Vatican Continues to Fawn on the Legion of Maciel

"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]

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?

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

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?

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

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

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.”