This has been rumored and reported for a while, but this report from a Mexican news source seems solid:
Benedict personally tells Legion of Christ to ditch “private vows.”
Pope Benedict XVI had personally asked for the repeal of the private vows professed by the seminarians and priests of the Legionaries of Christ. These were oaths, related to the internal life of the order, which assured its secrecy and impermeability: the first [oath of "charity"] prevented any kind of criticism of superiors and their decisions by members, while the second [oath of "humility"] forbade the religious men from aspiring to positions within it.
My confidence is not increased by the fact that they don’t know the difference between an oath and a vow.
Also, the Jesuits at one time took a vow similar to the 2nd, not to seek honors. Hjas that to been done away with or do they still use it?
I wonder if this is related to the Jesuit meeting in January. That is something the pope forced them to do and I think he is pushing them to reform. I wonder if they pointed out the speck in the eye of the Legionaires. He has a long way to go in reforming the religious orders. The Legionaires seems like one that is working well. Why start there?
Why start there? Because they are clandestine. In general, in the history of religious orders, secretiveness starts out in the service of virtue. It may sometimes serve virtue, but most often becomes a cloak for vice. The Legionaries may be a fine group, but their secretiveness spawns suspicion on the outside, and could be used to hide who-knows-what on the inside.
I don’t trust the LoC. The few I’ve met gave me the creeps. I once knew a fine young man who started the novitiate and eventually “escaped” the order by physically running away. He was a shattered young man when he first came home. Granted, he may have had some unknown problems beforehand, but nothing in a religious order should have broken him like that. He’s doing fine now, but it took him a few years to recover.
It should be noted that internal emails from members who defend the Legion indicate that they will adhere to the “spirit” of the vows no matter what Rome says. Very troubling — Maciel and his Movement (which is actually taught to be an infallible instrument of God) are above the magisterium. It reflects the previous attitude that Benedict was wrong to “persecute” Maciel, who is likened to Jesus before Pontius Pilate.
Why start there? Because there seem to be so many problems. Their fruits, while many, aren’t all good. Their fruits include an organization devoted to helping people recover from being involved in the LC or RC. There are many people who make use of this organization.
Having bumped into Regnum Christi, I find them (yes, John) clandestine. They aren’t forthright when they introduce Regnum groups to our parish (YTM is now MissionYouth; their new youth group is Leadership Training Program), and they spread false innuendo about those who oppose them, including our former pastor. If you are asked to be deceitful for the sake of the Kingdom, it isn’t the right kingdom.
Of course they say they’ll continue the spirit of the vows. What are they supposed to say? Now we’ll gossip and seek preferments?
“Also, the Jesuits at one time took a vow similar to the 2nd, not to seek honors. Hjas that to been done away with or do they still use it?”
As part of their final vows, Jesuit priests still take a vow not to aspire to higher offices in the order, as well as one not to seek higher positions in the Church in general. The one exception is the position of novice master, which is not a terribly glamorous job. At the moment, the Holy Father has not asked us to repeal or even to consider repealing these vows at our next General Congregation.
Samuel: are you being willfully obtuse? There is a difference between authentic charity and removing the frontal lobes of seminarians. Kindly give the Vatican some credit here for seeing an abuse of free will.
I guess all the exposure I have has been good. I went on a Regnum Christi retreat. I know several Legionnaires. I was very impressed. There are many organizations for rescuing Catholics and helping them recover. Just the fact that some people find it extreme does not mean there is anything wrong. In fact, living the faith is supposed to seem foolish to those who are worldly. So if there was nobody saying they were crazy then we should worry. Does anyone ever go overboard? Probably. I just think it is pretty rare.
In over seven years as a member of Regnum Christi, I have never heard a Legion of Christ priest or RC member say or act as if the Movement was or ever could be “infallible”. The Legion and Movement are obedient to the Pope. The Legion of Christ priests and the other RC members, lay and Consecrated, I have known try to live our motto: Love Christ. Serve People. Build the Church. There are many Catholics who do the same, in other Movements and not in one. If only there were more of them, and fewer who want to change the teachings of Christ to conform to their own will.
The shattered lives that lie in the wake of the Legion and Regnum Christi are unprecedented in my experience of any other organization connected to the Church. The stories I have heard from former members and family members sound like the kind of stories you hear about people recovering from being in the Church of Scientology. I personally have known five young people who were left devastated after their experiences with Maciel and his disciples. I’m sick of hearing the devotees of Maciel doubt and question the veracity of these stories and the hundreds of others out there. You don’t see scores of people saying they were shattered by their contact with the Carmelites. Nobody says that their kid was psychologically devastated by living among the Dominicans. Yet, this is the kind of charge that surrounds the Legion and Regnum Christi, and follows them wherever they go. In a moment in which the Church needs vocations, the Legion and RC suck in large numbers of young people, too many of whom get screwed up with their vocations lost.
And PLEASE don’t any of the devotees try and say the scores of people who claim emotional, psychological or physical abuse in the Legion/Regnum Christi are all dupes, failures, or liars. I find this kind of response disgusting as a response to people who, in good faith, trusted this group, and are now suffering.
The only question is, how long before all of us who have been feeling creepy about the Legion, start publicly calling the spades of creepiness spades. The LC/RC takes shameless advantage of the Catholic impulse to not offend charity by calling anyone who questions them uncharitable. Enough already!
Both vows have “squeal clauses” – by VOW one must report others who have broken these vows.
“In following the methodology [of the Movement] you can never go wrong.] We were told that constantly in the seven years I spent there. Along with “Trust us, we see your vocation; even when you can’t.” And finally (for some) “It’s time to go home; pack you bags and be out in an hour.”
“In following the methodology [of the Movement] you can never go wrong.] We were told that constantly in the seven years I spent there. Along with “Trust us, we see your vocation; even when you can’t.” And finally (for some) “It’s time to go home; pack you bags and be out in an hour.”
And btw, I love the Church and do not seek to change anything about it. It’s the wolves in sheep’s clothing that bother me. These fine men and women are serving the private, hidden ends created by a paedophile.
“In following the methodology [of the Movement] you can never go wrong.] We were told that constantly in the seven years I spent there. Along with “Trust us, we see your vocation; even when you can’t.” And finally (for some) “It’s time to go home; pack you bags and be out in an hour.”
And btw, I love the Church and do not seek to change anything about it. It’s the wolves in sheep’s clothing that bother me. These fine men and women are serving the private, hidden ends created by a paedophile.
There is another organization with a secret oath and many like it, it is better known that the one written about here. It’s called the Cosa Nostra and it’s secret vow is referred to as Omerta.
For those of you who may not recognize these terms, it belongs to the Mafia.
