From the Territorial Directors

This letter is over the signatures of Fr Scott Reilly and Fr Julio Marti. (Formatting finally workable, though not great, sorry). Some observations at the end.

To Regnum Christi Members and Friends

Atlanta and New York Territories

Dear friends in Christ,

In Atlanta, we recently enjoyed a visit from our General Director, Father Alvaro Corcuera. He celebrated Mass for Regnum Christi members and friends at the Pinecrest Academy chapel. During his homily he touched on important points in reference to the difficulties we have all experienced during these past months, shedding light upon them from the Gospel. He invited us to discover God’s mysterious design also within the realities we are living, which we never would have expected to experience. It was an intense moment of prayer and unity, gathered around Christ.

He has also traveled to Cheshire, Connecticut, to preside over the ceremony of the profession of vows of a group of novices and religious on August 29. With this important step, these brothers continue their path to the priesthood in the Legion of Christ, at the service of the Church, by dedicating themselves to a mission that “is of fundamental importance and is worth devoting oneself to with broadmindedness and an unsullied heart…” (Letter of Cardinal Tarcision Bertone to Father Alvaro Corcuera, March 10, 2009).

We are grateful to God for the gift of his leadership, full of Christian prudence and charity. We are confident that the Lord assists him with his grace in the difficult task he has at this time.

With this letter we would like to share with you some of the thoughts and recommendations that he has been offering to members of the Legion of Christ and consecrated members of Regnum Christi through his talks, homilies and letters over these past months. We are sure they can also be of help to you.

We also hope to remedy some of our shortcomings in communication –for which we are sorry–, so that together we can continue walking what will surely be a long path of healing and reconciliation with those who have been hurt by the misdeeds of Father Maciel.

As priests, our hearts go out to all those who have been harmed or scandalized by his actions. To all we extend a special apology on behalf of the Legion and our General Director,

Father Alvaro Corcuera, who has, in fact, begun to reach out personally and in private to those he knows may have suffered most, offering his heartfelt apology and consolation, and will continue to do so. As he wrote in his March 29 letter: “We are deeply saddened and sorry, and we sincerely ask for forgiveness from God and from those who have been hurt through this.” We also regret that our inability to detect, and thus accept and remedy, Father Maciel’s failings has caused even more suffering.

In the recent past, after Father Marcial Maciel had retired, we came to know that he had had a relationship with a woman and fathered a child. Even more recently, there have been allegations of other relationships and other children. Given the partial nature of the information available and the impossibility to evaluate immediately and in a definitive manner these complex allegations, the Legion of Christ cannot, at this time, make a statement regarding them. All this leads us to value even more the wisdom and pastoral approach of the Holy See concerning the allegations of past sexual abuse against Father Maciel that had surfaced. As it was stated in the communiqué published on May 19, 2006, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith investigated these issues and invited him to a reserved life of prayer and penance, renouncing all public ministry.

As an institution, as a family and as individuals, this unexpected turn of events has been traumatic. Being weak humans, even if reacting with Christian virtue, many of us have gone through experiences of shock, anger, disbelief, denial and fear, both humanly and spiritually. These emotions, the vast tangle of information, supposition, speculation and opinion, the different cultural sensitivities, and the Christian duty not to publicize the sins of others, have made it difficult to publish the sort of direct statement that many expected of us. Added to this, is the fact that we did not know the whole truth, we may not know it yet, and new information may well continue to come to light. What we do learn, we will address, respecting the privacy of those who request it of us.

As Legionaries, consecrated members of Regnum Christi and Regnum Christi members of all walks of life, we too have been experiencing a deep struggle. We are all wounded by this news, and need the comfort and support of each other. We want to thank all those who have understood the depth of our suffering, and offered their understanding and kindness. As we have just mentioned, we wish to be close to anyone who has suffered in any way, and at the same time ask them to live the Christian virtue of pardon from the depth of their hearts.

