.org

The decree constituting the commission stated that it would deal only with cases having a direct relation to the person of Fr Marcial Maciel. It will not intervene in cases awaiting decisions from civil or ecclesiastical courts.

When he presented the Outreach Commission to the Legionaries of Christ, Fr Álvaro Corcuera, LC, emphasized that its purpose is to “continue facing with seriousness and responsibility our recent history as regards Fr Marcial Maciel’s conduct and the implications and consequences it has had on some people. Insofar as it is humanly possible, we want to close this chapter in its more painful aspects, seek reconciliation, and allow justice and charity to prevail.”
[Interpretation: We want to get this crap behind us and out of the public eye asap]

At the same time, the general director of the Legionaries of Christ encouraged everyone to pray for this commission’s work so that it may be sustained by God’s grace and truly do good to the affected people and their families."

Ridiculous Commission Created for Maciel's Victims

2011-02-02T12:07:00.004-05:00

While the Legion and some media announce this a some great step in the right direction this blogger sees it as too little too late and more delay. Instead of putting victims through another humiliation of writing their abuse and requests, the Vatican should go into the Legion archives and depose leaders to get the necessary information. The Legion already has a good idea of who the victims are. The Vatican itself knows about some of the victims for decades. Let them start there immediately. Stop this Mickey Mouse work!

the abuses have been described many times in several books such as those by Jason Berry, Paul Lennon, and many others in Spanish

[see bibliography at end of Lennon's Our Father who art in bed.] Don't all Legion/Regnum leaders speak Spanish?

Should not the commission be much more impartial? The Legion and Vatican authorities have already been negligent and dishonest in prosecuting Maciel, other Legion sex abusers, and in reaching out to victims in real charity and justice.

Are the Legion and the Vatican waiting for more victims to die or become decrepit and thus save themselves dollars in pay outs?
=====
[News item from Fevruary 1, 2011]

Outreach Commission Created The papal delegate’s decisions will be based on listening to the victims and a detailed report on each case.

Rome, Italy. January 31, 2011. Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, the papal delegate for the congregation, has created the Outreach Commission, as announced in his October 19, 2010 letter.

The members of the commission will have two fundamental tasks. In the first place, they will listen to the people who are requesting a response from the Legionaries of Christ because of Fr Marcial Maciel or in relation to him. Then they will write a detailed report which they will submit to the papal delegate. With the help of his advisors, he will then make decisions about what the Legion of Christ should do in each case.

To ensure objectivity and impartiality in the commission’s work, Msgr. Mario Marchesi, one of the papal delegate’s personal advisors, will lead it. Four additional members will make up the commission: Fr Florencio Sánchez, LC (chaplain of the Francisco de Vitoria University in Madrid), Fr Eduardo Robles-Gil, LC (Regnum Christi section director in Mexico City), and two external experts: Fr Silverio Nieto Núñez, a priest from the archdiocese of Madrid, a former judge and magistrate who now directs the Civil Juridical Service of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference; and Dr Jorge Adame Goddard, a titular researcher at the UNAM Juridical Research Institute and a law professor at Panamerican University in Mexico City.

Those who wish to be heard by the commission can write to the following address, briefly explaining the situation they would like to present:

Mailing address:

Outreach Commission

c/o Legionari di Cristo

Via Aurelia, 677

I – 00165 Roma

E-mail: acercamiento@legionaries.org

The decree constituting the commission stated that it would deal only with cases having a direct relation to the person of Fr Marcial Maciel. It will not intervene in cases awaiting decisions from civil or ecclesiastical courts.

When he presented the Outreach Commission to the Legionaries of Christ, Fr Álvaro Corcuera, LC, emphasized that its purpose is to “continue facing with seriousness and responsibility our recent history as regards Fr Marcial Maciel’s conduct and the implications and consequences it has had on some people. Insofar as it is humanly possible, we want to close this chapter in its more painful aspects, seek reconciliation, and allow justice and charity to prevail.”

At the same time, the general director of the Legionaries of Christ encouraged everyone to pray for this commission’s work so that it may be sustained by God’s grace and truly do good to the affected people and their families.
=====

I say go to your local Church and civil authorities and sue the Legion's ass!

Blessed are you, Victims of Fr. Maciel!

2011-01-31T17:00:00.006-05:00

Standing Jose Barba, sitting to the right of blogger and spouse, Saul Barrales

[From the Catholic Liturgy of the Word, 4th Sunday Ordinary Time, Cycle A]

They were the ones I thought of as I heard the Gospel proclaimed. Oh, how true it rung in my ears! Oh, how powerfully it struck the heart! Oh, how deeply it cut to the very soul!

