Legionaires Of Christ

[Nicole]

Hi all, just a few facts from my area. I certainly don’t know about all Legion/RC people in other areas of the world.

The Legion priests definitely do not keep to themselves. They host open retreats for men and women, hold boys camps, youth activities (like a door to door mission). They also participate in Diocesan events like the ordination of Archbishop Burke and Corpus Chrisi procession.

The women I know in RC come from all walks of life. Some have kids in public school, others parish school, private or homeschool. It is very diverse. When I joined, rather than feeling ‘targeted,’ I almost felt like I had to bug them to get more info and to join.

We study the week’s Sunday Gospel at every meeting. We did study Fr. Maciel’s book, Christ is My Life, but right now we are studying Pastores Dobo Vobis, which is an Apostolic Exhortation written by Pope John Paul II.

Finally, the two Priests in our area both joined when they were older, not as jr. high kids. So, although they do have the Apostolic schools, that is not the only way they train their Priests.

If anyone has anymore questions, I’d be happy to tell you what my experience is.

Finally, I have been in RC for almost two years and I’ve never ‘recruited’ anyone. I have occasionally invited friends to the open events, but that’s about it. It is simply not cult-like in my experience, at least in this area.

God Bless,
Nicole

 

[Fortiterinre]

About a decade ago I had a friend who was with the Legion for less than a year. He said at the time that he left because he found it very controlling, that every minute of his day was scheduled, and that he was reprimanded for not following minute instructions and customs to the letter. I agree that the Legion and Opus Dei are very different from other orders in the sense that most orders do not have groups out there making cult allegations; ex-Jesuits might have a lot to say, but I doubt if it would be about cults! I know a diocesan priest who is a “cooperator” with OD and he seems very happy. Personally I am always struck by how “separate” the LC and OD ministries seem compared to Franciscan, Carmelite or other order ministries, as if they were almost a different Rite within the Church. Like Vatican II itself, they might have great principles but problems in their implementation. My advice is be open in the Spirit if you are exploring a vocation with these groups but definitely proceed with caution.

 

[Super_Mom]

From the Diocese of Columbus, OH Re: RC

Because these organizations are, or could be, involved in soliciting donations via mailed letters, brochures, etc., to our parishioners, Father G. Michael Gribble felt that this Diocesan Policy may be of interest to you. Effective October 15, 2002, a revised policy has been placed into effect regarding the Regnum Christi organization and the Legionaries of Christ priests. This is a diocesan wide policy, applicable to all parishes and diocesan facilities and organizations. Regnum Christi is a legitimate association of the faithful in the Catholic Church. While members have a canonical right to join legitimate associations of the faithful, not all associations are approved or supported by the Diocese of Columbus. As a result of concerns regarding some of its operating methods, and stresses that have been experienced from some of its activities here, the Diocese of Columbus does not endorse or support Regnum Christi. In order to prevent any confusion whatsoever, the activities of Regnum Christi must be completely separate from all activities of the parishes and the Diocese. Effective as of October 15, 2002, Regnum Christi meetings are not to be held on any parish or diocesan property. There is already an agreement with the Provincial of the Legionaries of Christ that their priests are not to be active in any way in the Diocese of Columbus. Furthermore, the Legionaries of Christ priests are not to be used as advisors to any school or parish. They are not to be involved in any school or in any school activities. Neither any school nor any parish is to be used as a recruitment tool for any program sponsored by the Legionaries of Christ or Regnum Christi. Programs for young people or adults sponsored by Regnum Christi are not to be operated through any parish or promoted through any parish channels, including parish newsletters or bulletins. Likewise, programs for young people or adults sponsored by Regnum Christi are not to be operated through any diocesan organization, office or facilities, or promoted through any diocesan channels. No one employed by any parish or the Diocese may use their position to promote the activities of Regnum Christi.

 

[chimakuni]

misericordie:

Why do left wing liberal catholics invent so many lies about regnum christi? My friend actually belongs to that group and she is NOT A MEMBER of a cult. I highly doubt the pope would approve a “cult”, and one thing is sure, this pope loves Regnum Christi and the Legion. The women members of Regnum Christi are real women who are for the most part Orthodox catholic Professionals, and all sooner or later get an educational degree from Regina Apostolorum University in Rome. They are not the feminazi type of women with a wanting to male like agenda. Nor are they into male bashing as many unhappy women are. On the contrary they are full of peace, reason, joy, love and palin old INTELLIGENCE, all mixed up with holiness.