1. This brings us to a key point in relation to you, our friends. It is clear that all these facts lead us to think about the past, the present and the future. Many of you have rightly asked if the Legion has made or will make changes in its life. Yes…we have, we are and we will. Some examples:

a. One of the questions that come to mind refers to the "save environment and child protection" measures in our communities and apostolates. Our Constitutions, other norms and many elements of our discipline have always helped us to be particularly careful in the dealing with minors. More recently we are in the process of accreditation by Praesidium: a risk management organization now helping a great number of religious institutions in North America. Praesidium is conducting a full review of our internal rules and policies, as well as our training of all those who deal with minors. They will shortly be conducting an on-site visitation of several of our institutions to verify that what is on paper is being applied. There are twenty-five accreditation standards to meet, covering areas of prevention, response and supervision. Here in the U.S. we have also set up an external review board so that in the event of allegations of sexual abuse, we have the advantage of "outside eyes" to weigh the evidence, issues and provide us with recommendations. Praesidium accreditation is being promoted by the Conference of Major Superiors of men, which links all the male religious orders in this country. We also fully compy with all diocesan standards, which vary from place to place. 

b. On the financial side, for a long time now we have had yearly audits done by outside accounting firms. We could no have acquired the loans we needed to purchase our seminaries and found the many works of apostolate undertaken during these years without systems in place of strict accountability and responsible financial management.

In recent years, due to the growth of our operations, we have put in place a still more professional system of business management through the services of Integer Group. Staffed by lay professionals, Integer has further improved our operating and management processes to ensure the integrity of all our operations.

 

c. A further area of adjustment which has begun and continues in process is the way we refer to Father Maciel in the Legion and Regnum Christi. While we cannot deny that Father Maciel was our founder and did much good, neither can we deny the reality of what has recently come to light and his grave human failings. We have taken progressive steps to make sure that there is no inappropriate reference to Father Maciel (we have, for example, removed pictures of him from our center; we have extensively edited our websites; we are in the process of reviewing new editions of other writings, brochures, etc.). All this has led us to what is most essential: to center our life, even more, in Jesus Christ.

This is an ongoing and difficult process given the need to discern his person from the solid Catholic doctrine that he transmitted and the legitimate institutional aspects of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christ. This discernment is not something that can be done lightly or overnight. Father Alvaro has and will seek the advice and guidance of learned and prudent men of the Church to enlighten this difficult question seeking not to lose God’s gifts to the Legion and Regnum Christi.

2. We are also receiving enormous help from the Church, especially from the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, to whom we are truly grateful.

a. You know that he has mandated an Apostolic Visitation of the Legion. Archbishop Charles Joseph Chaput of Denver has been appointed as Visitor for the Legion in the United States and Canada. Archbishop Chaput will visit our seminaries and religious houses, see our life up close and interview whomever he wants. His mandate will be to question, probe and assess with depth and objectivity. Legionaries are free to speak and write to him with all their comments and questions. He sets his own timetable and the points he wishes to probe, and he will present his findings and recommendations directly to the Holy See.

For the moment, the Legion cannot make any specific statements regarding the content or development of the Visitation, since this would interfere with the work of the Visitors.

b. Questions and comments have also been raised regarding the “private vow of charity” that was professed in the Legion. The rationale of this vow was to ensure that the grievances one could have with his superior were brought to those who could resolve them and thus avoid irresponsible criticism or internal factions that degrade unity. This vow had been in place since 1957 and was approved by the Church. Pope Benedict XVI, who has the power to bind and loose, asked the Legion to remove it, which we did two years ago.

c. In the past two years, also following the indications we received from the Holy Father, we changed our general practice of superiors being the spiritual directors of their subjects. This practice was based on one of the century-old monastic traditions that view the superior as Spiritual Father and Mentor of his community. We are seeing positive fruits from this change of practice.

d. There also have been changes in the Legion regarding sacramental confession. In the past, members were free to go to the Ordinary or Extraordinary confessors (assigned by the General Director for each community). They were also free to go to any other Catholic priest with faculties for confession. Members often asked to go to confession with their own superiors.

Following the instructions of the Holy See, today superiors are no longer habitual confessors for those under their authority.

 

e. We would finally like to mention that our general director is in frequent contact with our superiors in the Holy See and also with the Apostolic Visitors to speak about these and other complex issues. These are some of the significant steps the Legion of Christ has taken. And as we said, we expect more will come in time, with judgment and prudence.

Understandably, in the midst of the present circumstances there have been a few of our members who have felt that they can serve God better by separating themselves from the Legion and Regnum Christi; others have opted temporarily to step aside to see and evaluate, waiting also to see the outcome of the Visitation. The vast majority has opted to continue doing as much good as they can from where they are, knowing that our time here on earth is limited, and trusting that with the guidance of the Church whatever needs to be corrected in time, and whatever is good will be confirmed. Each one has made his or her choice before God, moved by their love for him and their desire to serve him to the best of their ability, and for no other consideration. Let us have great Christian understanding and respect for all. Each of us must presume the best and purest intention in the other, pray for each other, and recognize that each one of us suffers and recovers in different ways and at different times.