Dedicated to the Perez Olvera brothers -Jose Antonio y Fernando, Arturo Jurado, Alejandro Espinosa, Juan Jose Vaca, Felix Alarcon, Juan Manuel Fernandez Amenabar, RIP, Saul Barrales, Jose de Jesus Barba-Martin, and Miguel Diaz "who also betrayed them"...

and to all those from the same generation, such as Francisco Gonzalez-Parga, Juan Jose Gonzalez Martin del Campo, and many other anonymous victims.
and to all those anonymous victims from later generations, from Mexico, Spain, Ireland....sexually abused by the Legion Founder...
--------------------------------
Matthew 5

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes

1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.

He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Legion of Christ New Priests with No Life Experience

2011-01-12T13:03:00.004-05:00

25 of the newly ordained priest come from the apostolic schools. (40%)

Our Father......A Naive and Sentimental Dubliner in the Legion of Christ

25 of the newly ordained priest come from the apostolic schools. (40%)
Another large % join immediately out of HS
Balance during or after college

[The recruitment of very young and inexperienced "greenhorns" was one of the strategies Fr. Maciel practiced and bequethed to the order. He would not accept candidates with "twisted and already formed criteria" but wanted to mold members to the Legion prototype]

Key to data:

Name - Age when they joined - Where

e.g. Samuel Sanabria Martinez, age 10 when he entered the Apostolic School in Spain

1 Samuel Sanabria Martínez 10 Spain AS

2 Patricio Suárez de la Torre 11 Mexico AS

3 Felipe Villagómez Amézquita 12 Mexico AS

4 Francisco Javier Arriola Merlos 12 Mexico AS

5 Humberto Gaytán Hernández 12 Mexico AS

6 José Armando Vargas Gutiérrez 12 Mexico AS

7 Luis Miguel García Calvo 12 Mexico AS

8 Manuel Sanchez Padilla 12 Mexico AS

9 Pedro Guzmán Lupercio 12 Mexico AS

10 Raúl Rodríguez Pulido 12 Mexico AS

11 Victor Mata Valencia 12 Mexico AS

12 Armando Villanueva Manzo ? Mexico AS

13 John Ko 13 South Corea AS

14 Pablo Redondo Crespo 13 Spain AS

15 Alfonso Treviño Benavides 14 Mexico AS

16 Arquímedes Sánchez Ginés 14 Spain AS

17 Cristóbal Vilarroig Martín 14 Spain AS

18 Gregory Usselmann 14 USA AS

19 Joseph Ramos 14 USA AS

20 Marco Aurélio Mauricio 14 Brasil AS

21 Óscar Manuel Macías Pérez 14 Mexico AS

22 Vandoir Dal Berto 14 Brasil AS

23 Luis Felipe Najar Perera 15 Mexico AS

24 Aaron Smith 16 USA AS

25 José Ignacio de la Barreda Manso 17 Spain

26 Marcos Manchur 17 Brasil AS
=====================================================
27 Aldonny Varela Vivas 18 Venezuela

28 Ignacio Sarre Guerreiro 18 Mexico

29 Juan Carlos Durán Ambriz 18 Mexico

30 Néstor José Guerrero Chacón 18 Venezuela

31 Óscar Cabello Galicia 18 Mexico Consacrated

32 Simon Devereux 18 New Zealand
================================================
33 Carlos Proal Zumaya 19 Mexico

34 Denis Tassé 19 Canada

35 Fabrizio Bazzoni 19 Italia

36 Fernando Morales Lugo 19 Mexico

37 Javier Mariana Torrecilla 19 Spain Consacrated

38 Luis Miguel Rincón Valadez 19 Mexico

39 Pierre Caouette 19 Canada

40 Rodrigo Hernández Preciado 19 Mexico

41 Rogelio Aguilera Jiménez 19 Mexico
==========================================

42 Amedeo Martínez Ferro 20 Italia

43 Edward Bentley 20 USA

44 Galo González Covarrubias 20 Mexico

45 Jorge Ranninger Hernández 20 Spain Consacrated

46 Juan Ignacio Carrillo Niño 20 Mexico

47 Roel Osorio Villaseñor 20 Mexico

48 Timothy Lyons 20 USA

49 Valentin Gögele 20 Italia

50 Daniel Weber 21 Germany

51 Héctor Quintana Juárez 21 Mexico

52 Alejandro Valles González 22 Mexico

53 Chan Minh Dinh 22 Vietnam

54 Janick Caouette 22 Canada

55 Luis Ferraris Corella 22 Mexico

56 Nathaniel Haslam 22 USA

========================================

57 Marco Zaccaretti 23 Italia

58 Michael Vanderbeek 23 USA

59 Thomas Gögele 23 Italia

60 Cassio Barros Neto 24 Brasil

61 Alberto Méndez Platonoff 26 Mexico

62 Andrea Giustiniani 29 Italia

=========================

Legion/Vatican Delays Restitution to Victims

2011-01-10T21:05:00.004-05:00

Former Legionaries are left to sing for pennies of the street

The life of the founder was uncovered, the situation of the congregation was dire, many were the victims of abuse...
What did the Legion/Vatican do?
Begin the long process of reforming the Constitutions!

