Second Accusation against Fr. John O'Reilly, Legion of Christ #1 in Chile

  Fr Maciel hugging future Director General, Alvaro Corcuera, after Alvaro's ordination. Fr. Alvaro had a brain tumor and is in recovery. Let us pray for him.

Is the Legion of Christ priestly formation seriously flawed in regards to the whole area of sexuality?*

Blogger had reported previous accusation against Fr. O'Reilly which Fr. had strenuously denied  And, in a sense, we had given him 'the benefit of the doubt. Today read a report that the Santiago, Chile, prosecutor, is charging Fr. O'Reilly with another sexual abuse (assault). The news is in Spanish.


Putting together these accusations and the confession of Fr. Williams for his sexual liaison with a young woman [under his pastoral care? this would be very serious! This may be why the Legion won't reveal any further information and wants the case -and Father Williams- to go away]... putting these and other cases together could lead to t he following question.

Is the Legion of Christ priestly formation seriously flawed in regards to the whole area of sexuality?
=====

Let me add that this "second accusation" news if from Dec 2012, and in this sense is not really new or recent.  It seems that it refers to abuse of a sister of the original victim.

What is pretty clear from the news is that the Legion has distanced itself and its school from Fr. O'Reilly -and vice versa! One reading of the news implies that the Legion and the Archbishop of Santiago, Chile, ordered an investigation. "Hey, brother, you're on your own!" See Spanish language article which tells how father was suspended from his functions at the Cumbres School (by the Legion!)



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Latest news from Chile in Spanish 

There is also news that the Vatican has told the local archbishop to put someone else in charge of the canonical investigation


Blogger encourages readers to supply more up to date information of this, and prosecutors to get on with the job to either exonerate Fr. O'Reilly or confirm the allegations and not keep the priest in Purgatory.

"Another Maciel", Pedophile Founder of Catholic Religious Order

Why can't the Church catch these horny ffing...Founders!, asks blogger

(Cyber translation from French)

Chapter of the Brothers of St. John admits sexual abuse of their founder

This is the Golias newspaper that gives us the scoop this sad revelation that many of us hoped without much hope. The founder of one of the most teeming congregations of the Church in France was ... "another Maciel"!

It is now almost ten years Golias continues steadfastly to his investigative work and information on serious problems of religious communities founded in France in 1975 by Father Marie-Dominique and grouped within the Family of Saint John specifically designated under the term "Little Grey" because of the color of the religious habits of the male community.

This quest for truth, the action to be behind the scenes of these communities is about to reach a major goal with disturbing revelations about the personality of its founder and his sexual excesses, which are reminiscent the scandal triggered by revelations about the sulphurous life Marcial Maciel, founder of the religious Mexican Legionaries of Christ. The commonalities between the paths of these two charismatic figures reflect similar psycho-pathological mechanisms at work in the minds of some community founders created and organized for their devotion.

The real question for the Catholic Church in France will be how such information will be collected and relayed.It is feared that other Catholic media still reluctant to take seriously the information when we see the self-censorship they demonstrate against the vicissitudes of meaning yet heavy shaking community Contemplative Sisters of St. John since 2009 and despite repeated interventions in the Vatican against a French religious community of nearly four hundred religious. Without returning to the global scandal caused by Father Marcial Maciel of the Legionaries of Christ, the French Catholics had to face there is little time drifts Community of the Beatitudes and Ephraim, its founder. Excesses that Golias also revealed in his time. Now is the Father Marie-Dominique Philippe debunked its pedestal. It is more than ever necessary to examine with clarity on these self proclaimed prophets, these new thinkers. Their skill is such that people seeking master (but also young adults) engage thousands blindly following them. They were able to enjoy it for too long the moral support and complicity of the highest authorities of the Church.

Evidenced in the case of Father Marie-Dominique Philippe, the shameful attitude M gr River which, for example, in August 2007, gave its approval to the Episcopal prayer: "Father very good, you who is the Light and Love, We thank you for giving us the Father Marie-Dominique as the founder of the family S t John ... "Evidenced again, always in the case of Father Marie-Dominique Philippe outstanding pump surrounded his grandiose funeral in 2006, chaired by M gr Barbarin in person at the Saint-Jean cathedral in Lyon ... Time seems to come to them to explain and account.

Fr. John O'Reilly Sex Abuse Allegations in Chile

There seems to be a dearth of updated information regarding serious accusations against the Legion of Christ's #1 priest in Chile. The info below is from Dec 2012. [automatic translation]


The first accusation is followed by a second from another daughter of the same family.

Fr. O'Reilly faces new sex abuse allegation

Thursday December 13, 2012 | 16:14

Posted by Andrea Moreno | The Information is Patrick Andrade · 2132 views

Picture: John O'Reilly | RBB Archive

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The prosecution revealed a new accusation of alleged sexual abuse against Father John O'Reilly, right after the priest declared that he "never" had approaches with minors.

At 13:00 pm on Thursday began taking evidence in the 4th Court of Guarantee of Santiago, where O'Reilly gave his version of the alleged sexual abuse against a minor in the College Summit.

The right to the statement was a request made by the defense attorney, Luis Hermosilla, as indicated by the requirement responds to that for five months the prosecutor Ignacio Pinto has refused to hear the testimony of the clergy.

"I never had approaches" of a sexual nature with the least who was then six years, said the cleric, adding that working with the school performed it in a room with windows.

 the Attorney East reacted immediately confirming that a new indictment involving the girl's sister complainant, becoming a second alleged victim of priest.