As Father Álvaro told us in his homily, in Cheshire, St. John Chrysostom teaches us fives ways to reach reconciliation: asking for pardon, forgiving others, prayer, almsgiving and humility (cf. St. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, Homilies, PG 49, 263-264). Let us ask the Lord to grant us the grace to walk this path, inasmuch as each one of us needs it, for his greater glory. Loving, serving, and building together –that has been our life in the Legion and Regnum Christi. As tragic as the failings of our founder are, they should not cause us to diminish our efforts to bring souls to Christ, and to serve him and the Church selflessly in all our brothers and sisters.

You have worked so hard to create apostolates, build schools, run youth clubs, form people in the Catholic faith – and those efforts are good and real. Let nothing distract you from loving and serving God in your neighbor. We enter now into a new chapter of our history which must be focused on the pursuit of holiness and love for souls.

May we take inspiration from our Blessed Mother who “meditated all these things in her heart” (cf. Lk 2:51). She will lead us along the path of God’s will and help us to respond as she did: “May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).

May Saint Paul’s letter to the Corinthians inspire us during these challenging times:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's suffeings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too." (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

 

You remain in our prayers, and we depend on yours.

Yours in Christ our Lord,

I have some initial comments:

1. They defend the constitutions, norms and accounting practices, particularly in the area of child welfare and financial accountability, which is astonishing given that those very structures provided MM room to abuse young boys and so much ready cash for his "randy avatar[s];"
2. I would remind readers that Integer is the very problematic Legionary-run entity that has been cited in comments here already;
3. I must insist with all firmness that no victims associated with Regain have been contacted concerning apologies or otherwise; and 
4. If the the private vows can be approved of and dispensed with at the discretion of reigning popes, then what does that do to their insistence that past papal approval is a virtual sign of infallibility?

Other than that, you'll have to decide for yourselves on the sincerity of these measures and their chance of reviving their "brand credibility." [I will be updating these observations as I digest this letter in the coming hours, but I have the utmost confidence that astute readers will parse the above for its many duplicitious and contradictory details.]

UPDATE: to counter my "glass half-empty" response, Pete offers a clear indication that it may, indeed, be "half-full." Much interpretation at this point depends on the integrity of words and their subsequent concrete actions.

UPDATE II: another response from Pete, given the reaction to his measured words. Most importantly:

Yes, God will see the members through as individuals if they trust Him. However, there's a difference between individual and institution. And there's a difference between this letter receiving a cold response from former members who helped Maciel's victims bring their allegations to light, and the letter being savaged as insufficient and "more of the same" by those still in the movement (who hope the Apostolic Visitators will reform the Legion and Regnum Christi). The former speaks to the need for a thorough process of reconciliation and reform. The latter speaks to the internal loss of one's institutional credibility among those who carry out the movement's day-to-day apostolate.

Comments

[Pete Vere]

MPI said: "I believe they are manipulative. You argue they are not smart."

The two are not mutually exclusive. One can be both manipulative and lack common sense.

Giselle wrote: "If they had reacted differently in 2006, then it would be a different organisation."

Possibly. At the very least the organization would look different, as it would have begun to strip away Macielisms from its internal structures. Whether it would have stuck to the same name or not, nobody knows.

However, in holding tenaciously to Maciel's innocence in 2006, in continuing to defend him and sell his works, in not stepping away from the founder when clearly invited by Rome to do so, in allowing Maciel's poison to seep through its veins for another three years, in suing its critics out of a web presence, the Legion only compounded the eventual scandal when it eventually did break.

But to demonstrate my point, ask yourself two questions:

- Do you believe claims Fr. Alvaro knew nothing about Maciel's double life?

- Did you believe Fr. Berg, prior to him leaving the Legion, when he said he knew nothing about Maciel's double life?

Had the Legion done what they were invited to do in 2006, one would be more inclined to believe them with this scandal broke.

LOA RC wrote: "Something that just hit me too is that this letter is just to the U.S. territories which represents maybe 100 LC priests and 10K RC members out of the 70K in the world? It is not from Fr A to all RC which to me would have way more impact. How are we to know that these sentiments are shared by the LC and RC in other countries and more specifically by the LC hierarchy who calls the shots for the movement?"