GOD BLESS REGNUM CHRISTI AND THE LEGIONARIES OF CHRIST: nOW THERE ARE real PRIESTS.

I am actually giggling - being called a “Left Wing Liberal Catholic” I wrote simply what I have noticed - I have not made up any lies. The one thing I would like to see is the documentation where the Pope actually writes that he ‘loves’ the Regnum Christi group and the Legonairres of Christ. The women that I wrote about are not male bashers - but surprise, neither am I! The women that I know who are in R.C. are all, except for one, on anti-depressants … they have blank looks about them and it is a great concern of mine.

Orthodox to the hilt and not a Regnum Christi member.

 

[Marie]

Super Mom:

Hi Marie;

I looked long and hard (using search engine)but couldn’t find any ex except ex-LC and RC

I found them. Don’t know how you missed them. Try Rent a Priest. Boy, they all have their whine.
X-Jesuit:

“I left the order to some extent because I didn’t see myself living a celibate life well for the rest of my life,” Bianchi admitted. “But I also left because I wanted more freedom to make my own decisions.”

X’ers abound in all orders and across the board they all have their whin. “I wanted my freedom”.

I also found this interesting Article:

LC and False Accusations against Founder

In 1997 the authors reported in the Hartford Courant about the accusations af a handful of former members of the Catholic religious order of the Legionaires of Christ. They had accused the order’s founder, Father Marcias Maciel , of having sexually abused them in the 1950s, when they were seminarians. By the authors’ own admission, national media in the U.S. showed little interest in the story, perhaps because they had been burned before with instances of alleged abuses reported by the so called victims twenty or even forty years after the “facts”. It is also true that the Legionaries’ attorneys at that time provided the mainline media with affidavits by other former seminarians, stating that they had been offered money to confirm false allegations against Maciel. The accusers had been thrown out of Catholic ecclesiastical courts more than once.

The book paradoxically provides the best argument against Maciel’s slanderers. We read that the accusers operate within a large network of angry Catholics and ex-Catholics, including a real legion of lawyers hungry for millionaire settlements. Never, however, did these lawyers move against Maciel and the Legionaries in a secular court of law. The authors are aware of this hole in their net, and counter that the abuses happened in Italy and Spain, where laws and judges operate in a different way. They do indeed: both prime ministers and cardinals have been vigorously prosecuted in Italy and Spain by the like of judges Garzòn of Madrid, Borrelli of Milan, and Caselli of Palermo, both when in office and thereafter. Perhaps these news never reached Hartford, Connecticut.

 

[Super_Mom]

Marie;

What’s interesting with the cases I’ve read about, that’s the one thing they don’t complain about. Instead they talk about “cult” tactics. They didn’t complain about living a chaste life or wanting their freedom but being controled in a cult-like fashion. Some went on to become priests in other dioceses or orders.
Also how can you trust anything a LC priest says while he is with LC because of the 4th vow they take not to talk against the order. How could any problem ever be corrected if you couldn’t even say there was a problem. I’m not saying the order is totally rotten, just that there is nothing in place to correct the few bad apples

 

[Nicole]

chimakuni:

The one thing I would like to see is the documentation where the Pope actually writes that he ‘loves’ the Regnum Christi group and the Legonairres of Christ. The women that I wrote about are not male bashers - but surprise, neither am I! The women that I know who are in R.C. are all, except for one, on anti-depressants … they have blank looks about them and it is a great concern of mine.

Here is a link to a speech John Paul II gave to 12,000 Regnum Christi members in Jan 2001:
regnumchristi.org/english/articulos/articulo.phtml?rc=se-18_ca-39_te-10_id-1251

Some excerpts:

I am profoundly happy to greet you upon your jubilee pilgrimage to Rome, during which you are celebrating the 60th anniversary of your founding. You come from different nations of the world; I greet each and every one of you with the hope that this occasion will constitute a strong support for your faith in the Lord Jesus and your decision to bear witness to him before your brothers and sisters.