For his part, the complainant family lawyer, Jose Ignacio Escobar, expressed harsh criticism of the canonical investigation that leads the Catholic Church, because in his view has not advanced at all.

Active Priest former Legionary Gives Up on Reform because of Ostracizing Reforming Priest

A very loving and fervent active priest who was once a Legionary posted a month ago on his blog "After Leaving the Legion of Christ"

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Forced Limbo

I recently received an email from a Legionary Priest I had been close to before leaving the Legion, and for a time, after. I hadn't had any contact with him for many months. He sent me an Easter greeting, and I replied. From there I was able to find out a bit what is going on in his life. I was disturbed by this interchange of emails. I will keep his name and personal data private, out of respect.

It seems he is no longer living in a Legionary community, but has not sought a diocese. He is living in his home town in a private residence with a family member. This is source of great suffering for him. He is in a real state of limbo, neither here nor there. Imagine what that means for his priestly ministry.

My heart went out to him when I heard this. I know that in the past he was called to Rome, normally a period in time they give to dissident religious or priests to get them back on track though spiritual direction and studies. I doubt he was very happy in that setting.

I don't know how his present situation came about, but for him to have to seek refuge, either willingly or by force, is not a sign that all is well behind the curtain of Legionary charity. All I know is that, when you are in limbo, as I had lived more that a couple of time in the Legion, what do you say to others, how do you explain to them what you are going through. You live in constant humiliation. From there comes a life of lies to protect the honor of the Congregation, who couldn't possibly be doing anything wrong. You lie, swallow your pride and keep on plugging along, hoping things will get better.

Obviously things are not getting better. This similar situation with this priest has lead him to live outside his religious community but not accepted into a diocese. That is tragic. So much for "We'll help you with whatever you need."

All this calls to mind the Legionary practices outlined in the Communiqué of the Holy See dated May 1, 2013 [2010? says this blogger; need to clarify]:

a deplorable discrediting and distancing of those who entertained doubts as to the probity of his [Fr Maciel's] conduct;

the need to review the exercise of authority, which must be joined to truth, so as to respect consciences and to develop in the light of the Gospel as authentic ecclesial service.

Obviously, this issue of Legionary procedure has not been addressed. 

I have given up hope that a true renewal will take place in the Legion long ago. This exchange with this priest has only helped to cement this conviction. We can only pray that our Lord will intercede and rectify this situation. The Legion must not be allowed to continue using people and abusing individual's generosity.

Pope Francis follows Legion Reform

fresh off the press as reported by Vatican Insider/La Stampa in Rome

Legion Blog Features Fr. Williams Leaving Priesthood

The Regnum Christi blog features Fr. Williams Leaving the Priesthood and has allowed comments pro and con
Kudos to Legion/Regnum openness

Legion of Christ "theoretical poverty" slammed by Pope Francis

 

“We have no use for theoretical poverty,” Francis said, departing from his prepared text.

Not that he referred to the LC by name but from the context -speaking to religious orders- what he says can be applied easily to the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi Movement who, following the spirituality of Fr. Marcial Maciel bequeathed to them, have always opted for "a spirit of poverty" over and above effective poverty. The question is, could the Pope be alluding to the Legion and does he have some clean up in store from them?

Francis urges priests to live simple lives among the poor

• Topics:
• News
• Social Affairs
• Religion & Beliefs
• Angelo Scola
• Jorge Bergoglio
• Milan Archbishop
• Pope Benedict
• Pope Francis

Wed, May 8, 2013, 14:38

First published:Wed, May 8, 2013, 14:38

   

Pope Francis said today that clergy who were “careerists” or “social climbers” were doing serious damage to the Catholic Church, his latest utterance aimed at instilling a sense of frugality and service in the Vatican and beyond.

Francis (76), the former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, made the comments while addressing a gathering of superiors general of orders of nuns from around the world.

“Men and women of the Church who are careerists, social climbers, who use the people, the Church, brothers and sisters - those they should serve - as a springboard for their own ambitions and personal interests do great damage to the Church,” he said.

“We learn poverty from the humble, the poor, the sick,” he added, urging clergy to work with those on the margins of society and shun the “idols of materialism” that cloud the true meaning of life.

“We have no use for theoretical poverty,” Francis said, departing from his prepared text.

Since his election on March 13th, Francis has made it clear through his words and example that he wants clergy to live simpler lives, to serve the poor and shun temptations of power.

He has decided not to live in the spacious, luxurious papal apartments in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace used by his predecessors, opting instead for a small suite in a guest house, where he shares meals with other residents.

In his address, the pope appeared to be sending a message not only to priests, nuns and bishops around the world who serve the 1.2 billion-member church, but also to bureaucrats in the Vatican itself.

Francis has inherited a Vatican rocked by a scandal in which documents leaked to the media spoke of alleged corruption in its administration and depicted prelates as fighting among themselves to advance their careers.

Last month he set up an advisory board of eight cardinals from around the world to help him reform the Vatican administration.

They will help him put into place changes in an administration which has been held responsible for some of the mishaps and scandals that plagued the eight-year reign ofPope Benedict before he resigned in February.

Benedict left a secret report for Francis on the problems in the administration, which came to light when sensitive documents were stolen from the pope’s desk and leaked by his butler in what became know as the “Vatileaks” scandal.

Before the conclave that elected Francis, cardinals called for changes to the Curia to make it a model of good governance, including introducing term limits on Vatican bureaucrats.

Anger at the mostly Italian prelates who run the Curia was one of the reasons that cardinals chose the first non-European pope for 1,300 years and quashed the chances of one of the front-runners, Milan Archbishop Angelo Scola.