The Legionaries of Christ scandal: did Fr Maciel have 'accomplices'?

[jacie]

LinDiego - you sound like you have a close family member in Regnum Christi. We went through a smilar thing when my brother joined the Legion right out of high school. My Mom was quite unhappy that he would only be coming home on her and my father’s birthdays, and that phone calls were so limited. It was explained that the Legionaries had to be his family now, because he might be spending the rest of his life with them.

That was 15 years ago, and over time things have relaxed a bit. It all depends on what mission or job they are assigned to, but we stay in touch regularly and have wonderful conversations. I think what happens is the individual is so zealous at the beginning and so busy with their studies and work, that they can act a little overscrupulously. Also, I find that the Legionaries’ vow of charilty, i.e. never speaking ill of another person, actually limits the conversation quite a bit. Think about how much time we spend conversing with other people about other people. But try directing the conversation towards spiritual matters, or even current political or world events. Try keeping in touch by e-mail because I don’t think there are many restrictions on that (if they have access to a computer). Also, if you call her, she is allowed to return your call.

I know it sometimes can feel like a cult, because our culture is so used to our personal freedom. But think about the Apostles - they left their wives and families to serve the Church. Think about the Carmelites and other orders who are allowed no contact whatsoever with the outside world. The life of a Legionary or a Regnum Christi member is very disciplined and militaristic. But so many religious orders have gotten sloppy in the formation of their priests and religious, that I have to say I appreciate the careful formation done by the Legionaries. Yes, it can be misused by some to hide their sinfulness, but all I know is that my brother doesn’t see it happening, and I trust his judgment. I pray and trust that the truth will come out, one way or the other.

 

[irenaeus1]

The other is a vow of charity, to never speak uncharitably of another person or fellow Legionary… And I have to say every Legionary I have ever met has taken great pains not to speak ill of any other person. We all should practice this kind of charity.

Excellent post jacie; thanks for sharing your insight and first-hand knowledge of the organization. However, the problem with regard to exercising charity is that we often mistake this to mean being warm, fuzzy, and nice. If we fraternally and charitably offer correction to our brother (or sister) in private, and he refuses correction, we are commanded by Jesus to bring it forth before other as witnesses to establish all the facts. If they still refuse correction, the matter is to be brought before the church. And if they refuse to listen even to the church, they are to be treated as an outsider. You see, St. Paul was being charitable when he called to task a man in Corinth who was sleeping with his step-mother. He called for the church to expel him from their community - why? Because it was the charitable thing to do.

 

[Cracker_Mom]

Excellent post jacie; thanks for sharing your insight and first-hand knowledge of the organization. However, the problem with regard to exercising charity is that we often mistake this to mean being warm, fuzzy, and nice. If we fraternally and charitably offer correction to our brother (or sister) in private, and he refuses correction, we are commanded by Jesus to bring it forth before other as witnesses to establish all the facts. If they still refuse correction, the matter is to be brought before the church. And if they refuse to listen even to the church, they are to be treated as an outsider. You see, St. Paul was being charitable when he called to task a man in Corinth who was sleeping with his step-mother. He called for the church to expel him from their community - why? Because it was the charitable thing to do.

That’s a very good point. Hadn’t thought of it that way.

 

[jacie]

Sorry, didn’t mean to give anyone the impression that this vow of charity prevents any Legionary from bringing sin to light. I was just referring to LinDiego’s complaint about how the communications he/she has with his/her family member seem so lacking in content. My brother, for sure, and I imagine most other Legionaries, view their vow of charity to mean that if they have a problem with a person, they first go directly to that person. All the Legionaries I have ever met have been most scrupulous about not saying negative things about other people behind their back. They have also assured me that if they had knowledge of any victimization going on within the Legion, they would have taken appropriate steps to end it. They would go first through their chain of command, but they would do whatever was necessary to protect the victim and bring the wrongdoer to repentance. This is just based on my conversations with the few Legionaries I have met. I haven’t gotten the impression that any of them are under any delusions or mind control about this subject.

I also bring up the vow of charity because their are some people on the internet and elsewhere who think this is some sort of method by which the leadership of the Legion controls the underlings. I just suspect that us free speech-loving Americans have a hard time with the concept of holding our tongues when it comes to uncharitable speech. We are so used to being critical about everything and everyone in our society that we immediately become suspicious about someone who doesn’t respond. Just something to keep in mind when analyzing your interactions with a Legionary. I know someone else here said there was just something about them, she just got a feeling when interacting with them.

 

[Cracker_Mom]

Sorry, didn’t mean to give anyone the impression that this vow of charity prevents any Legionary from bringing sin to light. I was just referring to LinDiego’s complaint about how the communications he/she has with his/her family member seem so lacking in content. My brother, for sure, and I imagine most other Legionaries, view their vow of charity to mean that if they have a problem with a person, they first go directly to that person. All the Legionaries I have ever met have been most scrupulous about not saying negative things about other people behind their back. They have also assured me that if they had knowledge of any victimization going on within the Legion, they would have taken appropriate steps to end it. They would go first through their chain of command, but they would do whatever was necessary to protect the victim and bring the wrongdoer to repentance. This is just based on my conversations with the few Legionaries I have met. I haven’t gotten the impression that any of them are under any delusions or mind control about this subject.

I also bring up the vow of charity because their are some people on the internet and elsewhere who think this is some sort of method by which the leadership of the Legion controls the underlings. I just suspect that us free speech-loving Americans have a hard time with the concept of holding our tongues when it comes to uncharitable speech. We are so used to being critical about everything and everyone in our society that we immediately become suspicious about someone who doesn’t respond. Just something to keep in mind when analyzing your interactions with a Legionary. I know someone else here said there was just something about them, she just got a feeling when interacting with them.

I said I felt there was something "off " about the whole Legionary operation, not individuals.Actually all my contact with priests & Regnum Christi members was positive.Couldn’t have met nicer folks.

 

[sandraladeda]

Just for the record many of these boys first accused Father Maciel of drug abuse and then changed their stories when sex abuse came into play many years later. If they were abused then why did they not make that accusation first instead of the drug abuse charge?
Just curious.See article below

*Jay Dunlap, a spokesman for Father Maciel and the Legion, dismissed the accusations as lies and asked why the men had not brought up the allegations in the 1950’s, when Father Maciel was investigated for alleged drug abuse and later exonerated. “The idea that there were all these victims and nobody said anything to these investigators is beyond belief,” he said. “The Legion is entirely confident that any full investigation will only serve to exonerate Father Maciel.” *Over the years, the allegations against Father Maciel have been the subject of newspaper articles in The Hartford Courant and The National Catholic Reporter, as well as an ABC television report and several books. The accusers sent letters to the pope by diplomatic pouch in 1978 and 1989, but got no reply, according to Mr. Renner and Mr. Berry, who first wrote about the accusations in The Courant in 1997.
rickross.com/reference/loc/loc46.html

Here is Jay Dunlap’s apology on his website (Feb. 8, 2009)

jaydunlap.com

quote:
It is now clear that Father Maciel did in fact abuse his power and abuse young people in his charge. I personally apologize to his victims and to anyone who was misinformed by statements I made, in this forum and in others. How awful for victims to be taken from their families as children, suffer such abuse, and then to be disbelieved!