I extend a particularly affectionate greeting to your dear founder, Father Marcial Maciel, whom I heartily congratulate at this significant juncture. I warmly thank him for the words he has addressed to me in the name of all of you. I especially appreciate his express confirmation of the fidelity to the Successor of Peter that characterizes you. Your communion with the Pope attests to your full insertion into the mystery of the Church’s unity.

And also:

I encourage you, in keeping with your motto, “Your Kingdom Come!” never to let up in your enthusiasm for working tirelessly to make the Kingdom of love, grace, justice, and peace a reality in persons and in society. May one of the main fruits of this intense spiritual experience in Rome be the renewal in your souls of sincere love for Jesus Christ, so that you may bring many other men and women to share in the blessing of this unique friendship with him.

Again, I can only speak from my experience, but I have struggled with depression and tried meds in the past. Nothing has helped me as much as growing in my faith and Regnum Christi is a big part of that. It is not a cult. I’m sorry that your encounters w/RC women seem to leave some doubt in your mind. I’m not sure what else to say, but again, I do want share my real life experience.

God Bless,
Nicole - Med Free, Smiling, Orthodox, Regnum Christi Member

 

[_pro-life_teen]

I’ve been looking into Regnum Christi movement for a while now, and am impressed by how caring and generous the women are. I read a book of several different vocational stories of Consecrated Women of RC called Three in the Afternoon and found it to be full of depth and maturity, very moving, and inspiring. Maybe you could check it out, Super Mom!

 

[mom26sofar]

DBT,
I know this, they have the most well formed priests there are. They allow young boys that might feel a calling to come to their schools and begin formation, if at some point they feel that they are not called to the priesthood, the boys just unenroll and go home. I have heard some negative things but I am not sure why.

I have been looking into Regnum Christi and have also been “warned” to approach cautiously. I am reading Fr. Maciels book called Christ is my life. It is really good! It is a book of interviews, questions asked by a reporter and then the responses by Fr. Maciel. There are also some great pictures of different events by LC and RC. Some are at the Vatican. I am really impressed at how well formed these priests are, not just in theology but well rounded in all areas of thier education. They are really able to handle themselves in a wide variety of situations.

I wish more priests were like this, it is sad when you ask a priest some question either about the faith or like for someone like me a homeschooling mom, I wanted to know a science question since we just converted and unfortuntatly the priest that I asked had no idea and wasn’t really interested in finding out the answer.

I understand also that the LC has not been affected by the vocation crisis. That speaks for something!

I am considering joining the RC movement. I have just began attending meetings and like what I see so far.

God Bless!

 

[Nicole]

Super Mom:

Also how can you trust anything a LC priest says while he is with LC because of the 4th vow they take not to talk against the order. How could any problem ever be corrected if you couldn’t even say there was a problem. I’m not saying the order is totally rotten, just that there is nothing in place to correct the few bad apples

I think there is a misunderstanding about this. The RC/LC ‘way’ is ‘person to person.’ Therefore, you are perfectly able to take your concerns to the person they involved, or if they are about an issue, through the proper channels. What they discourage is talking about a problem to those it doesn’t concern and/or gossip. So, the way I see it, there are proper channels in place, and the LC priests can go through them if they have problems. The LC priests will not however sit around and gripe about things in a crowd.

If you have the chance to get to know some LC Priests, I encourage you to do so. Personally I’ve never met more charitable, well-formed, inspiring Priests.

God Bless,
Nicole

 

[Marie]

Super Mom:

Marie;

Also how can you trust anything a LC priest says while he is with LC because of the 4th vow they take not to talk against the order. How could any problem ever be corrected if you couldn’t even say there was a problem.

I am not quite sure I follow your reasoning on that one. I appreciate your concerns.But did you read the story above? Especially this part.

It is also true that the Legionaries’ attorneys at that time provided the mainline media with affidavits by other former seminarians, stating that they had been offered money to confirm false allegations against Maciel.

As they were former members how are they not to be trusted according to your logic?

I appreciate your concerns, but now days too many of us like to paint every subject with a broad brush. (My self included) One must take care when speaking about things we are directly and indirectly involved in. Especially when it involves un substantiated hearsay. We can judge but with limited vision and involvement, we can only go so far. Our souls and the souls of others can and are affected by what we say and how we say it.

I have friends who’s sons have left diocesan seminaries as well. I love them dearly but the truth is, I know them well. When they give their excuses, I listen but I also filter it through seeking truth.