Can anyone be more specific on how lives have been shattered and ruined? I ask this in all honesty- I wonder what that means exactly.
I just joined Regnum Christi a few months ago, and as far as secrecy goes, I have posted on my blog about the thought process I went through in deciding to join and have continued to post about my experiences with the ecclesial movement. No secrets; come and see and determine for yourself.
I don’t doubt that men and women who turned out not to be good fits for the charism of Regnum Christi or the Legionaries have felt rejected and along with that the usual human responses of anger and hurt. I have read their forums; I have communicated with them.
I have also seen examples of young people whose lives were amazingly turned around and who had beautiful conversions to Christ by the grace of God working through the Legionaries.
Does this happen with other communities and movements? Yes, both the good things and the painful things happen. When I discerned God’s call to the religious life I met men and women who had left their orders (Franciscan, Dominican, etc.), as well as men and women who thrived in their orders and for whom it was the source of the greatest blessings in their lives.
The main charism of the Legionaries and Regnum Christi is charity, including charity in speech, which all Christians should follow of course, but even in my short time in Regnum Christi I have realized how my speech and writing about others can be uncharitable, so I have sought to correct this. The Catechism speaks clearly about people’s right to their good name and that no person has the right to defame another to someone who can’t do anything about a problem that person may have.
Christ be with us!
Thomas,
ReGAIN (www.regainnetwork.org) is the main organization for helping those recovering from LC/RC. It is currently being sued by the Legion of Christ for the Legion’s norms and constitutions, and also for the identities of several screen names of posters to ReGAIN
and a discussion board called exlegionaries.com. Many more testimonies are on exlegionaries. Since they are anonymous, it is possible that they are not all true, but there’s no reason to think that most are not.
There are the usual problems associated with being abused by a priest; adding that the boys who were abused by Maciel were told that he had the pope’s permission to do so. Of course, Maciel isn’t the only child molester in the Legion, and not everyone in the Legion was abused. Several people have “only” lostr their faith in the Catholic church, or religion in general. Marriages have broken up, and vocations have been lost.
Devin -
Why would you join an organization whose Founder was suppressed by the Vicar of Christ? Why, oh why?! Don’t you realize that every aspect of RC life and spirituality was crafted by Maciel, while he was molesting boys, and then absolving them of their collaboration in his sins? How, I mean HOW, could you put yourself spiritually under such an influence?
The vow of “humility” is evil because it permits superiors to keep young religious in a wrong or bad ministry for years and years. And when the young religious is tempted to say, “What are we doing here? Why am I being asked to do this? I feel funny about this ministry of ours…” they will be triangulated by the vow to not seek to change their apostolate. It is a way of controlling people, in complete contradiction to Vatican II’s call for religious to be adults in Christ not children. Vatican II called for individual religious to be part of the dialogue about where they are most suited in their community’s apostolate.
Practically speaking, this means that a young Legionnaire could be plugged into working on one of the Legion’s many consturction projects. He would be used as free slave labor for years, and when he starts to wonder if this is really why he entered religious life, his “vow” of humility would make him bound by sin to not question his situation.
I know of a young man who was used in this way in the Legion for seven years. And on the day of his vows, he was told, “Fr. Maciel had a dream about you in which he saw that you are not to go ahead. But you are also not to leave.” So, this young fellow spent another half a year slaving away in construction, with no official canonical status — not that Canon Law ever gets in the Legion’s way! – until he finally left the order. He’s currently in a very bad way emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.
Devin,
It’s the lack of charity toward those who question, that got me involved with ReGAIN in the first place. I was looking for a Catholic-friendly group for girls, as I was becoming disillusioned about the GS a few years ago (since improved). I was very eager to find Challenge, but as soon as I became hesitant about what I’d heard, false innuendo was spread about me. The same thing has happened in parish after parish, in diocese after diocese. I’m one of very few people in my diocese that’s willing to be public about my opposition to the Legion. I can’t name the many priests who are vehemently opposed to the Legion; they don’t want their names used because they don’t want bad reports to go to the LC-friendly bishop. I hope Fr Corcuera’s tour this summer and emphasis on charity means that this is now discouraged; that, and doing away with the private vows will help your organization to become a good one, if you truly reform.
There is also word that the LC can no longer require its priests and seminarians to receive confession and spiritual direction from their superiors (do I have the wording right?); this is a welcome reform and I pray it helps.
I also have noticed that the LC defense of Maciel has gone from comparing him to Christ, to comparing him to Padre Pio/Joan of Arc/wrongfully accused saints, to St. Augustine/ St Paul/great sinners who REPENTED (this month’s NOR). I hope this means that MM has repented, and it will no longer be implied that his victims are liars.
Next hoped-for reform: the 3gfs, in limbo: they aren’t consecrated virgins, they aren’t nuns.
After that: those who think they were subject to excessive, Amway-like pressure to commit should be allowed to leave the LC priesthood.
Thomas,
Children as young as 11 and 12 who are attending a Legion -run school but whose parents are not members of Regnum Christi are taken out of their classrooms by consecrated members of the Movement and taken on “spiritual walks.” During these walks, they are asked about their home life, if their parents ever argue, if the whole family attends Mass every Sunday, etc. They are also told that they can secretly and spiritually join ECYD, the Regnum Christi youth movement, and that they can devote themselves in prayer to ask God to change their parents’ hearts and minds so that they parents themselves become members of the Movement. The children are told that perhaps they will be their family’s “spiritual hero” that will lead the entire family into the enhanced grace God give members of Regnum Christi.
I dunno — do you think that could shatter a pre-adolescent? Do you think that could cause any damage within families?
As these children get older and are told, “Don’t worry if your family won’t join, we’re your family now,” do you see how that could ruin a life or destroy a family? And if they take the ultimate bait and move away from their family and friends at the age of 14 or 15, and spend the next four, five, six years of their lives being told their families are non-believers, not morally capable of living the spiritual life, and then one day the children are told, “oops, looks like you’re not really capable of living it either, please leave now” can you see where that might ruin a life?
It’s happening. Every day.
to not seek advancement is the basis of humility, isn’t it? also , ye without sin cast the first stone, help those weaker than yourself. vivere militaire Christie
I read the following thread and can say that I know this to be true based on my own experiences as a member of Regnum Christi 2nd degree for 9 years:
http://www.exlegionaries.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132
——————————————————————————–
Quote:
Originally Posted by ligia
Yes, although they call it different names. For example we are supposed to have team dialogue with our team leaders, then the team leaders have to report to the group leaders the group leaders then have to report to the assistant to the section director who is the Legionary in charge.
