Something along these lines is going to have to occur.For the record The Legionaries of Christ have no intention of dissolving or renaming the order.
For the record, thus far, Tom Hoopes, a very good journalist and a lay man who edits the National Catholic Register, is the only Legion official thus far to offer any apology to Maciel’s critics.For the record The Legionaries of Christ have no intention of dissolving or renaming the order.
Father Alvaro the General Director of the Legionaries of Christ has sent letters of apology to thousands.Maybe you just did not get yours yet.Send me your address and I will make sure that you all get one.
I thought this apology was for Maciel’s actions…
The order was saved in part because of the timely pleadings of its remaining leadership – Francis of Jesi and Bernardine of Asti – and in part because of the sanctity of some of its members, such as St. Felix of Cantalice. They became one of the leading forces in the Counter-Reformation, and continue to serve the Church and give Her saints. Padre Pio was a Capuchin.
Thank you Father and I believe that Father Alvaro can do the same. He himself started the investigation. So we will pray for mercy on the Legion they are a good order.
If the Legion is conducting the investigation - if they have any oversight, control, regulation, authority over, or anything other than bringing in independent investigator(s), then the resulting conclusions will not be worth the paper they are written on - or not written on. The fox does not guard the hen coop.
Last Thursday evening I was informed that, after an internal investigation of the charges lodged against him, it had been discovered that my religious congregation’s founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado fathered a child, who is now in her early 20s. Fr. Maciel founded the Legion in 1941. He died on January 30, 2008. On May 19, 2006, the Vatican released a communiqué requiring him to retire to a private life of penitence and prayer in light of numerous allegations brought before the Holy See, including accusations of sexual abuse of some of the first members of the congregation. At that time the Legion began its own internal investigation.
Given the near impossibility of ascertaining what happened over so many years (the earliest accusations would have been dated to the 1950’s), and because I am not privy to the findings of any of these investigations, I do not know which of those earlier accusations might be true. Sadly, however, it seems evident that some of them must indeed be true.
In shock, sorrow, and with a humbled spirit, I want to express my deepest sorrow for anyone who, in any way, has been hurt by the moral failings of Fr. Maciel. Of my readers, I ask your prayers for each of them. They count not only on my prayers, but also on the personal acts of reparation that I intend to do to implore for each of them the grace, healing, and comfort that only God can give. I am so sorry for each of them, and for the scandal this has caused to the entire Church.
For the members of my religious family, the Legionaries of Christ, I humbly ask for your prayers as we discern the road ahead and strive, each in our way and apostolic work, to continue to serve Christ and his Church.
I cannot abide some of these comments in defense of the Legion.Just an FYI Father Jonathan Morris and Father John Williams both went into depth and apologized sincerely from the heart last night.
The Legion has apologized! I know for some of you it will never be enough. But it is over and we ask that you pray for all of us so that we can heal and follow the guidance of Rome.
Yes… you are quite right…
Toni-I’m very sorry to hear all this brouhaha about Fr. Maciel. The media just loves inflaming, doesn’t it?