I say that this is not the Christ(ian) Priority

First is to beg pardon and make amends, in a whole-hearted way, not in a piece-meal and half-assed way.
Make amends and Pay Restitution.

Legionary, Demonstrate your Much Flaunted "Charity". Heed the Apostle James: "Show me your faith without works, and I will demonstrate with works my faith !"

Quote
What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith."

James, 2,14-18

Vatican refuses to Kill Legion Goose that lays the Golden Eggs!

2011-01-07T10:59:00.004-05:00

My friend and fellow former LC, Jack Keogh, has something interesting to saw on his blog

See my brilliant comment:

irishmexican43 said...

Jack,

thanks for keeping up the good work. I may be getting tired of being a thorn in Maciel's ass and the Legion's side. We, the prophets, have already spoken and written. Church authorities have finally paid attention to our strident voices, like the ignorant Amos screaming in the desert. The Vatican has taken charge -and control- of the Legion reform, and in the process told us "enough criticism". It seems nobody wants to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs - are my metaphors scrambled, like eggs? They want to nurse it back to health. A disturbing though from Amos Lennon: are the eggs pure gold or just gilded? Does the goose suffer from lead poising or leukemia?

for all "The Faithful Departed" in 2010 [YouTube

2011-01-03T19:17:00.000-05:00

the Taps by girl trumpeter, Melissa Venema, YouTube

very moving
especially for all the unnamed solidiers and civilians killed in the Middle East, in the Holy Land, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afghanistan...

Priests Formed by Con-artist Maciel capable of an Honest Life?

2010-12-27T14:41:00.002-05:00

The Legion, aided by the Vatican, keeps churning out numbers of priests.

Are these 61 men, trained in Maciel methodology, up to the standards described by Pope Benedict in his 2010 year end address to the Curia. And, please, Your Holiness, Maciel and henchmen did not abuse boys because of lack of doctrinal orthodoxy and moral teachings; they reeked of these. Do not overlook the psychological and mental health aspects of our priests; as Aquinas says, "Grace presupposes Nature; but cannot replace it"; they need to be healthy in body, mind, heart in order to be good priests. In this blogger's opinon They have to be honest, truthful, sincere and authentic men before they can be good priests, something that Legionaries are not trained to be!
---
John Allen summary:

The Christmas address to the Curia is typically the moment in which popes take a look back at the year. The fact that Benedict spoke first about the crisis reflects just how long a shadow it cast over 2010.

Sound-bites from the pope’s speech have been widely reported, but to understand what Benedict was saying it’s important to bring the full context into view.

Reading the pope’s words, there can be little doubt about his personal anguish. He quotes at length from a 12th century vision of St. Hildegard of Bingen, which vividly describes how the “garment” of the church is “torn by the sins of priests.” The pope said the vision is directly applicable to current events.

“The way she saw and expressed it,” the pope said, “is the way we have experienced it this year.”

June 29, 2010, marked the close of a “Year of Priests” called for by Benedict XVI, and he situated his reflections on the crisis in the context of appreciation for the “great gift” of the priesthood.
“We realized afresh how beautiful it is that human beings are fully authorized to pronounce in God’s name the word of forgiveness, and are thus able to change the world, to change life,” the pope said.

“We realized how beautiful it is that human beings may utter the words of consecration, through which the Lord draws a part of the world into himself, and so transforms it at one point in its very substance; we realized how beautiful it is to be able, with the Lord’s strength, to be close to people in their joys and sufferings, in the important moments of their lives and in their dark times; how beautiful it is to have as one’s life task not this or that, but simply human life itself – helping people to open themselves to God and to live from God.”
Especially in that context, the pope said, we were “all the more dismayed” by revelations about priests who “twist the sacrament into its antithesis, and under the mantle of the sacred profoundly wound human persons in their childhood, damaging them for a whole lifetime.”

Facing that ugly reality, Benedict called for an examination of conscience about what went wrong, and offered a resolution to make things right.
“We must ask ourselves what we can do to repair as much as possible the injustice that has occurred. We must ask ourselves what was wrong in our proclamation, in our whole way of living the Christian life, to allow such a thing to happen,” he said.

Benedict vowed “to make every possible effort in priestly formation to prevent anything of the kind from happening again,” and also expressed his thanks both to those who work to help victims, and to “the many good priests” who exhibit humility and fidelity.

At the level of diagnosis, Benedict returned to a familiar theme, asserting that mistaken theories in Catholic moral theology in the 1970s helped make the sexual abuse crisis possible. By downplaying absolute good and evil and treating morality as a matter of weighing consequences, the pope said, those theories opened the door to justifying gravely immoral behaviour, including the sexual exploitation of minors.
As a result, Benedict called for renewed emphasis in moral formation on Pope John Paul II’s 1993 encyclical Veritatis Splendor, which explicitly rejected theories such as “consequentialism” and “proportionalism,” asserting that some acts are always “intrinsically evil” and can never be justified.