At my last Triduum of Renewal, November of 2002, Fr. James Larson, LC bragged about the fact that the snitching is so efficient within the Legion and the RC. He also gave an example – a personal incident of his. He told us a story of his when he was playing a sport, I think soccer. He pushed one of the other brothers and there may have been some exchange of words of a sort. He bragged that by the time he got back into the building, before he even got to the showers, his superior already knew about it.
Obviously, there is a chain of command to report on the members, but there is the unofficial one as well. I noticed that the ’snitchers’ were greatly and openly appreciated by the hierarchy, even allowed to do the gossiping openly. I have heard some even brag about it and how some of us were allowed to say things about others and yet other members would be shot down at the spot for even bringing something up.
Snitches tend to be the busy bodies and go getters. Usually very active and talented in areas of need. However, none of them ever struck me as being prayerful. Coincidence?
We also take notes on the EWC, it is actually an apostolate in itself, as the secretary is assigned. I am sure the notes are submitted somehow. I had my words repeated to me by the LC- verbatum- after I had attended an EWC and what I said was not liked by the team leader or anyone else. We were also shushed immediately if the comment we made could have been interpreted as controversial, especially if anyone in the team was having difficulty ‘integrating’ or was brand new to the Movement. It was done in the name of ‘prudence’.
Very similar indeed!
I know someone who was blacklisted and indirectly forced out of the movement for complaining about this. Because of the “reporting system” he had witnessed far too many rash judgements made about others that inevitably led to detraction, calumny and slander. At first he was irritated with the particular people involved but, over time, and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he began to see that it was the “system.” He complained to a LC priest (during spiritual direction) that he was upset with the system. He could see that unless the “reporters” were perfect in charity (and who is?) they were being set up and formed to sin against charity (the supposed “queen virtue”).
The psychological abuse (orchestrated by that LC preist)that ensued was very traumatic but he is thankful that he is now aware of the real M.O. of the LC and he is working hard in many ways to spread the word. Maybe someday he will be able to testify to the CDF.
The following is a very disturbing account of how the Legion treated the founders of the apostolate Familia. I believe that most of the participants of Familia would be very upset about this and would not longer want anything to do with the Legion. The sad part is that 99% of the RC/LC members have no idea about this and continue to promote Familia with a pure heart. I believe that if they knew the truth their conscience would be greatly troubled and they possibly begin to see things in a different light. I have copied and pasted the article but in order to access the links to the articles pertaining to this you will need to copy and paste the following web address into your browser:
http://terry58.stblogs.com/2007/09/07/the-legion-in-the-news-again/
Must brother drag brother into court?”
Spero News has the run down on the recent lawsuit by the Legion of Christ against ReGAIN Network. I posted about this before, and the comments forthcoming have been rather revealing that something is wrong with the popular image most people have of the Legion. As I stated before, this surprises me because all of the Legionaries I have ever met, as well as those I’ve seen on EWTN, strike me as the finest of finest Roman Catholic priests. As to the scandals associated with the Order, I know as much as anyone else, aside from what former members have told me, everything else is hear-say, except for the following.
When I worked at Leaflet Missal I became acquainted with Paul and Libbe Sellors, the original authors of a catechetical program called Familia, now taken over by the Legion and Regnum Christi. Paul and Libbe went through some very trying times with the Legion who had taken over their program, and apparently wanted the Sellors out of the mix. The Sellors have since republished their work under the title of Together! which is an excellent and comprehensive catechetical program for families.
The Sellors are a fine Catholic couple, very respectable, honest and sincere in their mission of evangelization for the Catholic Church. Their work is nothing less than brilliant and extremely adaptable for adult/family catechesis, in perfect accord with the Magisterium and Catholic teaching.
It was through the Sellors that I first became aware of the Legion’s mysterious business practices, especially in their regard. I was stunned when Libbe gave me the details, reinforcing her story with Archbishop Flynn’s refusal to permit any activities of the Legion and Regnum Christi in the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis. Rather than write a book here, I’ll direct you to the article on ReGain for the full story. Here is an excerpt:
It is important to know that the Sellors created Familia independently of the Legion, writing the materials themselves. Joining the Movement early on, their apostolate seemed an excellent fit with the stated goals of Regnum Christi, and the Legion moved in quickly to lend a hand. As long as the Sellors were members of Regnum Christi and saw eye to eye with the Legionaries of Christ about catechizing the faithful, all was well. Familia quickly became the top recruiter for the Legion because of its comprehensive approach to the family. Thus, fathers and mothers joined Regnum Christi, their daughters considered vocations in the consecrated branch, their sons tested their call to the Legion, and everyone raised funds for seminarians and other projects of the Movement. Everything was golden – or was it?
What Was the Real End-game of Familia?
A rift opened quietly, behind closed doors as those who signed up for Familia quickly found themselves invited to Legion-sponsored retreats, other courses, and conventions, which each suggested that they join the Movement because of the urgent need to build the Kingdom. While joining was usually quite appealing, the Sellors were increasingly frustrated that the members who incorporated into Regnum Christi dropped out of Familia. Since the demands of the Movement (daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly) required significant commitments of time and money, one could not participate in both, and Regnum Christi prevailed. Knowing that all four years of formation were important, they begged that the recruiting of their participants be delayed until they had graduated from the complete course, but the Legion persisted.
Only in hindsight did Paul and Libbie realize that there had been a deliberate attempt to drive them out. – Gospel Charity Cuts Both Ways
Read the Sellor’s story and maybe this current lawsuit by the Legion will make more sense – that maybe the organization has to something to hide. It sure seems to me something is very wrong in that organization.
[Incidently, ReGAIN is in need of donations for their legal defense fund, to donate go to their website, The Legionaries have a lot of money and powerful backers, so ReGAIN needs all the help they can get. What did St. Paul write about public lawsuits? “Why the very fact that you have lawsuits against one another is disastrous for you.” – 1 Corinthians 6:7>
The following is from a thread on the “Reporting System” that is the fruit of one of the private vows. I know this to be true based on my own experience for many years as a 2nd degree member:
Yes, although they call it different names. For example we are supposed to have team dialogue with our team leaders, then the team leaders have to report to the group leaders the group leaders then have to report to the assistant to the section director who is the Legionary in charge.
At my last Triduum of Renewal, November of 2002, Fr. James Larson, LC bragged about the fact that the snitching is so efficient within the Legion and the RC. He also gave an example – a personal incident of his. He told us a story of his when he was playing a sport, I think soccer. He pushed one of the other brothers and there may have been some exchange of words of a sort. He bragged that by the time he got back into the building, before he even got to the showers, his superior already knew about it.