One such friends son was bitter and angry. A terrible situation. He was released because he was not spiritually mature and judged not a candidate after three years. He had one version, the seminary another. The fact that I knew the young man from childhood did not make me take his word for the horrible cult like mentality of the seminary. I knew he had always had problems with his bad temperament and was not mature. I did not think him suited before he entered and I agree with the seminary even though I was not ever there. He was age 22 when he entered.

I know another who left the Jesuits. He was 28 when he entered. Again, great friend but he also has his personal baggage which those of us know him can filter out and see through his logic where he cannot. Again, he has been one to jump in and out of things all of his life.

We love them both dearly but friendship does not blind us to the truth. As time goes by, the young men themselves are leveling out and can see they were not being honest with themselves. It is a very deep comitment to give ones life to God in service.

As to the age please note both were adults when the entered the seminary. Both were not suited by stint of their personalities. Persoanlities which were well formed before entrance. Many are called but few are chosen.

 

[JoK]

In answer to your question about the Legionaires, I just wanted to say that my daughter attends Gateway Academy, which is a school in the St. Louis area, that is affiliated with the Legionaires of Christ. I have met a number of Legionaires and find them to be wonderful priests. They love God, the Church, the pope, and are very devoted to Our Lady. All you have to do is watch one of they say Mass, and you know of their love for Christ in the Holy Eucharist.

After the Pope’s visit with the Youth in Canada, I heard of the Legionaire priests, who tirelessly gave of themselves, hearing Confessions of the youth for hour upon hour.

In addition, my daughter has learned more about her Catholic Faith in her 6 years at this school, because of its affiliation with the Legionaires, than I learned before I was in my thirties. I might add that I had 12 years of Catholic education. I’d also like to know how many other Catholic schools have courses on Apologetics?

The Legionaires’ life is for Christ and saving souls!

JoK

 

[DBT]

JoK:

In answer to your question about the Legionaires, I just wanted to say that my daughter attends Gateway Academy, which is a school in the St. Louis area, that is affiliated with the Legionaires of Christ.

You know, JoK, it really is a small world. Or perhaps there is something else at work here .

The reason I originally posted this question is that my parish has a number of Gateway families. I haven’t really had a chance to get to know any of them but I’ve always been impressed, from a distance, with the love and devotion they exhibit for the Church. In this regard, they really stand out.

I should probably stop here because there’s a pretty decent chance you might be one of the people I was thinking about when I asked this question.

 

[Nicole]

DBT:

You know, JoK, it really is a small world. Or perhaps there is something else at work here .

The reason I originally posted this question is that my parish has a number of Gateway families. I haven’t really had a chance to get to know any of them but I’ve always been impressed, from a distance, with the love and devotion they exhibit for the Church. In this regard, they really stand out.

I should probably stop here because there’s a pretty decent chance you might be one of the people I was thinking about when I asked this question.

Seriously, my kids go there too. There are only a couple of Gateway families at my Parish, so I don’t think it’s the same one, but still, wild eh?

I felt the same way about the families when our kids first started there two years ago. We have all grown so much in our faith because of these families and because of the Legion Priests too.

God Bless,
Nicole, your neighbor apparently!

 

[DBT]

Nicole:

Seriously, my kids go there too. There are only a couple of Gateway families at my Parish, so I don’t think it’s the same one, but still, wild eh?

Wow! Nicole, nice to meet you in a cyber-space kind of way!

 

[chimakuni]

Nicole - I am glad that through RC and your faith that you have been able to rid yourself of depression…perhaps you could pray for the women I know who are in RC who struggle with depression. I thank you for taking the time to post the sayings that Pope John Paul II wrote. I know that the Holy Father is a loving man…I still do not read in his words that he says he loves the RC and LC. One of the things that I hear from each of the RC women in this area is “The Holy Father LOVES Regnum Christi” I wonder how many other orders have to justify themselves or their standing the the Holy Father or with the Vatican? I have a cousin who is a priest - Benedictine as well as an aunt who is a Benedictine Sister. I have never heard them talk about the Holy Father in this way.

Just some questions I have. By the way - I teach apologetics in our Catholic home education school! Gateway has nothing on many Catholic Schools…and to say that it is the only one that teaches apologetics is not quite correct.