Legion of Christ Flawed because Founder Flawed

2010-12-25T23:21:00.002-05:00

[From soon to be released article]

The consecrated vocation is a participation in the distinctive divine gift of the founder’s spirituality. As such, a member of consecrated life appropriately seeks holiness by imitation of a holy founder. In the case of Miles Jesu, imitation of the founder produced personal paths of destruction. Besides, Church authorities properly deposed the founder and denounced him as a bad example. Accordingly, I suggest that Church policy not artificially prop up any institution of consecrated life that lacks a truly holy founder. Otherwise, the members are deprived of an essential element of their consecrated vocation and a principle is established that invites unholy founders to flourish.

A.L.S

"Keeping the Nazi Party going after the death of Hitler".

2010-12-14T22:27:00.001-05:00

Our Father, Fr. Maciel, celebrating Mass ever so devoutly

Found this on Dialogue Ireland. The Irish can get a bit wild from time to time, especially under the influence. Though in Spanish they say, drunks and children tell the truth:

"This shows the problem that the reform of the Order will involve. How do you create a spirituality in a context where the Founder is a total disaster? An inveterate liar and cheat. A serial abuser of women, youth and children. This would be like having a limpet mine attached to the Catholic Church. What ethos or charism would result in the Dominican or Franciscan Orders if such things happened to their founders? Spiritually and psychologically it is essential to close this order down and migrate the priests and lay organisation into other orders and associations. Or to use the analogy of banking. This bad bank needs to be closed down and allow a good bank to be constructed. It is interesting that over the years many good people like Paul Cullen who left found a half way house in the diocesan system. Now is a good time to set up a pastoral commission to effect this transfer. Keeping this Order open is the equivalent of keeping the Nazi Party going after the death of Hitler."

Commission for Rapprochment of Legion Victims to be set up

2010-12-10T23:59:00.002-05:00

Mexico today Web page comments a propos the Commission for the Reform of the Constititutions

The constitutional commission announced Thursday is one of several working groups to be established for the reform of the Legion. Also expected is a commission for economic affairs, and one for rapprochement with founder Marcial Maciel's victims.

Review of Constitutions, will it be Enough?

2010-12-10T00:48:00.008-05:00

Official legion sources tell us that part of the Legion reform consisting in the Review of he Constitutions has begun; at least it is announced, the members have been named, 2 advisors for Card De Paolis = 2 religious from other orders, and 4 LC priests, among them Fr Anthony Bannon, who re appears in the news after a hiatus...

Fr. Bannon, who has been called "The Nazi" by his confreres for his unsmiling face, stiff upper lip, and harsh ways, certainly a member of the "old guard", and no reformer as he is too invested in the modus vivendi he perpetuated and the life altering the decisions he made while a superior. Will Bannon be able to renounce Maciel/Bannon?

Me sees a terrible repetition of previous Vatican mistakes with the Legion
===
CNA comments

Rome, Italy, Dec 10, 2010 / 01:42 am (CNA).- Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, the pontifical delegate to the Legion of Christ, has appointed the members of the commission which will oversee the revision of the constitution of the troubled religious congregation.

The committee will include two of the cardinal’s personal advisors, Fr. Gianfranco Ghirlanda, S.J., and Fr. Agostino Montan, C.S.I. Four Legion priests will also be on the commission: Fr. Roberto Aspe Hinojosa, Fr. Anthony Bannon, Fr José García Sentandreu and Fr. Gabriel Sotres.

None of the Legionaries on the commission are from its current leadership, comments CNA, but I wonder what consolation that is when the most feared, Anthony Bannon, was chosen...
----
The religious congregation is trying to recover from revelations that its founder, Fr. Marcel Maciel, sexually abused seminarians and fathered several children. The discovery led to questions—and an apostolic visitation ordered by Pope Benedict—about whether the charism and formation process of the order were affected by the founder.

Cardinal De Paolis was appointed July 9, 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI to oversee the renewal of the religious order

What do Catholic Women get out of the Regnum Christi?

2010-12-07T13:00:00.002-05:00

borrowing from a life after rc commentary which a former RC leader tells me is spot on:

I think she is spot-on with the observation.
Please share this, if you wish.
Thanks. God bless!

COMMENT

Like I said, I had to get outside the bubble-- in a world where sane Catholics don't BELONG to groups that have had to be taken over by the Vatican.

And all the information is out there for the taking. Anyone who is still associated with RC is not being deceived by other people. If they are deceived, it's self-deception.

Most of the people I know who are still in acknowledge the problems but don't see why that should make them leave?

How can that be? Well, they must derive some benefit from RC membership which they think outweighs the risks and losses.

Here's what I think--

Before the scandal broke out into the international news, a lot of women loved being RC because it gave them a sense of accomplishment and purpose.