Obviously, there is a chain of command to report on the members, but there is the unofficial one as well. I noticed that the ’snitchers’ were greatly and openly appreciated by the hierarchy, even allowed to do the gossiping openly. I have heard some even brag about it and how some of us were allowed to say things about others and yet other members would be shot down at the spot for even bringing something up.
Snitches tend to be the busy bodies and go getters. Usually very active and talented in areas of need. However, none of them ever struck me as being prayerful. Coincidence?
We also take notes on the EWC, it is actually an apostolate in itself, as the secretary is assigned. I am sure the notes are submitted somehow. I had my words repeated to me by the LC- verbatum- after I had attended an EWC and what I said was not liked by the team leader or anyone else. We were also shushed immediately if the comment we made could have been interpreted as controversial, especially if anyone in the team was having difficulty ‘integrating’ or was brand new to the Movement. It was done in the name of ‘prudence’.
Very similar indeed!
I know someone who was blacklisted and indirectly forced out of the movement for complaining about this. Because of the “reporting system” he had witnessed far too many rash judgements made about others that inevitably led to detraction, calumny and slander. At first he was irritated with the particular people involved but, over time, and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he began to see that it was the “system.” He complained to a LC priest (during spiritual direction) that he was upset with the system. He could see that unless the “reporters” were perfect in charity (and who is?) they were being set up and formed to sin against charity (the supposed “queen virtue”).
The psychological abuse (orchestrated by that LC preist)that ensued was very traumatic but he is thankful that he is now aware of the real M.O. of the LC and he is working hard in many ways to spread the word. Maybe someday he will be able to testify to the CDF.
You can read the entire thread at:
http://www.exlegionaries.com/forums/showthread.php?t=132
The following is another post I read from:
//www.speroforum.com/site/mbarticle.asp?id=10924
“I was a member of RC for many years. I was very (100%) committed to it for a long time. I remember when I first heard stories about abuse in LC/RC and had witnessed things that troubled me, I had a panicky feeling that if these stories were true what would I do? I could not dare to believe the accusations. That would cause too big of a loss in my life. If I had to let go of RC I don’t know if I would know who I was. My very identity was tied to this movement. So I did what every member who is emotionally attached to RC/LC does; I rationalized every gnawing feeling I had. I found a way to blame the accusers. I let the mesmerizing words I heard from the LC priests drown out the voice of my conscience. But God did not let my peace from this “coping mechanism” last for long. He began to gradually reveal the reality of the situation. I was living in an illusion. I really thought that LC/RC were a foundation in my life. I associated this foundation with Christ. What I came to find out through much heartache was that my faith in RC/LC was built on sand. Through a series of events my eyes were opened to the truth and I began to question and object. At that point I became not useful to them any longer.(You exist for the sake of the movement. The movement does not exist for the sake of the soul) Once you become useless to them psychological abuse takes the place of the previous flattery that had been the Modus Operandi.One of the modern techniques that is used today by evil is inverted psychiatry(psychological abuse to destroy minds)and the LC priests are trained extensively in psychology. There are subtle threats to damage your reputation if you let the truth of what you have discovered be told; you are purposely isolated from your close friends; the LC priests purposely try to stir up jealousy between you and your friends; the LC priests try to provoke outbursts of anger by stirring up your pride or vanity; whisper campaigns are started against you to undermine your influence as you are indirectly pressed to go inactive. The legionaries are trained in emotional manipulation. The know exactly how to say the bare minimum with just the right look or sigh to plant seeds of doubt or to steer your very dear friends away from you. At the same time they appeal to the pride and vanity of your friends with flattery to secure an inordinate attachment to them and this is another potential source of division between the flattered friends and the rejected member. These are just a few aspects of the MO that is part of the methodology of the movement. It is not just the weakness of the priest. This is the way the more integrated priests of the LC are trained to force the useless member out of the movement. Stories like this are common in all parts of the country.
When someone is considered “useless” to RC/LC it is usually because that person has begun to catch on to the bigger picture of what is going on simultaneously with all the “good fruits.” Their conscience has begun to be very bothered over the very uncharitable way seemingly holy priests, consecrated women, and other formators treat certain people and this member begins to question and object to these sins against charity (the supposed “queen virtue” of the movement). This causes a gradual disintegration for the disillusioned member. That is when the methodology of “promote to remove,” “press to release,” and “isolate” come into play. As if that is not enough, the psychological abuse goes deeper. At the same time the LC priests cover their tracks legally by publicly offering the secretly blacklisted member aids to persevere in their RC vocation so it seems to the rank and file members that everything is being done out of charity to help this person who is struggling with their vocation. What the rank and file members do not see are the psychological abuses that are going on simultaneously. On a side note, The blacklisted member has never been directly told that they are being “kicked out” so he/she is very confused as he/she tries to read between the lines. Talk about evil. In God’s mercy, Christ was there to draw me closer to Him through all of this. I now know that my hope is in Him alone, a painful but important lesson. Many accusations like these are being investigated by the vatican.
The best way to defeat this evil, I believe, is to cooperate with God in using our suffering for the good of the Church. We are so lucky to have the charism of redemptive suffering available to us.
God willing, as we, the victims of LC/RC, grow in true charity by offering up our suffering(in union with Christ especially in the Mass) for the very ones who inflicted this on us,God will act and all will work for the good(Rom 8:28). This suffering can also be used for penance for our own personal sins as a purification(purgatory on earth). In the mean time we are given the opportunity to grow in the patience of God and true charity(love Him above all things and everyone else as He loves us). As we attend Mass and offer ourselves and our suffering with Him our hearts will begin to heal and we will be overcoming evil with good(Rom 12:21) Our suffering will not be in vain. It will be used for an eternal purpose. Our speaking out is very important as well. I found needed support from Regain as have many others. The isolation that is part of the psychological abuse of the legion is greatly overcome from the testimonies of Regain. The gates of hell will not prevail against the Church. Our Blessed Mother will help us to be a part of crushing the head of the serpent and to defeat him by “blood of the Lamb(Mass) and the word of their testimony”(regainnetwork).(Rev12:11)Let us unite together for this purpose. Thank you regain for letting us know that we are not alone!!!
I am sorry for the anger that testimonies like this cause the well intentioned RC/LC members. But like we heard in the Gospel recently “Christ did not come to bring peace but division”(Luke 12:51-53).”
Eric: no one is disputing the nature of humility. It has been our contention that the Legion takes the semblance of virtue and twists it (below the radar) so that members are misled about actions and intentions. Outsiders see piety, reverence, zeal and orthodoxy — and it is sincere. But please listen to the testimonies to see how the inside is perverse. It all flows from a man the Vatican whom has seen fit to suspend, and it all reflects his twisted personality. The Church has been played — in spades. We simply want Holy Mother Church back from the clutches of this devious agenda.
http://www.regainnetwork.org/article.php?a=47245746
Barb and Jeannette,
Barb, you asked me how I could join Regnum Christi given the accusations against its founder, Fr. Maciel. I can tell you briefly here, but if you want a full explanation, go to my blog (linked from my name above) and search for Why Regnum Christi. The search button is on the right pane of my blog a ways down.
