Legionary discernment -- take note

Many associated with the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi Movement have heard troubling stories of the difficulty in extracting members, especially from the houses of formation. Not only has their conscience been so formed as to internally police themselves against outside information, but even physical means are used to keep the family from exerting influence or making contact. The parent-child bond, in particular, is undermined with an insidious wedge, so that legitimate concerns are interpreted as demonic temptations and those suggesting that there may be problems with the methodology are considered enemies of the Church.

[I am redacting the details of a recent episode for the benefit of those involved, so that there is complete privacy surrounding their journey to family unity. Kindly keep them in your prayers.]

I humbly beg each reader [still] to consider:

• What sort of discernment process nails its members to the mission in an atmosphere of secrecy and fear?
• Can a brother truly discern his own vocation when others in the community depend on his commitment?
• Why is the Legion threatened by its members requests to take some time with the family to find God's holy will?
• What sort of organisation threatens lawsuits against its critics?
• How much are you willing to pray and fast that the true nature of this Movement come to light?

Many families are agonising over their options with sons and daughters in Legion schools, houses of formation and apostolates. Please take note that the Legion often plays hardball.

Let's join together to restore freedom and dignity to all the members of the Mystical Body of Christ. Many families are counting on your prayers. Saint Joseph, wise head of the Holy Family, be our guide!

Comments

[PaulM]

They are cracking up. I think they see the writing on the wall. How else to explain this kind of bizarre behavior with the Apostolic Visitation looming large.

[Katie]

How is this possible? I hope that father is finding a way to keep evidence. And I hope he is calling his bishop and that visitation team

[SS]

He should call the cops if there is *anyone* waiting at their house when they arrive. He should call the cops and not get out of the car or have any discussions with *whomever* until the cops arrive.

[mExRC]

Giselle, how old is the young man, do you know?

[giselle]

I do know, but don't want to give too many more details, for the benefit of the family and bringing this to a good end.

[Katie]

If the son is of age this will not be a cut and dry case. The father's rights are limited by the son's freedom.

[Katie]

I mean it won't be a cut and dry LEGAL case. The moral case seems rather clear.

I can't understand that serious people continue to tout this group's greatness.

[SS]

Even if the son is of age, if they are returning to the father's home, the father has the say regarding who shows up and is allowed to be there.

[giselle]

He is legally an adult, which makes it complicated, yes. That is why I tell the parents I that counsel that they must come to grips with the fact that their adult child has made a free will decision to live in this community. Bishops have to respect that as well, but should realise that it is their imprimatur (or silence) that gives credibility to the group.

I hope that those who have underage children under the direction of the Legion can see where this is headed.

[mExRC]

This is awful. I can only imagine being in that father's position. Makes my blood boil. For anyone who had doubts about this being a cult, here's the proof you were looking for.

Yes, legally, the seminarian might be of age to do as he pleases. But MORALLY, the Legion superiors should know better, and not only allow, but encourage contact and dialog with the family, especially in the present times.

If there's nothing wrong with them, what the heck are they afraid of?

[gto]

The Legion should focus on the vistors they are giving thanking God for, not gracing that family with their own visitation.

Matthew 18:28-34

When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.'
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?'
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.

[Bene Factress]

The age is irrelevent if it can be proven that the Legion has been exerting undue influence on this young man from an early age; we need to find lawyers who will be able to make a case for this kind of controlling behavior. We need people to be sensitized to the fact that the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christ is a cult like movement and must be treated as such by families and Church authorities.

Although in my previously lifetime I Bene Factress have peviously given a lot of -vocal and ridiculous - support to Fr. Anthony Mammon I find myself retractating myself in the present vicissistudes being suffered by poor Fr. Alvarito Corcuerita and ask the Almighty that he may soon get the relief he needs in these Dire Straits.

[Cindy]

The first thing the Holy See needs to do is open the doors and let the seminarians and consecrated take a vacation for a period of discernment. The LC must be panicking to be reduced to threatening parents. It is pretty bold given their current circumstances.

[Katie]

The anecdotal evidence at least is that this sort of thing is not new for the Legion. What makes it particularly shocking now is that one would think they wouldn't dare, considering the recent discoveries and the coming visitation.

[bruce]

I think they are out of touch with what they do because they have been doing it for a long time in the same manner. I think also the justification they have received through "numbers" being recruited and the favor of the church bestowed upon them is further reason to think they are "ok". Being justified by their "results", and supported from within by an ironclad method to suppress true honesty, true discernment,speak only church orthodoxy to the public and really to one another top to bottom, glossing over realspeak, and recruit the very young from hungry catholic parents is their formula for success. However, it is proving out that it is very much like a cult, but this will NEVER be admitted for all the above reasons. They have done it for too long and gotten away with it. Change will very hard for them.

[S.J.]

It seems time to go to the secular media with these stories. There are so many innocent people registering children in these schools without any knowledge of these things. These LC schools and houses of formation need to be shut down. I really worry that this visitation will be useless.

[giselle]

But S.J., sadly at this point there's no real story.

Pious Parent: Hello NYT? Yes, I'd like to report that children are being enrolled in a school which may be run by an order with control issues connected with an accused paedophile.

NYT: Is this a joke? We plastered that on our pages several years ago -- you still following that mumbo jumbo? Click.

[Sue]

Giselle,
Any more updates on this tragic scenario? Did the son stay with the family at home? We've been praying for them. Just wondering. Thank you for letting us know.

[giselle]

Please keep praying. These things take a very long time to resolve safely.

[mary]

Please keep us updated. Praying here!