Diapers and dishes and laundry and cleaning and disciplining kids and cooking are all exhausting and time consuming, but you never GET anywhere. At the end of the day, you've worn yourself out and all you can say when you look around is "Well, it's not any WORSE than when I got up this morning....."

Meanwhile, if you organize a fashion show, run a girls club, go to a retreat, finish your prayer list, well, you have COMPLETED something. You can point to it and say "hey, I did that!" and unlike scrapbooking or cake decorating or quilting or any other hobby Moms traditionally take up, you can feel EXTRA virtuous, because you saved souls! In fact, it's NOT a hobby, it's a vocation... so you can neglect the kids and laundry for it without guilt--- while your novel just has to wait when the baby has the flu......

Anyway, if we assume that these 'positive strokes' are the main benefit for many in RC (Because if it was about spiritual benefits, you could pray and read the gospel and go to adoration WITHOUT being associated with Maciel), well, then we can see why they stay.

If running a fashion show is a big important job, imagine how much MORE important it is to be one of the people who 'saves' the movement! There will be meetings! Focus groups! Revisions! It's important work, to save the movement and keep it going!

Not like making tuna mac, washing the pots after, and then cleaning up the fecal matter that your not-yet-potty-trained three year old left in the middle of the dining room floor before the not-yet-walking one year old plays in it......

I mean, seriously, who wouldn't rather be working to save the 'Kingdom' so that it can save the Church?

Because, last time I checked, that's a LOT more glamorous than what most of us (i.e. me, with the 'Little-Mr.-poops-on-the-floor-instead-of-in-the-potty) are doing all day.......

Anyway, the point is that these people aren't stupid. And at this point, thanks to all the work Giselle, Vere, et. al. did bringing the cult to light, they're not ignorant.

They're weighing the costs and benefits and making a rational economic decision.

And, in these cases, mammon tends to win....

Pope and De Paolis Try to Salvage Legion

2010-12-01T00:26:00.004-05:00

By now we have all heard about the Pope on condoms, and those of us who are interested in the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi Lay Institute -or whatever it is exactly- have been parsing the phrases that have appeared in the new book of Interviews with Pope Theologican Ratzinger re Fr Maciel and his Work; personally I have only read snippets and so I cannot form a full opinion.

But we have the gist of the Pope's idea, phrase, that although Maciel was a false prophet, the Legion and Regnum Christi are basically wholesome.

With all due respect -and with the audacity that comes from knowing that the Pope is not talking ex cathedra and therefore could be mistaken- some are questioning Joseph Ratzinger's logic:

"A false prophet can do the work of God". This appears to fly in the face of elementary Biblical Theology

According to my limited knowledge, false prophets were those who tried to find an easy way to Salvation, a short cut, one might say, a magic formula...."Just do this and God is pleased, you are saved"...

Another aspect of false prophets was appearances, falsehoods, 'glittering images'...and that definitely sounds like the Legion of Christ

Could the Pope and his envoy -Apostolic Delegate- continue to be deceived by the glitter of holiness...As the Iranian jeweller said to me the other day: "That is not real gold; that is just dipped in gold. If it were real gold it would cost a lot more!"
-

Vatican Could Botch Legion Reform Again 50 years Later!

2010-11-18T17:31:00.004-05:00

Reviewing an old article on REGAIN focusing on Maciel's multiple vices we find testimony from Original Vatican Investigators from the 1950s. This evidence flies in the face of the Placatory Remarks by Apostolic Delegate, De Paolis, in his 2nd letter to the Legion.

=====
[quote]

In the mid-1950s the Vatican suspended Maciel as superior general while it sent visitators to investigate charges against him. One of the visitators, a Carmelite friar named Anastasio Ballestrero of the Most Holy Rosary, sent a report recommending serious restructuring of the Legion as well as the removal of Maciel. Fr. Anastasio writes:

"[Pg. 15] Fr. Maciel, with whom I had hardly met, began to defend himself in an animated manner, without my even mentioning the accusations, indicating that he was well informed about everything while at the same time accusing Fr. Ferreira and especially [Brother] Domínguez of falsehoods and ambition. . . (Translators’ Note: Ferreira and Domínguez had submitted scathing written affidavits to ecclesiastical authorities which were highly critical of Maciel.)

"[Pg. 16] In response to the specific accusations regarding violations of the sixth [commandment], I have not received confirmation of anything. But it is worth mentioning the fact that, as has been already noted, the founder has complete control over [spiritual] direction in matters of purity and that he made a declaration, unsolicited, assuring me that none of his religious had ever committed a single sin of this nature [against purity].