God Bless you and your continued love for Christ.

 

[Makerteacher]

My oldest two children attend the Legionnaires high school in Irving Tx called The Highlands. Many of my friends also have children in this school. In fact we have moved our son out of the local Jesuit Prep school and over to the Highlands this year. My experience of the Legionnaires is limited to this one school, but I have to tell you my experiences have been without exception positive.

The priests there are vibrant, interesting, orthodox, and involved, in fact I often see them out playing basketball with the boys after school. They attend school sporting events, plays, etc. To my mind, this makes them both accessible and REAL to the boys: makes the boys think, hey, I could be a priest, too, if they get to eat hot dogs at ball games and play baseball and so on. I just love the fact that they are always THERE, and always supportive.
The place is crawling with religious in their Roman collars, a great sight for my son to see.

The education there is very good. Many of the priests and consecrated there speak more than one language. Mass is offered daily, though not required, and they have spiritual direction required for all high school students (not sure about lower grades.) The school is staffed with many consecratyed men and women, several priests, and many devout lay persons as well. They operate within the diocese and are obedient to the Bishop, from what I can see. Some people are not comfortable with the radical commitment of the consecrated, especially the women, but I think sometimes we need extreme commitments to get the world to NOTICE Catholicism.

Also I receive the daily prayer and meditations via email from RC, which I love. I am not a member of RC.

 

[Jessica]

I was just recently introduced to the Regnum Christi Movement, and am very interested in joining. After reading this thread, it seems that people either love the LC & RC, or they think that they are cult-like and should be approached with caution. Interestingly, the people who love them are the ones that have had contact with them, whereas it seems the people who consider them cult-like heard it from a friend, who heard it from a friend, etc. No one has actually offered any evidence or examples of how this Movement is cult-like. Could those of you who think this please back up your claim?

It seems to me that people are stunned (and somewhat scandalized) by the Movement’s orthodoxy and discipline. Other posters have said that they don’t really hear rumors of other orders being cult-like, such as the Fransiscans or Benedictines. However, if you study their history, they, too, were deemed strange and too extreme by the people of their day. St. Francis was considered crazy because he encouraged his followers to embrace complete poverty. Whenever something new comes along, people always view it with caution (which is good, but suspicion is not), and this was true of the Fransiscans just as it is of the Legionaries of Christ. As the Bible says, we must test all spirits, but I would really like to know if those of you who believe the LC or RC are cult-like actually have substantial evidence, or if you are just repeating rumors you heard. I mean no disrespect by that statement- I’d just like to get a fair opinion of this Movement before I consider joining.
In Christ,
Jessica

 

[LastPew]

The standard.

That is what I call these groups. I realize not all people are called to either lifestyle, but I have known a few people in both organizations and my experience tells me that these are good, faithful people trying to live in a secular world which usually has opposing views to the lifestyle of LC or OP. Both organizations assume a person wants to be holy and they give their treasures (in many cases the treasures that have been time tested in the Catholic Faith: adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, mortification, daily Mass, etc.) to enable the lay person to become holy in the midst of the ordinary duties of their vocation.

These organizations are held to a higher standard. However, if another order gives a new age retreat, a parish has sychronized dancers during the Mass, a priest gives direction contrary to Church teaching, or something like this, we hardly hear a peep of concern from others. But if one LC priest or OP priest does something suspicious then so many people get upset.

My experience of Catholics in these ways of life has been positive. In fact, I would love for either of these to be in my little diocese, at least for community sake.

 

[misericordie]

Detroit Sue:

We have friends who sent their son & daughter to the school in Connecticut. Daughter likes it, son is home. The discipline seems extremely harsh. I also haven’t ever met a priest who is a Legionare. I think they stay pretty sequestered unto themselves. I would say approach with caution.

I would say thay are approved by the Pope, and he personally loves them. They are not liked at times becuase they defend church teaching, and of course the liberals hate them including smany liberal priests over age 55.
My childhoof frind is a legion priest, and he is 34 years old, very holy, smart, and an inspiration. Another new order which is almost similar and growing here in the USA and worldwide is The Institute of The Incarnate Word, founded in Argentina in 1885, and is spreading and growing by invitation of our American Bishops here. Very Holy men and nuns: www.iveamerica.org