For Barb and Jeannette, both of you have made yourselves the judge and jury of Fr. Maciel, based on the relatively little public information, and determined that he is guilty as charged of any and all accusations. I understand how you could come to that conclusion, but it is important to recognize that it is not the decision that the Church had made with regard to Fr. Maciel.
Following your thought that “every aspect of life and spirituality of Regnum Christi” was guided by Fr. Maciel, whom you have judged guilty of evil crimes and have implied has been similarly judged by the Vicar of Christ, why wouldn’t the Pope disband the Legionaries and Regnum Christi, so as to end the evil work that this evil man has done? He has the authority to do it and could do so, but he hasn’t, so his conclusion with regard to Fr. Maciel and his work must be different from how you are portraying it.
I am an American and believe that a person is innocent until proven guilty. In the American priestly abuse scandals, many priests who had done evil were accused, tried, and found guilty. Sadly, many innocent priests were accused as well and presumed guilty, their names being sullied in the minds and hearts of most people even though they were innocent.
I never sat in on a trial of one of these priests, so I can only trust that the verdict given in their cases were just after all the evidence was examined, though oftentimes it was simply one person’s word against another.
Neither did I sit in on Fr. Maciel’s investigation (the trial never occurred); I didn’t hear all the evidence nor counter-claims, and neither did you. We only have access to the public information, which I have read thoroughly on both sides. I have read the accusations on the ReGAIN website and the defenses from the Legionaries on their site. After researching all of it, I made the decision that I don’t know whether he is guilty or not and will therefore give him the benefit of his good name. I have read his own words and seen the fruit of his work, as well as the recognition that multiple Holy Fathers have given the Legion and Regnum Christi, which are canonically approved organizations within Christ’s Church.
I have also read the words of Fr. Maciel in the interview conducted with him and recorded in the book, “Christ Is My Life”. The spiritual aspects of the Legion and Regnum Christi were guided by him, and his reasoning, history, and decisions are clearly explained in this interview. I encourage you to read it and challenge you to find anything that is contrary to our Faith.
Finally, the conclusions you have drawn can lead to a different kind of problem: One where everyone associated with Regnum Christi or the Legion are evil. While I was looking at the exlegionaries forum, I was surprised and alarmed to see that one of them had discovered my blog and alerted other exlegionaries that it should be “monitored” and was a highly suspect site.
I’m a regular man, striving to live a faithful Catholic life; I would be your friend I am sure if our paths crossed, as they will one day in Heaven, please God. I don’t need to be “monitored” as a suspicious subject, but most people in the exlegionaries have condemned everything having to do with the Legion or Regnum Christi, and so I fall under suspicion.
Finally, the consecrated women that I have met have been wonderful women of God, striving to grow in holiness and working to serve our Lord. The Legionary priests I have met have also been men of Christ, working tirelessly to hear our confessions, give spiritual direction, celebrate Mass, help in apostolates, etc.
From the following:
http://www.regainnetwork.org/article.php?a=47245759
…Familia did not begin as an RC/LC project, however. Paul and Libby, who were sincere and devout Catholics living in the midwest, began Familia in their own home about ten years ago. Drawing on their own resources, the Sellors used their dining room and living room as offices when Familia began to grow. Familia was intended (by the Sellors) to reevangelize families and to provide wholesome social events. Their progam was intended to set up study groups of Church encyclicals, especially On Human Life, On the Dignity and Vocation of Women, and On the Family. Almost from the beginning, however, the Legion moved in to “help” Paul and Libby, who were soon introduced to Mexican leaders of a similar family movement, who were supposed to teach Americans “how it was done”south of the boarder and under Legionary guidance.
Like many of us before, the Sellors trusted the Legion to guide the Familia project that they had begun, and soon there was a kind of “franchise” being promoted by their fellow Regnum Christi members in their own parishes. At the beginning the Legion seemed helpful and supportive, but the divisiveness of the LC/RC methodology invariably made itself manifest, as it always does in any Catholic community into which that methodology is introduced…
…Regain wonders what excuses, what rationale, were or will be given by the Legion of Christ to other Familia-oriented people, and to the Sellors, to explain why they have been removed from leadership of Familia? Other than saying nothing whatever about it, there are three possibilities that suggest themselves to our collective mind — parphrased from similar experience of other exLegionaries or exRegnum Christi members:
1) Solicitious consideration. The Sellors will be told that, “You have worked so hard for the Kingdom, and we don’t want you to wear yourselves out. Let others take over for you for awhile, so that you can rest.”
2) Or appeal to apostolic commitment: “We think that now Familia has become so universal, that a Legionary priest would be better as leader, because he will have more mobility than you do. Besides, we have other very important apostolic initiatives for you to take over for Christ’s kingdom; you’ve been so good at establishing Familia, that we want to use your talents to establish another VERY IMPORTANT initiative (like daily fishing on Lake Minnetonka, perhaps?)….”
3) Or hints of “classified” dark knowledge about the state of souls of the Familia founders (said to others, who ask about the ousting): “They are wonderful people and have worked so hard to get Familia going. It has spread so rapidly that it is clearly a work of God! But they are beginning to try to take Familia in a direction that God does not want it to go. We’re very sorry, but we have had to remove them because we can’t be too careful about how we protect the apostolates that God has given to the Legion and Regnum Christi, and we have to guard against the work of the Devil. Even here, we can see how, through pride and possessiveness, the Devil has been at work. It’s too bad, but we have to remove them in order to save them from the sin of pride and to save the apostolate from corruption. I’m SURE that YOU understand…”
The explanation may draw on all of the above, but will likely fall more along the lines of justification # 3, in our opinion, because this is the most commonly whispered lie that the Legion spreads when they are trying to justify having thrown out a jewel of a human being, or two jewels, like the Sellors.
Would interviewing multitudes of victims make a difference, Devin Rose? Hours and hours of testimony? It’s hard to look them in the face as they tell their sordid stories.
I used to think that sex was about sex. I was even willing to pass on some peccadillos that may have haunted Maciel’s early years. But then (after 9 children) I finally learned that, for some, sex is about power, manipulation and control. It was then that I connected the dots about the sexual abuse and that micro-managing of every detail of the Legionaries life — internal and external.
I wish you well, Devon Rose. I followed your blog carefully as you were preparing for the Encounter over the summer and making your decision. Kindly watch carefully over the coming years to see what of your apostolic work benefits the Universal Church, and what simply fills the ranks and coffers of the Legion. Please, never stop thinking.