"[Pg. 18] Conclusions:
"1. The Institute in question, in spite of the appearance of splendor and grandiosity, is in reality very fragile in its legal and spiritual structure. Additionally, it lacks mature and experienced personnel who can guarantee the level of development expected.
"2. The group of young novices and students, who make up nine tenths of the institute, have become fanaticized by the founder and his enterprise. However, this group is substantially healthy and shows good will. There is some hope of its being able to free itself of this fanaticism, although this appears doubtful."
His suggestions and remedies were as follows:

"1. In order to reduce appearances to the limits of reality:
"a) [Install] the seat of administration in Mexico

"b) The Apostolic School and the Novitiate exclusively limited to Mexico

"c) A prohibition ad nutum S. Sedis [under the direction of the Holy See] from admitting new students into the Apostolic School and the Novitiate

"d) A prohibition . . . against new foundations

"2. In order to guarantee more effective control over the Institute:

"a) Appointing someone from the Mexican episcopate with a special mandate to conduct oversight and provide assistance

"b) Naming a Superior General from outside the institution, but who belongs to a modern institution with an affinity for structure and spirituality. . .

"3. Fr. Maciel should be removed from his office on the basis of his exclusive and sole responsibility for the multiple serious legal irregularities and for the abuses committed in his administrative capacity. Keeping silence on the other matters seems prudent for reasons both internal and external, at least for the time being. The irregularities and abuses by themselves provide sufficient legal reasons for proceeding. [page 19]

"4. After a penance of a month of [spiritual] exercises, the priest in question should be obliged to live in a house in Mexico under the supervision of a bishop appointed by the Holy See. The Superior General should prohibit him from making trips of any sort and from interfering in the affairs of the Institute.

"5. The current constitutions should be radically modified with particular attention to the goals of the Institute and to the abolition of three vows.

"6. Finally, it would be desirable to discreetly notify, at the appropriate time, the Mexican episcopate and the Spanish ordinaries [bishops], as well as other interested prelates. Even more delicate is decision regarding how best to inform the Spanish Government.

"7. In the matter of granting secularization [Ed., i.e. return to diocesan priesthood out of religious life in the Legion] to the current vicar, Fr. Ferreira, I believe it would be opportune to do so, especially considering that there is absolutely no possibility of his being able to govern or to be of further use to the Institute.

"Rome, February 11, 1957

Vatican Cannot Reject Sociopath's Charisma (Path to Holiness)

2010-10-27T14:23:00.009-04:00

From the Original Catholic Encyclopedia*:

"Charismata. — The Greek term charisma denotes any good gift that flows from God's benevolent love (charis) unto man; any Divine grace or favor, ranging from redemption and life eternal to comfort in communing with brethren in the Faith (Rom., v, 15, 16; vi, 23; xi, 29).
The term has, however, a narrower meaning: the spiritual graces and qualifications granted to every Christian to perform his task in the Church: "Every one hath his proper gift [charisma] from God; one after this manner, and another after that" (I Cor., vii, 7 etc.).
Lastly, in its narrowest sense, charisma is the theological term for denoting extraordinary graces given to individual Christians for the good of others. These, or most of these, are enumerated by St. Paul (I Cor., xii, 4, 9, 28, 30, 31), and form the subject-matter of the present article. They are: "The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, the grace of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, the discerning of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues, interpretation of speeches" (I Cor., xii, 8-10). To these are added the charismata of apostles, prophets, doctors, helps, governments (ibid., 28)."
In the case in question, does the Legion/Regnum founded by Father Maciel possess a special God-given gift to bring souls to holiness, build the Church/Kingdom of Christ in the world?

Does the Legion of Christ and its affiliated Regnum Christi Lay Movement possess a Charism, a special gift from God to lead people to holiness/Jesus/God?

Could the degenerate founder have possessed such a gift and passed it on to his creation?

Could God have given this gift to the Order and the Movement despite the sinful life of the Founder?

The debate has raged over the past decade and became exacerbated after Maciel's double life was revealed by the Legion of Christ in 2009; the previous allegations of pedophilia, misuse of funds, a luxury life style of jets and hotels, plus tyrannical leadership had not been enough to have Catholics and his followers question the Founder's Holiness. Breaking his vow of celibacy by having heterosexual relations and engendering children seems to have finally convinced Orthodox and/or Conservative Catholics of the Legion Founder's Depravity.

Everyone then accepted that Maciel was a scoundrel. Narcissist and Sociopath [specifically, Anti-social Personality Disorder] diagnoses were introduced to explain his decades of double, triple, and quadruple lives.

Could a Sociopath have a religious charism and could he transmit this to a religious order that he founded?

According to Cardinal designate Velasio de Paolis he could, he can, he did. With all due respect, this interpretation seems to be justified by passages from the Apostolic Delegate's 2nd Letter to the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi Movement.

3. The charism of the Legion

Another very delicate question is that of the charism of the Legion. The absence of a distinction between constitutional norms and norms of law has perhaps hurt efforts to specify the charism. But it seems undeniable that it is sufficiently clear and precise; and it is also more than ever for this time. There is the need to reflect and study this in depth.

