"Legion of Crisis" Sunday Busines Report, August 22, 2010

US based Irish reporter Niall Stanage penned the following article  under the title

Legion of Crisis

Sample quote:

When the organisation finally admitted in March that Maciel had been involved in ‘‘reprehensible actions’’, they also argued that their earlier defence of the founder had been sincere, since the allegations ‘‘conflicted with our experience of him personally and his work’’.



Those denials were met with scepticism in some quarters. ‘‘These people were handpicked by him," Paul Lennon, a Dublin born former legionary, tells The Sunday Business Post.

Lennon, who left the order in 1984 and has subsequently become one of its most prominent critics, says: ‘‘There were never any kind of democratic or semi-democratic decisions made when Maciel was around."
Pope Benedict just last month revealed the identity of the man who would lead a de facto Vatican takeover of the order.
Archbishop Velasio De Paolis will be the pontifical delegate for the legionaries.

De Paolis Pally with Legion! [plus a little translation]

[Anonymous asked me to translate more; today, Thursday, August 19, 2010, I edit from Nags Head NC]

I was complaining about the Apostolic Delegate cozying up to the Legionaries and 'not getting it' regarding how to reform them. I cite a recent posting on the Internet as painting a benign picture of De Paolis intervention.

IMHO He initially got off on the wrong foot with a very friendly first homily to the community in Rome about a month ago telling them not to worry about anything...

A recent posting on Legion-friendly Ex Legionarios de Cristo, Ex Legionaries of Christ blog states, quoting NOTIMEX that he has confirmed ordinations for December, approved the list of candidates and approved other Apostolic endeavors.

Please Note Carefully below: "Legion sources confirmed to Notimex that..."

So, perhaps we need to confirm with another source. But, it is not looking good for Arch Velasio de Paolis

==========
16 de agosto. Delegado Apostólico aprueba los candidatados, cursillos de verano y ordenaciones.

Original source:
http://sdpnoticias.com/sdp/contenido/2010/08/16/4/1097513

"Ratifica comisario papal ordenaciones de nuevos Legionarios de Cristo

Por Andres Beltramo Alvarez.

Corresponsal Ciudad del Vaticano, 16 Ago (Notimex).

- El comisario pontificio para los Legionarios de Cristo, Velasio De Paolis, decidio ratificar las ordenaciones de nuevos sacerdotes de la congregacion, las cuales se llevaran a cabo el 24 de diciembre proximo en Roma.

[Translation of final paragraph]
Legion sources confirmed to Notimex that one of the Apostolic Delegate's first decisions was to keep in place all the vocation promotion processes, accept new novices, and to ordain a group of deacons to the priesthood.
Fuentes de la Legion confirmaron a Notimex que una de las primeras decisiones del delegado apostolico fue mantener inalterados todos los procesos de promocion vocacional, aceptacion a nuevos novicios y elevacion de diaconos a la dignidad de presbiteros"

Legion/Regnum Virus will Mutate and Grow if Apostolic Delegate does not get it right!

George Weigel's Prophetic Article "Next Acts in the Legionary Drama"
from May of this year deserves a re-reading -together with the comments-

Many of us who have followed the Maciel/Legion/Regnum drama/controversy for years would agree with his suggestions and wishes. The cautions from George and from the readers are prophetic IMHO; if the Apostolic Delegate does not take them into account he will jeopardize the efficacy of his mission, the Legion/Regnum Christi Virus will mutate, develop, grow stronger and spread

Future Archbishop Joseph Tobin, New Vatican Appointee on the Legion of Christ/Maciel

Please note that Our Father... and Our Father Maciel.. have identical content; only the title was changed to avoid offending some potential readers

excerpts of Q/A with John Allen NCR

Another high-profile project in which the congregation has been involved is the visitation of the Legionaries, which led to the appointment of an apostolic visitor. Do you expect to play a role in that?


The visitor has a pretty complete set of faculties to deal with the situation, but I imagine that at some point he’ll make recommendations to the congregation. I’m sure the dicastery will want to stay informed.

As you know, a house of cards has been constructed in the media and elsewhere to portray Benedict XVI as somehow uncaring or soft on clerical sexual misconduct, but it has to answer the point that one of the first things he did as pope was to deal with Maciel. That action spoke volumes, because I had been in Rome and I saw the incredible clout Maciel had. The fact that Benedict did it, and did it quickly, was a clear signal that the pope is serious about correcting this thing.

Theologically and spiritually, I think the Legionaries face enormous challenges, given how much religious life tends to stress the person and the inspiration of the founder.

Are you aware of any precedent for these kinds of revelations about a founder?

No, I know of no other experience like this. Theologically and even affectively, it’s a massive blow, given the regard that people in religious communities have for their founder. In the Redemptorists, we often talk about St. Alphonsus Liguori as "Our Holy Father," and I know the Dominicans talk the same way about Dominic, or the Brothers of the Christian Schools the same way about Jean-Baptiste de La Salle. I honestly don’t know what you do about it. I know there’s support for the Legionaries in Rome, so it will be interesting to see how this is done. I certainly don’t feel any schadenfreude about what’s happening ... I know it’s terribly painful.