Btw, I counsel lots of those consecrated women who leave. (Who, um, divorce Christ?) Depression is rampant in the Houses of Formation. They make no demands on anyone, work hard for the Kingdom, have no insurance, and if they become ill they are asked to leave. It’s a crime.
Another perspective from the following thread:
http://www.exlegionaries.com/forums/showthread.php?p=27789#post27789
It is never easy to recognize a counterfeit…
——————————————————————————–
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willy
The quotation is spot on. MM used to refer to his period of testing in the 1950s not so much as “The War” as “The Great Blessing”. He was referring to the sufferings that he and the Legion went through as favors from God in the same spirit as the author of “Divine Intimacy”.
Just like every other treasure of the Church, MM/LC are trying to steal the charism of “redemptive suffering” to use against the Church and build their kingdom. This causes the faithful sheep to confuse authentic redemptive suffering with a counterfeit form of redemptive suffering. In this way MM/LC are successful in preventing some of their victims from being able to “offer up” their suffering because of the association of redemptive suffering with their MM/LC experience.(I wonder who could have inspired such evil?) Those of us whose faith has not been destroyed by MM/LC can unite in spirit with all of the victims(especially those who have lost their faith) and offer up all of the suffering that has resulted from our MM/LC/RC experience. Our offering is not a counterfeit offering and is not mocking God’s grace like MM’s.
I believe that the suffering of the innocent RC/LC members ( and that is probably 99% of them) is precious to God as well and He will gather their sufferings and unite it with ours for the good of the Church and souls. Especially those RC/LC for whom the veil of deception is being lifted and are starting to see what really lies beneath the surface. What a cross!! We can all empathize with that struggle.
That is why I would encourage any RC/LC member who reads these posts, no matter how devoted to the movement, to unite with us and pray for the Church and all the souls involved. We can all agree that we desire what is best for the Church and all souls.
——————————————————————————–
Devin, your blog didn’t come up when I tried to go there.
Fr. Maciel has the right to a trial; if he is innocent, he should demand one. The wording of the Vatican statement is very similar to other priests who are too old or sick to stand trial and I conclude by the statement that the Vatican determined him to be guilty. Many others came to the same conclusion that I did, so if he’s innocent, the Vatican is engaging in horrible deception. I don’t think they did.
I haven’t determined without a doubt that Maciel is guilty but have made the determination that I personally believe Mr. Vaca, Barba, Barrales, etc. In my opinion, the testimonies of so many formerly devout Catholics of various kinds of abuse are overwhelmingly convincing so I have kept my children out of Regnum Christi apostolates and have warned as many people as I can to carefully investigate the Legion before getting involved.
I have not concluded that every LC or RC is evil. But my personal experiences with RC members have been negative, and guided me to believe what I read on ReGAIN and exlegionaries.com; my experiences have been very similar to what I read there.
I’m glad you are against false accusations. I am too. My previous pastor would not allow Regnum Christi to operate in my parish; an RC woman (2gf instructor at a Legion school) told me a story designed to get me to believe that the pastor had behaved inappropriately toward a parishioner (also Regnum Christi). Knowing the other details, I believe that she told a misleading but legally accurate story in order to get the pastor in trouble. It worked.
When I asked about the local Challenge group’s VIRTUS status, my questions were twisted into a claim that I’ve called one of the leaders a child molester. The new pastor believes this lie, and has done so for two years. This and other nastiness doesn’t begin to compare with what others have gone through, but I thought it might help to illustrate why I am so anti-LC. You might claim it’s just the ones at my parish? I guess we’ll find out. See you in court.
Devin -
Good grief! Do they give you guys a script to talk about Maciel?! I have heard the same lines verbatim from several RC devotees about not judging Maciel, and implying some kind of mysterious ambiguity about his guilt and trial. The only line you didn’t use was to compare Maciel to Padre Pio! I’ve heard that one at least five times.
Here’s the thing, Devin. It doesn’t matter if you don’t think Maciel was a predatory pederast, a drug addict and an abuser of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. What matters is that the Vicar of Christ who had access to a lot more information than you, thinks it. Because otherwise, you would be wanting us to conclude that the Vicar of Christ committed the mortal sin of suppressing someone out of human respect or some other ungodly motive.
I think the Pope will probably dissolve these groups — but the point is, why do you need that? Isn’t it enough that the Founder has been suppressed? And a Foudner isn’t an irrelevant affectation in a religious institute. The Founder is the primary mechanism to communicate the charism. It is the Founder’s living out of the charism that is the primary witness for the Church that “this way of life is holy. Others can assume it.” So when a Founder is shown to not only not be holy, but to be an evil manipulator of religious life, then it is only a matter of time before the whole institute must be revealed as a sham. Not something from God. Something criminally from the darkest part of a man.
Your fidelity should be to the Vicar of Christ. Not to Fr. Maciel. Your commitment should be to the Church. Not to “the movement.”
Do you see how the sickness of this cult is blurring your perceptions?
About Maciel’s book. I’ve read it. I read it as a freshman in college. Just in between reading St. Therese’s Story of a Soul and Bl. John XXIII’s Journal of a Soul. And I remember putting it down with a sneer, thinking, “What a trite load of platitudes!” I remember making a mental note that Maciel must be charismatic in person, because he didn’t have much by way of intellect or spiritual insight. I suggest you read some other classics of spirituality. then, you will see Christ is my Life for what it is. Not a whole lot.
Pull away Devin! You don’t need RC to find and stay close to Christ.
I am also a member of RC, and in reading these posts, all I can say is that people don’t park their brains at the door when they join a movement.
And give me a break in recounting stories posted on regain. They seem to have an axe to grind about religious culture. I spent 3 years in a convent as a child, have 3 aunts who were nuns (1 still is), and countless cousins who became priests. My Father and brother went to a junior seminary.
Only God is God, and only He is perfect. So why expect that human organizations, even religious ones, are going to be perfect? Just read the biography of Blessed Marie-Anne Blondin on the Vatican website for a reality-check. All human organizations encounter problems of people trying to get along with people. And if we want to condemn the sins of the flesh, know that we are casting a really wide net.
So cool your jets folks, we are all sinners!
What I especially like about the movement is the initiation into the methods of deepening our relationship to Christ, such as the daily morning meditation, the examen, the Spiritual Exercises (Ignatian spirituality), the deepening of the life of prayer (the rediscovery of devotions), encouragement to frequent the sacraments assidiously and the encouragement at our gospel reflection meetings with our fellow travellers in deepening our faith.