I would like to mention just one aspect. Our current culture is secularized, infected with immanentism and relativism. Such a mindset is the hallmark of the culture of our times and of those who today shape opinion or are considered the drivers of culture. It is a matter of culture and therefore a matter of leadership, i.e.: of those who hold the reins of society in their hands. We have before us a society that no longer evinces personalities of Christian and markedly Catholic cultural depth. At the same time, we know that the faith cannot be pushed back merely to the private level.

If today’s society is to be Christianized, it needs people capable of assuming responsibility for the society of tomorrow, and who are formed in schools and universities. It needs priests, consecrated people, and committed lay people, all well formed. It needs apostles for the new evangelization.

The past must guide us in taking our place in the present. The Church shaped the past and contributed to a Christian vision of life, through monasteries, universities, studies and culture. The Church reaffirms this when she speaks of the new evangelization and launches a new Dicastery for the new evangelization. I believe that the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ finds its place to serve the Church precisely in this area. And this brings good hope for the future.
------------------
* Charismata in Original Catholic Encyclopedia

Brief Intro/Comment on De Paolis Recent Letter

2010-10-22T15:23:00.001-04:00

the blogger did not post the letter of Arch -to be Cardinal- De Paolis believing it was already available on other sources, including the official Regnum Christi page, etc.
He wanted to read it carefully and attempt an informed commentary

For now let me refer you to a brief intro/commentary on the REGAIN page

Spero News has the following [with video of De Paolis] on Legion of Christ Reconstruction
--

Fr. Evaristo Sada [Monterrey] still General Secretary of the Legion of Christ

2010-10-18T18:16:00.001-04:00

Jim Fair says:

18.10.10 at 10:14

Let me clarify this. Fr. Sada is the general secretary of the Legionaries of Christ. He holds this office since 1992 to the present. From 2007 onwards he also was the "assistant of the general director for the apostolate", but some months ago Fr. Jose García Sentandreu was named for this post. So the position of Fr. Sada as general secretary has not changed, he just handed over an additional responsibility he used to have before.

Evaristo Sada Out of Leadership at Legion of Christ ?

2010-10-16T14:20:00.004-04:00

Not Resigning Superiors of Legion of Christ..but Changing the Guard

this is the latest from the official blog of the Regnum Christi, one of the new and ever evolving web pages of Fr. Maciel's order.

So, that's the way it is on Saturday, October 16, 2010

Ah, but you have to read all the article to the end. The writer mentions that some

changes have occured [note euphemism/spin]

as in a few Territorial Directors have been removed and

Fr. Evaristo Sada is no longer the Secretary General....

correct me if I am wrong. Maybe he continues as Secretary General or General Secretary....the article said:

"the new assistant to the general director for the apostolate recently arrived. This responsibility used to fall to Fr Evaristo Sada"

How Fr. Maciel Made a Baby

2010-10-07T13:27:00.005-04:00

That's me, not the person of interest, stupid!

......
Bro. X.... left the Legion in July 2009. At that time, the religious did not have any information about the sins of MM. (His spiritual director,

Father William Brock, in Salamanca, Spain), told him that one day MM had made a mistake; he had taken too much beer -yes, he actually told him that- and somehow fathered a child...

[blogger's comment: Fr. B did not describe how some naughty woman got Fr. Maciel's pants and his/her chastity belt off; but you can be sure she took advantage of Fr. Maciel's naivete...]

He left, to some extent, because of me [writes the witness narrator]. I had been in contact with his family which was very upset over the MM scandal. For a long time they were already "fighting" against the Legion to get more freedom for their son... and felt betrayed. But since he joined the Apostolic School, Siliberto was under the control of the cult... and was always justifying the LC.

Regnum Christi to be Investigated by Archbishop Blazquez [video]

2010-09-28T08:45:00.001-04:00

As previously revealed, Ricardo Blazquez, archbishop of Valladolid, Spain, who already investigated the Legion, has been appointed "Apostolic Delegate" to the lay Movement founded by Fr. Marcial Maciel called Regnum Christi

Click underlined and watch video

My friend Mons Brian Farrell, one of Vatican Commissioners to Legion; Blazquez to Reform Consecrated RCs

2010-09-25T14:15:00.008-04:00

My other friend, Jack Keogh, passed on the news that Brian, who joined the Legion the same day as myself, July 1st, 1961 -see the Our Father Maciel, who art in bed bestseller- has been named one of the 4 commissioners to reform the Legion. Another is Jesuit, and the other two canon lawyers familiar with the Legion.

bishop Blasquez of Valladolid, Spain, who did such a good job during the investigation, has been named to lead reform of the Regnum Christi Movement. [all their leaders speak Spanish, the Legion's official language -Maciel spoke only Spanish].

Farrell's appointment could be key. Nobody like insider Brian would know the Modus Operandi of the Legion.

