Excellent Discussion on Miami Prohibition of Legion and Regnum --#37 in the series How to...

Interesting and informed discussion on Catholic Answers Discussion Board

Miami archdiocese barrs Legion and Regnum Christi [Oct. 30, 2009]

it is now on some Catholic blogs and news papers; the public announcement came from Zenit, which is or used to be a Legion apostolate. It is based on a stiff letter from the chancery.

Informed Catholics of this diocese are sick of the Legion and Regnum not following diocesan guidelines and agreements and walking all over the bishop's authority.

Prestigious and balanced Catholic News Agency ran the story

Legion's Gateway Academy Closing in St Louis?

latest news about Legion or Regnum run Gateway Academy in the St. Louis, Missouri Area [thanks for correction, Molly]

10/28/09:

Scott Brown is meeting with the parents this evening and we have heard a rumor that it is to close GA after the semester. Ironically, Fr. Thomas left yesterday. He was here for the high school closing in May and it was horrendous. This situation may be worse since they promised to keep the school open for the year. The LC is not very swift in managing these types of events.

Discernment Process #36 in the series How To....

Dear Reader,
copying post on Catholic Answers, Legionaries of Christ, Vocation thread, Troubled Legionary's Sister
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Leaving the Legionaries of Christ

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Quote:

Originally Posted by JReducation  in response to exLegionary

All of your points are well made. I just want to echo the one that I find to be criticial. When you are thinking of leaving the religious life or the priesthood or both, as in this case, you can't just jump ship. You have to begin the discernment process again. That's why the Church gives you the time to take a leave of absence or to test yourself in another setting, be it a diocese or a religious community. You don't just leave and are now free. The Church won't allow that. They will demand at least a leave of absence for at least a year and they can extend it up to five. During that time the person can return to the congregation or explore a diocese or another religious family. In the meantime, he has a year to live as a lay person. But his is bound to the vows and the constitutions of the congregation. He has to pray the Liturgy of the Hours under pain of sin. He has to remain celibate. He has to obey. He has to live poverty.

Fraternally,


Br. JR, OSF
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exLegionary to Br. JR

We are getting some consensus here. I would venture the say the priest is "in crisis", =not a good time to make life altering decisions. But it is very difficult for the priest. Because he is so uncomfortable now, he may just feel like running away from the source of so much hurt, deceit, and hypocrisy.

We have to help him slow down and not "despair"; he needs our support as family and friends. It is quite normal to feel overwhelmed sometimes, and it is wise to seek help. I am suggesting that he get help from someone outside the Legion, who is more "neutral", to help "stabilize" his crisis and begin his new discernment process. Perhaps he can gradually overcome his narrow-minded training and realize that there is much more to the Catholic Church than the Legion of Christ. And that God is Our Loving Father who can give us a special calling and wants us to find peace in our true "calling". He may realize that the Legionary spirituality was too Maciel-centered...But I empathize. It is not easy when you see your idols -even "holy" ones- crumble. We are talking about a change in World View, in Religous View and in Church View

The good news is that I believe Legion formation is Christ-centered. Christ has not changed and will not.

He may find a more "stripped down" spirituality, that relies less on human intermediaries, including charismatic saints A scary thought!

Gateway Fr Maher walks out Gate of Legion.....#35 in the series How to...

Read brief, laconic notice below. Letter contains a typo "pray" for "prayer"
He is leaving without leaving, moving to a diocese but remaining a religious but not not living in his religious community...is there a clearer way to say this?

Dear Gateway families,

I've been in the Legion for 23 years. It's been a very fulfilling time in my life, particularly the time spent at Gateway Academy.
Through pray and discernment, I've asked for the opportunity to work in a parish and have been assigned in the Diocese of New Jersey. I remain a member of the congregation of the Legion of Christ, and am grateful for the years I have worked in the many apostolates of the Legion.
I am thankful to all of you for allowing me to be a part of your life. I ask that you keep me in your prayers and know that you will always be in mine.
God bless,
Fr. Thomas Maher, LC

Legion Priests' in Crisis ---#34 in the series

Catholic Answers forum: Legionaries of Christ; discussion

Yesterday, October, 13, 2009, 12:46 pm

exLegionary
Trial Membership Join Date: October 13, 2009
Posts: 4
Religion: Catholic
Re: Legionaries of Christ
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Quote:

Originally Posted by J:

Does anyone know of any orders of priests with a charism similar to the Legionaries of Christ, e.g. a similar missionary zeal for saving souls, orthodoxy, living in community, idealism, a committment to conquering the popular culture and media?
.......
He may be correct that his only choice is laicization. He says the burdens of his vocation feel too great for him to continue. I am very sad for him and would like to think it a simple matter to go elsewhere with his vocation. But I see it is not simple. So sad that the sinfulness of a few has such a profound and far-reaching effect on so many.
.....
Each order is so very different. The problem with the Legionaries is that they are taking no steps to make any needed reforms. Their founder got away with a very sinful life, and you would have to assume that the leadership aided and abbetted him in some way. At the very least, some of the top leaders should have resigned and they should have brought in people untainted by the scandal and unconnected to Fr. Maciel. So far, they seem to be circling the wagons and trying to protect the status quo.
Let's just say that my brother has come to the conclusion that many of the criticisms of the Legion over the years are true and he feels he is living a lie by staying there. He has never been drawn to the Diocesan life, and feels it would be too solitary and lonely for him. He loved the community life of the Legion. I hope and pray that after he gets away and takes some time to heal, God will show him where he needs to go. But he is afraid that if he does not apply for laicization now, that option will be forever lost to him. I suppose the thinking is that the Vatican will be positiviely disposed to grant laicization to Legionaries in light of the scandal. He is feeling angry and betrayed right now. He took a lot of pride in what he thought the Legion was. Another lesson in humility, I think.
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Thus asks/states the sister of Legionary priest  who is questioning his allegiance to the order, his priestly vocation, and talking laicisization


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[exLegionary responds]

J,
Just for shock value, in reply to your opening question, I might suggest the Jesuits. You know that Fr. Maciel copied much of the Legion Constitutions from the Jesuits? You would probably call them "The Old Jesuits". Fr. Maciel was very conservative in doctrine but very liberal in morals.


Seriously, there are quite a number of former Legionaries who have made a good transition to the diocesan priesthood.


Transitioning to another religious order is very complicated as you have seen from other responses.. It's not like being transferred to another soccer team...


Your question reveals a serious flaw in the Legion system: members have very little opportunity to look around them and find out what is outside their group. They may not even be able to consult with an "outside" priest. An LC priest who is considering leaving should have Spiritual Direction/Guidance from a priest outside [independent] and BE FREE TO ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS OF DISCERNMENT.


Discernment is a serious process where one has to know oneself deeply and not just jump into a group that "seems" to fulfill one's calling. I am convinced that many join the Legion WITHOUT PROPER DISCERNMENT, i.e. they skip that painful and soul searching process. Instead they jump into a group that seems to fit. [A group that like a chameleon will change its colors to fit his needs and "capture" him.]


The priest needs to start his discernment all over again. And that is a lot of hard work. It also implies trusting people he has been trained not to trust....

Sounds like he is taking a leap in the dark.
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Letters to a Troubled Legionary's sister

Coming soon