From the writings of St. John of the Cross:
“Love effects a likeness between the lover and the object loved…He who loves a creature, then, is as low as that creature, and in some way even lower, because love not only equates, but even subjects the lover to the loved object. By the mere fact , then, that a man loves something, his soul becomes incapable of pure union and transformation in God… Until a man is purged of his attachments he will not be equipped to possess God, neither here below through the transformation of love, nor in heaven through the beatific vision… Love causes equality and likeness and even brings the lover lower than the object of his love… ”
I believe that during their years of formation the LC priest’s emotions were intentionally manipulated to secure an inordinate attachment to Fr. Maciel and his “inspired” methodology and they in turn, by following the methodology, purposely manipulate the emotions of the lay members (or potential members) to bring about the same type of inordinate attachment (infatuation) to themselves. This way they can “use” (the opposite of love is not hate, it is to use) these people to further their agenda. In the measure that
an RC member “loves” the LC priest they have regular contact with, will be the measure that they will blindly obey and follow all of that priest’s directives. This explains how some of these “good” people can commit obvious acts against charity without a second thought. They have been so blinded by their attachment to the LC priest that they cannot “see the forest through the trees.” They have become “subject to the loved object,” the LC priest, who is also subject to a loved object, Fr. Maciel. That is, I believe, where the dysfunction stems from.
In the measure that a member’s object of love is God is the measure of good fruit that will result. The problem is the methodology purposely forms their members to “love” (worship) the priest in the name of God and “for the sake of the movement” and we cannot serve two masters.
Devin,
How do you feel about the testimonies that are written on this blog? If you believe them to be true can you still remain a member? There is a lot to be learned from the good that is “used” to build up the movement. They do not leave a stone unturned. I would love to help to gather up all of these “misplaced” fruits and use them directly for the Church: “Hate what is evil, but hold fast to what is good.”
I learned a lot when I was in the movement but I could not remain a member once I discovered the evil at the heart of it. I hope someday to unite with other former members and find a way to use all the good for building up the Church directly. Maybe that will be God’s plan for you as well.
Giselle, Jeannette, and Barb,
Giselle, thank you for following my journey. Would interviewing those hurt by members of the Legion help convince me that it is evil? Probably not, though it would probably be disturbing to read.
Why wouldn’t I be convinced? Well, I entered the Catholic Church about 6 years ago because I became convinced that it was the Church that Christ established. You can read about my conversion from being an atheist to a Baptist to a Catholic from a link to my personal site off my blog.
6 years ago was right around the time the priestly abuse scandals were revealed, yet I joined anyway and was not shaken because my faith has always been and will always be in Jesus Christ, as yours is. Men are sinners, and though redeemed, we still sin, still can hurt each other, and any organization made up of men will cause hurt by its members’ sins.
I have been to the SNAP website (people abused by priests). I am saddened that these priests, a large number of them, though small as a percentage of all Catholic priests, have hurt people, especially young people, by their very evil sins. Still, my faith in the Church was not shaken because it was never built on the shifty foundation of individual persons’ behavior, whether priests or even bishops.
When I discerned joining Opus Dei, I went to the ODAN site (the ReGAIN counterpart for those hurt by members of Opus Dei), and read their accusations against Josemaria Escriva and people in Opus Dei. It reads a lot like the ReGAIN network’s site. I also read the good things about Opus Dei, and I considered joining that group, but ultimately did not feel called to it.
My point is that if you place your faith in Christ as contigent upon one or more persons or a group of people, you are bound to disappointment. Barb, this is the warning you gave to me, and it is a good warning.
However, to say that my commitment should be to Christ and not to the movement is a false dichotomy. Our Protestant brothers say the same thing to us Catholics: Your faith should be in Jesus, the one mediator between God and man, and not to Mary (or, not to the Church, which is man-made, they say).
But it is a both-and. God has risen up monastic orders, apostolic and contemplative orders, lay associations, third orders, etc. In our modern times, he has risen up ecclesial movements like Regnum Christi, Communion and Liberation, Focolare, and other groups like Opus Dei. The Church only after many decades of research and testing approves them, and it has done so with Regnum Christi.
So we can be committed to our religious order if we are a Franciscan or Dominican as well as to Christ and his Church. These are not opposed to one another but rather means to holiness.
Barb, your accusation that I am following some script that has been given to me by the Legionaries or Regnum Christi is not true. I have never received any correspondence nor directive from them about what to say, but rather, I have independently examined the documents on ReGAIN’s site, especially the original accusations, and read the responses from the Legionaries that are publicly available on their websites (legionaryfacts.org).
I do not claim to know the thoughts of the Vicar of Christ on this matter, but can only reason off of what he has publicly done. To me, justice has not been done either way: If Fr. Maciel is guilty of the crimes he is accused of, the discipline he was given is horribly lenient and unfair. If Fr. Maciel is innocent, the discipline throws suspicion of evil on his good name and opens it up to people jumping to the conclusion that he is guilty.
Yet the Pope has made the decision to not have a trial, so even earthly justice is not done. To claim with certainty that he is guilty or innocent goes beyond the Pope’s decision.
Barb, you call a canonically recognized institution “a cult”. I must take your earlier advice and follow the Church; if the Church decides that it was wrong in recognizing these institutions and revokes their status, I will leave the movement with gratitude that my soul was protected by the Church from harm, but until that is done, I cannot agree with you that something the Church has deemed good is really an evil cult.
To both Barb and Jeannette: I want the best for both of you. I do not plan to “see you in court” but rather pray and look forward in hope to seeing you both in Heaven. I believe that you want the same for me. May the love our Father heal us all and bring us to our eternal home.
there are alotta things I don’t know, and don’t want to, but itsounds like both sides have ammunition. my question , has there ever been an order or group that has been totally or even reasonably orthodox thru and thru? no. the church, of course, teaches and waits. compare this to the flap over Opus Dei. vivere militaire Christie
I think it is very telling to learn about when the private vow was introduced to the legion. It was not always a Legionary tradition, but was introduced by Maciel in 1956 – 15 years after foundation.
1956 was the year that Maciel was removed as head of the Legion of Christ during a Vatican investigation for drug abuse.
All Legionaries were questioned about Maciel by vatican appointed visitators. They all answered – lied – the same: Maciel is a saint.
Maciel certainly knew how to manipulate the young men and boys he had in the legion
I think it is more than a coincidence that Maciel introduced a conscience binding gag-vow when he was being investigated in this manner.
Likewise I think it is more than a coincidence that Pope Benedict sentenced Maciel to a life of prayer and penance, removing him from public ministry and also that he removes these vows from the Legion. Mexican press suggests that these changes – and more – are a result of the same investigation that removed Maciel from ministry.
