Da Techguy's (no longer backup) Blog

You know when after a Vatican investigation of the head of a major catholic order it is decided to:

invite the father to a reserved life of penitence and prayer, relinquishing any form of public ministry. The Holy Father approved these decisions.

That suggested there was some there there. Well it took a year after the old man’s death but this stuff is finally coming out publicly:

The Legionaries of Christ, an influential Roman Catholic religious order, have been shaken by new revelations that their founder, who died a year ago, had an affair with a woman and fathered a daughter just as he and his thriving conservative order were winning the acclaim of Pope John Paul II.

Before his death, the founder, the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, had been forced to leave public ministry by Pope Benedict XVI because of accusations from more than a dozen men who said he had sexually abused them when they were students.

Lots of commentary, starting with the American Papist who is all over this:

the Legionaries of Christ have some hard decisions to make with regards to how they respond to this crisis concerning the founder. The eyes of the world are on them, and the prayers of the universal Church are with them. It is somewhat encouraging to see that the current head of the LC’s personally saw to it that a thorough investigation took place. Now let’s hope they follow through on their discoveries.

And he has plenty more on the subject:

Catholic Culture points out the poor response of the Legion:

What’s dismaying is that, still today, among the FAQs the Legion goes out of its way to answer about its founder, the most Frequently Asked Question of all does not rate a mention.

Damion Thompson reminds us of the popularity or lack thereof of the order on both the left and the right of the church:

…their critics extend across the whole Church. The holier-than-thou manner of Legionary priests and Regnum Christi lay people gets up everyone’s noses. Of course, there is a lot of sympathy for good Catholics who have been duped – but this is the risk you run with personality cults. The question for this wealthy and well-connected order is: what next? And no one seems to know the answer.

I seem to remember us being warned on this somewhere:

I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose. For it has been reported to me about you, my brothers, by Chloe’s people, that there are rivalries among you. I mean that each of you is saying, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Kephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I give thanks (to God) that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. (I baptized the household of Stephanas also; beyond that I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. 1 Cor 1:10-17

Andrew Sullivan being Andrew Sullivan sees it all about one thing:

The problem is the distorted and contorted sexuality that celibacy and total power can create in many clerical psyches. Until the Church hierarchy tackles that, until it is able to understand sexuality more than it fears it, it will not be able to bring new and healthy life into the church.

After all the best way to stop sin it to declare it no longer sin. Good Plan! He also misrepresents the Pope but that’s almost a given.

In the light of the law suggests what should happen under canon law here:

The Legion should (if it can, and I’m not sure it has the self-possession to do this) identify every official who knew of Maciel’s canonical crimes or who suspected them, but did nothing (let alone cooperated with them!) and expel them under 1983 CIC 696. Canonical crimes by a number of persons might well have been committed here (see e.g. 1983 CIC 1389); these should be pursued.

Everyone, within the Legion and without, who has publicly attacked the motives and/or character of Maciel’s accusers and of Legion critics should, just as publicly, apologize.* While not every accusation was accurate and not every critic was temperate (an impossible standard even for those who have not been physically or psychologically abused), the denials and even recriminations that met their complaints were, in my opinion, unconscionable.

He concludes with what he thinks will happen.

Life after RC points out the a truth of the matter that will likely be ignored:

For those who are still incredulous, think of how Satan works. Some are attacked by lust, some by materialism, others by pride. What a clever blow to the heart of the Church this is. To say “it cannot be” is to deny the depth of hatred that Satan has for God and the souls who love Him. This was an enormous “gotcha” by the Prince of Darkness, but’s not the end of the story. Please let grace work.

This is the other side of why this stuff happens.

My take on it all: I’ve had little experience with the Legionaries of Christ other than receiving fundraiser requests in the mail it would seem to me that in terms of the leadership the best move is to come clean and come clean quick. Not because it blunts scandal but because as Catholics this is what is required. The primary responsibility of any Catholic Order is to save souls. Delay and equivocation will accomplish the opposite. There are apparently a lot of good Catholics in this order in holy order and lay people their vocation needs to be protected and anyways we have a specific example of what happens with this stuff:

You have done this deed in secret, but I will bring it about in the presence of all Israel, and with the sun looking down.'” Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan answered David: “The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. 2 Samuel 12,13

Note what happens when David acknowledges his sin, not only does the Lord forgive him for his actions of both Murder and Adultery but allows this to lead to the Birth and rise of Solomon the greatest of Old Testament kings.

Fr John Corapi in his sermons reminds us that God allows Evil Pain and Suffering to let an even greater good come out of it. If the Legionaries are willing to come clean not only will undoubtedly something good come of all this but that will be up to them.