We don't.

[K]

They are still acting as if all of the problems were with MM only. My family and I experienced the emotional (abuse) manipulation from Fr. Paul Moreau. We never even met MM. I believe Fr. Paul's conscience is completely deformed. It was all "for the sake of the movement." I will know when I hear them admit to this type of abuse that they are serious about reform. They have not yet been humbled enough to do this. I think the priests that are the most culpable will have the hardest time facing the truth. It would be too much for them.

[Don]

K - Can you elaborate? I saw a reference recently to accusations of emotional abuse by Fr. Moreau, but no details. Are there legal actions being pursued?

[anonymous]

This letter was written to just the US, but it was approved by Fr. A himself. The Legion is undergoing the greatest scrutiny in the US b/c of our penchant for the truth and justice. It seems that pious and vague apologies work in other countries, and we tend to demand explanations and details.

[Claire]

I think the old saw is applicable here with respect to Church members' view of the credibility of any words of LC/RC:

"Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."

[Anonymous]

The ONLY statement from the Legion that I would consider to be meaningful at this point would be 1)an admission that they have lied repeatedly and seriously for decades and a humble request for help from the Vatican to help them unlearn the habit of deceit, 2)a public letter of not only apology but GRATITUDE to the original accusers, thanking them for trying to protect the Church and our children from this giant fraud, 3)an acknowledgment that they don't have a clue if their charism is real or not and an expressed understanding of the difficulties inherent in the notion of adhering to the spirit (per Vatican II) of their perverted, deceitful founder, 4) a complete moratorium on all further recruitment, and 5)a statement of their plan to help un-do the malformation resulting from being founded by and for the sin of a child-molesting fraud. In particular I'd like to see an admission of their twisted views of many virtues, especially charity and docility.

If the LC did this, I think I could believe that they were truly interested in getting to the bottom of their twisted foundation. I could give them a second chance. Instead, I see more lying, hubris, and manipulation.

I don't believe a word they say. Why should I?

[Still RC - For Now, Anyway]

Don asked if the Atlanta and New York directorates covered the entire US. Don, I believe they do. Both directorates have basically divided up the US "territory" and each RC section in the US will report to one of the directorates.

Anonymous noted that the US is more demanding of truth and justice, and that vague apologies work better in other countries. Anon, sadly I believe you are correct, esp. given the reference in this letter to "cultural sensitivities". One of the first defenses I heard last Feb. from the LC and consecrated (and this was just in "pep talks" to RC members) was that Americans are too demanding of the details, too impatient and, at some point, someone actually said that other cultures find this "offensive", if you can believe it. I can't recall the reference but regarding this very issue an online commentator pointed out that these are not issues being addressed with "American sensibilities" but with Christian ones. Since when is truth, honesty and integrity strictly an "American" concept?

I hope someone can remember the exact quote because it's worth posting.

[anonymous]

I heard that in Jan/Feb Alvaro had spent 6 weeks going from center to center around the globe to inform people of MM's daughter, and the news didn't leak anywhere. He arrives in the States (intentionally last) and the news leaks within two hours of his arrival.

You know the Legion hates Americans, right? They are only here for our money. I say we kick 'em back to Mexico where they belong. If they don't like our values and "sensibilities" they can kiss our butts!

[Anonymous]

Anon,

That story made me laugh out loud! I have no doubt it is entirely true, too. Thanks for the chuckle.

We Americans are not into political/religious (or both at the same time!) powers-that-be lying, scheming, defrauding us, and screwing around while portraying themselves as saints. I guess it doesn't make for a happy marriage between the US and deceitful, fraudulent organizations like the LC. (Not that we Americans don't have our own dysfunctions and ideosyncracies! LOL)

I have no doubt NO letter like this will be sent to the Mexican RC. They are still lighting candles in Cotilja and listening to the likes of Lucrecia chastise them for being uncharitable and disloyal if they so much as consider the idea that Maciel may have been anything but a living saint.

[Oh]

"...this is their "charism"---recruiting and fundraising to survive), and it will do WHATEVER it takes to survive. Including giving lip service to having some "difficulties" in order to satisfy the rank-and-file and the Vatican." Well said A. This great evil needs to be rooted out everywhere, Mexico deserves better. While other communities mention their charism no one emphasizes it as much as the legion, is that because they realize their whole foundation is a fraud? Deliver us from evil Lord!