It is this blogger's opinion that the Legion and Regnum will not be reformed by decrees but by reform of the Modus Operandi [PRAXIS] inherent and ingrained into Legionaries of Christ from the moment they are recruited. There is a obtuseness and ruthlessness about the leadership that will not go away with Chapter Generals -they've had them under Maciel to rubber stamp his plans, to circle the wagons, to stifle dissent, and to keep the cronies in place -Corcuera, Sada, and Garza being notorious examples...

Apostolic Delegate has Not yet Begun -Beware of LC Pre-emptive Strikes!

2010-09-23T12:04:00.005-04:00

According to this recent article -translated/paraphrased/commented by and courtesy of A.L- the Apostolic Delegate has not really begun his work.

He has only been in the preliminary stages, meeting and getting to know the key players.

http://sdpnoticias.com/sdp/contenido/2010/09/22/4/1121308#new

This article in Spanish appeared 09/22/10. It says the pope greeted the legionary theology and philosophy studnets who were at the general audience in St. Peters square and said he was praying for them. He used the term "mis amigos legionarios" - my legionary friends, and encouraged them in their studies.
The article says that a high-ranking LC has explained to them that De Paolis has not begun to exercise his authority yet. It confirms that he has met the LC superiors a handful of times since July and indicated he allowed the vocational campaign and ordinations for this year to continue as normal. Besides that he has only given general guidelines to the LC cupula and has not yet entered into specifics.

De Paolis has announced (no source given beyond LCs speaking to the newspaper) that he will take up his position in full at some point this month of September, and this has not yet happened - at least not up until a few days ago. I suppose that is when the paper last spoke to their insider source.

It goes on to mention the frustration of LC members and cites Fr. Peter Byrne's letter. It thinks that the frustration is because De Paolis has not taken stepped into his role quite yet.

This would explain the recent campaign for control: business as usual - which has been shown in the talk by Luis Garza in Monterrey and the thing written by Kramarz in the LC internal "magazine". I believe this to be a pre-emptive strike

It also mentions something startling - a high ranking LC has revealed that they are removing all public images of maciel and that this is an order from above to all legionary centres and colleges etc but they CANNOT make members remove personal photos or pictures of maciel by decree. He admitted a tolerance towards simple pictures and photos of maciel because they are part of the history and cannot be denied.

I am not sure if he means photos of LCs with Maciel or who the "they" are that referred to - the LCs or the photos?

Ironically the Legion can decree that they have no photos as part of LC poverty also they don't need to decree it - surely LC obedience was not based on decrees?!

Legion Schools in Mexico experience Financial Crisis

2010-09-21T06:11:00.001-04:00

Monterrey, Mexico - Schools run by the Legionaries of Christ in cities such as Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City are in a state of economic crisis due to a lack of students according to Fernando González, a researcher and religious affairs expert.

Adding to the student enrolment crisis, these institutions have been freed from centralized control, leaving it up to each school to try to survive by its own means.

“I have heard here and there that in some areas of the country the schools have begun to suffer financially, and they have even begun to talk of establishing a policy in which each legionary school would have to be self-supporting.”

The researcher and psychologist reports that previously all the schools operated under a centralized administration, but that now this system has been abandoned in a attempt to allow eacheducational institution to control its own finances in an effort to survive.

“The crisis stems from parents’ fears about the wager that legionary schools presented in the past - that if you bring me your children, I will give them a formation which would place them among the country’s economic and political elite. Suspicions quickly began to arise that this was not true,” according the the researcher from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

When expectations of having prestigious social connections as a result of being in a legionary school were shattered, says the author of the book “Marcial Maciel and the Legionaries of Christ; Unpublished Documents and Testimonies,” the order’s schools began to experience a crisis.

Fernando González claims that, despite the credibilty problem the Legionaries of Christ are experiencing as a result of the scandals involving pedophilia and children secretly conceived by the order’s founder, the late Marcial Maciel, there is still a affluent segment of the population that continues sending its children to these schools “as if nothing had happened.”

He adds that the removal from power of the so-called “legionary leadership” continues apace after the decision by Pope Benedict XVI last January naming a commissioner to be in charge of the congregation’s finances.

Fernando González, who was in Monterrey giving a seminar on research and psychoanalysis in the department of psychology at UANL, adds that the Legionaries of Christ have embarked on a sort of “refounding” which will be reflected in a “reduction of personnel” in the top leadership.

He indicates that, after the forceful measures taken by the pope to reorganize the congregation, prominent Mexicans such as Lorenzo Servitje and Ricardo Salinas Pliego have radically changed their attitude in regards to the level of respect they previously lavished on the order’s founder.

The fact that Servitje would acknowledge that one of his daughters drafted a letter offering apologies for her initial stance of unconditional support for Maciel will have repercussions in the business community because it deals with one of Mexican Catholicism’s most emblematic figures from the private sector,” says the academic.

This stance, he adds, indicates a search for a “politically correct position” after the decisions taken by Pope Benedict XVI to reinstate discipline in the order, and to remove from power the top leadership inherited from Marcial Maciel.
Javier Sepúlveda