The following link contains letters Marcial wrote in 1956, including one about the new vows when he introduced them:
http://www.exlegionaries.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1809
The Legion is currently taking legal action to remove these letters from public domain.
Ask yourself why.
And I don’t understand how ANYONE can follow the teachings of a priest that is no longer allowed to preach or say mass in public or hear confessions, who was PUNISHED by the Pope.
A sign of holiness? Says who – Maciel? Yeah, you betcha he does.
It seems that the law suit is about the theft of documents that belong to another and posting it on the web. I can not see how asking the nameless thieves their names so that proper damages can be assessed and charged is an issue. That is why we have courts and a first year law student will counsel you that taking words that are not yours and placing them on your website is a crime (and BTW against the 10 commandments).
Surely if I were to shoplift work from Amy’s website and place it on my own, hiding my true identity, Amy would justifiably, seek me out, identify me, seek damages and seek at least the hope that I do not steal her work again. If it is wrong to take that which is not yours, without notice, compensation or permission, then it is wrong if it is a religious order or humble blogger.
Because a thief is a thief and stealing is wrong. No matter what LC/RC or did or say, the ends do not justify the means in Catholic moral theology.
As to the LC/RC issue, I have no comment or care. But to the theft of intellectual property, I (and we all should care). Because if it is OK for men/women in masks to steal the LC/RC work, because they disapprove, etc. It is OK for me to steal yours.
Just try to use the New American Version of the Bible with out the USCCB’s permission and see how long you keep your home and bank account. So if the USCCB can control their translation of the Bible with vigor, why can not the LC people control their work and sue those who steal it?
Man, where are you guys getting all this?
I’ve witnessed some human failings in LC/RC nothing like I’m reading here.
But, no matter: Our exposure to LC/RC has been positive by far.
But we’ll pray for those who are suffering because of what happened to them (real and perceived).
Barb, you were a freshman in college in 2003? You’re much younger than I thought.
For all those who have posted here:
Two FACTS remain–
The Holy Father has sanctioned Marcial Maciel in some way as a result of accusations of sexual abuse.
The Holy Father has annulled the private vows of the Legion of Christ.
Those are two pretty big facts.
Therese, Devin,
To me, the most important question is:
If you knew for sure that the story of what happened to Paul and Libbe Sellors, founders of Familia, as recounted in the Regain article, is true, how would you feel about the LC? This is a VERY important question because it is true and can be proven.
Don’t “throw the baby out with the bath water” by totally discrediting everything on Regain as only people “with an axe to grind about religious culture.” Paul and Libbe Sellors are 2 very devout Catholics who love and serve Holy Mother Chruch faithfully. They joined Regnum Christi for the same reasons that you did. As a matter of fact they were 2nd degree, 2nd level members. They went to formators conventions that only 2nd degree, 2nd level members were invited to. So did I. At some of those conventions Nazism, Communism, etc… were taught as examples to learn from with the excuse that we needed to use the”good” from these movements to build RC. Is there really anything “good” in these movements? The LC thought that the Sellors, along with myself and others, were “integrated” enough to be able to handle more of the methodology. We were not. We had not park our brains or our consciences at the door.
Would you want to be a part of a movement that used much of the methodolgy of Nazism and Communism to formulate its own? Even obviously evil aspects. This is only a starting point. The “good” fruit can be discussed separately. It is all connected but not in the way that you might think.
By the way, former members will not reveal their true identities in most cased for fear of reprisals from the LC. The evil methods they use to silence their critics are some of the apects co-opted from Nazism and Communism.
One has to remember in assessing the esteem given to Fr. Marciel by the Legion and Regnum Christi, the fact that is is an order and a movement with it’s roots in Mexico. Mexicans will pay tributes that express gratitude and sentiment to a degree unknown in Anglo countries. So one has to allow for the cross-cultural stuff when becoming part of international movements.
As for charity of speech within the movement, I find parallels with Jewish teaching against derogatory speech (lashon-hara). See http://www.torah.org/learning/halashon/
Compare those to Father Alvaro’s july letter on charity of speech:
http://www.regnumchristi.org/english/articulos/articulo.phtml?rc=se-18_ca-38_te-10_id-18023
If vows are being tweaked by the Vatican, this is all to the good, as the Legion is a new movement, and this would be par for the course. However, I would not make a mountain out of a molehill, though journalists in the business of selling stories might.
Well, the regain folks are certainly diligent. Lots of cutting and pasting going on. But you are talking about relatively few people who have had a bad experience. Certainly Fr Maciel is an easy target. He has brought that on himself. I do think he is guilty of some sexual misconduct. I also think the charges are exagerated. Often everyone is lying in these cases. Priests don’t often get accused by multiple people unless they cross some sexual boundaries pretty routinely. So I think the pope was right to do what he did.
The question is not Fr Maciel but the organization itself. So many people have positive experiences from RC and LC people. I know my bishop and priest are very strong supporters with no reservations at all. Not everyone agrees but how much good can be done without offending anyone? Do they demand a lot? I think so. I know a RC friend of mine has his 13 year old daughter living a few thousand miles away from home in a RC boarding school. That is something I would never do with my daughter. Still I like the fact that they are not afraid to ask for big sacrifices. To much of the church is trying to make discipleship easy. They make it hard and sometimes too hard. But there is much good fruit. Our RCIA director says most of the our parish’s converts come from the ministry of one LC priest. We welcome about 20 new people a year so that is quite impressive.
Dear Luis,
I am presently taking Familia, and the text books and the presentation are great. I am not familiar with the Sellor’s story, and, I take everything I read on regain with a grain of salt. They will take every foible and place a magnifying glass on it.
I have not risen in the movement to the level that you describe, but if I can make a parallel, anyone who studies propaganda and dissemination of information will study the Nazis and the Communists. The Allies copiously borrowed from their techniques so as to get public support for the war effort for WWII. The formation in church basements, schools and factories was very effective. John Grierson, who founded the National Film Board of Canada, based his war propaganda effort on imitating what the Nazi’s had done. Anyone interested in Media Literacy does likewise. So, please, let’s not induce guilt by association and innuendo!
Please remember that of the hundreds of articles on ReGAIN, well over half of them are from mainstream secular and religious press, other internet sources, cannon lawyers, religious journals, bishops, etc. What the “few people” who have testimonies there (take a look and see how many for yourselves) have to say is only a small part of what is on that website. Taking that much compilation with a grain of salt may not be the wisest thing to do.
ReGAIN has not created any of the problems of the Legion of Christ or of Marcial Maciel. That, they have brought on themselves. And it has been duly reported by journalists of all stripes and colors. None of this is new news. It just has a voice now, but still there is much fear.
“Tweaking” the vows?! Get real!