1 - STOP Admissions to Novitiate, Professions, Ordinations without Permission of Delegate

Stop business as usual in the Legion of Christ

In the interlude between announcement of Apostolic Delegate and his actually taking the position the Legion pushed ahead with recruitment, ordinations, etc. Now they have to get the Apostolic Delegate's permission

only he [the Apostolic Delegate] can approve the decisions of the general government itself: decisions regarding persons (admission to novitiate, profession, priesthood; appointment and transfer of personnel); apostolic and formation choices (seminaries, academic institutions, schools), and extraordinary administrative matters or the disposal of assets.

Papal Mandate for Legionaries & Regnum Christi

just picked up this VIDEO REPORT OF LEGION re the mandate from Cardinal Bertone to De Paolis giving him total power over all members and the congregation of the Legion of Christ.

DECREE


MODALITIES OF FULFILLMENT

OF THE OFFICE OF PAPAL DELEGATE

FOR THE CONGREGATION OF THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST





I. In his letter of June 16, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI:

- appointed His Excellency Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, CS, Titular Archbishop of Telepte and President of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See, as his Delegate for the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ;
- conferred on him the responsibility of governing this religious institute in his name “for as long as it takes to complete its path of renewal and lead it to the celebration of an extraordinary general chapter, whose main purpose will be to bring to completion the revision of the Constitutions”;
- considered the “need and urgency of a path of in-depth revision of the Institute’s charism” and expressed his “desire closely to accompany, sustain, and guide this process” through his own personal Delegate for that Religious Family, who would both be a concrete sign of his closeness and act in his name;

- left for a specific Decree “some further modalities regarding the fulfillment of this Office”.

II. Now, by this Decree, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, issues the following specifications and instructions approved by the Supreme Pontiff regarding the modalities in which the Papal Delegate for the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ will fulfill his Office:

1. The broad authority granted by the Holy Father to the Papal Delegate, to be exercised in the name of the Supreme Pontiff himself, covers the entire institute. It extends over all the superiors at the various levels (general, provincial, and local), all communities, and the individual religious. This authority regards all the problems proper to the religious Institute and the Delegate may always exercise it when in his judgment it is necessary for the good of the institute itself, even overruling the Constitutions.

2. The superiors of the Institute at every level exercise their authority according to the Constitutions and under the authority of the same Papal Delegate. Therefore, they remain in their positions, ad nutum Sanctae Sedis, unless it becomes necessary to provide otherwise.

3. The Institute’s superiors are to act in communion with the Papal Delegate. He is to be informed of the life of the institute, in particular the most important matters, and in addition, only he can approve the decisions of the general government itself: decisions regarding persons (admission to novitiate, profession, priesthood; appointment and transfer of personnel); apostolic and formation choices (seminaries, academic institutions, schools), and extraordinary administrative matters or the disposal of assets.

4. If necessary, the Delegate himself may act firsthand or indicate the decision to be made in specific instances.

5. Everyone has open access to the Delegate and all can deal personally with him. The Delegate, in turn, has the power to intervene wherever he sees fit, including in the internal government of the Institute, on all levels.

6. As he goes about his task, the Delegate will have four personal advisors to aid him in carrying out his work according to the circumstances and possibilities. These aides may be assigned specific tasks, particularly visits ad referendum. With their help, the Papal Delegate will identify, discuss, and clarify the principal topics as they arise during the process he is called to lead.

7. Whenever it becomes evident that certain topics, regarding either persons or things, need to be studied more deeply, the Papal Delegate may appoint study committees using either personnel internal to the Congregation of the Legionaries or competent external persons.

8. At his own discretion, when it seems opportune or necessary, he may select someone other than his advisors to study a point or make a visit ad referendum.

9. The paramount task of the Papal Delegate is to initiate, accompany, and complete the revision of the Constitutions. This implies a profound knowledge of the Congregation of the Legionaries, their history and development. All members of the Institute must collaborate in the revision of the Constitutions, both as individuals and communities, following a plan to be drawn up and activated from the outset. Therefore, a Commission for the revision of the Constitutions is to be created as soon as possible on the various levels of the Institute, with the participation especially of the members of the Institute itself, who must feel personally responsible for revising and rewriting their own plan of gospel living, always in harmony with the teaching of the Church. The president of the central Commission for the revision of the Constitutions will be the Papal Delegate himself.

10. The Papal Delegate coordinates the Apostolic Visitation to the Regnum Christi Movement, following the indication of the Holy See.

11. Appeals against acts of the superiors of the Institute will be directed to the Papal Delegate himself; regarding acts of the Papal Delegate, it will be possible to appeal to the Holy Father.

From the Vatican, July 9, 2010

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone

Secretary of State

lian)

De Paolis Duped by the Legion of Christ?

Let's me honest; the saccharine homily delivered by Apostolic Delegate to the Legion community in Rome, mid July,  just does not cut the mustard.
It is like a step back from the Vatican statement of May 1st. It is frankly confusing for parents and concerned Catholics

What was it about?

• Assuring rank and file that they had nothing to worry about?
• Prevent a stampede for the doors?
• Continue to have Orthodox Catholics believe the Legion is still a safe bet?

What it does not address:

• What about the Maciel coverup by Superiors?
• What about Apostolic Schools still operating?
• What about ongoing recruitment and ordinations of poorly prepared seminarians?
• What about the serious allegations of the Legion being a cult or an intra-Catholic sect?
• What about concerns voiced by several Bishops, local ordinaries in the USA and other countries?