[THE_Br._Dan]

The LC/RC was founded on fraud, plain and simple as that. Like a marriage founded on fraud, it never really existed and the LC/RC should be annulled outright. The letter simply shows they are STILL in DENIAL about the CONSEQUENCES even if they are coming to grips with what MM did. The consequence is there can be no LC/RC, period. There is nothing to see here. move along...just rip off the bandaid already and get it over with. That's the merciful (and just) thing to do.

The problem is, they have sooo much invested in LC/RC that they will need to be forced to dismantle since they will hold on in denial for a very very long time. They are blind and need to be shown the way.

[Anonymous]

Quote from letter above:
"In the recent past, after Father Marcial Maciel had retired, we came to know that he had had a relationship with a woman and fathered a child."
That was around 2005.

Pope sanction in 2006.

Excerpts from Letter from Fr Alvaro to Leaders and Formators in March 2008:

"On the one hand, this year’s Easter is tinged with special sorrow, being our first one without Nuestro Padre’s physical presence—but it also is one of deep joy and hope knowing that he accompanies us much more closely from heaven"

"I am certain that you understand your mission of being light, formators and cofounders, and that being team leaders is not something sporadic or circumstantial in your lives, even more so after the example Nuestro Padre left us."

[Still RC - For Now, Anyway]

Anonymous, I was under the impression that actually the news didn't leak because it was confined to LC priests (and maybe only certain LC priests). I know that such a group of LC priests met in Rome in Nov. or Dec. to discuss the implications of the news about the mistress and daughter. At the meeting were members of the curia, incl., I believe, Cardinal Sodano and Cardinal Rode. I'm not really sure that LC brothers or even that all the LC priests knew before end of January, when you started to see commentary from Changobeer and then from Fr. Berg shortly thereafter. Both reactions were highly charged and it was apparent to me that they had just heard the news very recently before. Someone is welcome to correct my impression or memory of this.

By early February, the LC was beginning to inform the RC laity (including consecrated members). I'm almost positive most, if not the vast majority, of the 3gf's didn't know because my spiritual guide (consecrated) was completely undone by the news in Feb. whereas I had just seen her the month before and she was fine. The notifying of the RC membership seemed to be timed with a general news release and I'm guessing that members throughout the world were generally finding out at the same time. Someone is free to correct me here too if I'm wrong. In any case, I don't think the LC was scrambling to cover leaks - I believe they released the info with the general expectation if making it completely public.

Despite the LC's excuse that it took extra time to inform everyone because it was all person to person, that's BS that this was the reason for the lapse betw. the time of informing the Vatican and breaking the news generally. When the news broke, the phone calls were made quickly, using a "Phone tree" approach employed by the key formators in the sections, and the news was able to spread quite quickly (within a few days) throughout this territory at least. That's very obvious when you look at timing betw. Changobeer's posting of "Requiem for a Dream" (Jan. 30 or so) and the LC's press release (Feb. 4 or so). That's how long it really took.

So why the delay? Well, I'm guessing they were probably working out their defense - they did come out with that whole "charism is valid" thing very quickly after the news broke and I believe it was supposed to be based on what they had heard from Sodano and Rode. Or possibly, they were still working out a financial or confidentiality arrangement with the mother and daughter.

[ambivalentPC]

Oddly enough, I actually do find this encouraging. You won't find many people more suspicious of the LC/RC than I am -- I lie awake at night trying with all my might not to hate them all -- and yet, at the same time, I'm hopeful in every slight improvement, because at least it's something for those poor people who are still dealing with this. Because I know that those friends of mine who are still "in" will not believe anything I say, or anything the press says, but they will believe what the territorial directors say. That means they are getting a *little* bit of truth. I don't expect honesty from these people, but *more* honesty is always better.

I'm also encouraged by their promise to abide by safe-environment policies when dealing with minors, and actually committing to getting checked out by these people. Unfortunately, most of the abuse of minors that takes place is of an emotional kind that these organizations might not be checking for -- but it's a start, and I want everything possible that will help these kids.

[Pete Vere]

Actually, it's funny because I was just discussing this with a friend who happens to be American and quite active with the RC.

Most of you don't see it because you're American, but you are more demanding when it comes to truth, detail and disclosure. Not that I think it's a bad thing (which is why I'm often mistaken for an American).

Here in Canada the reaction is more to quietly stop showing up at activities, offering the excuse that Monique has piano lessons during that time or Mark's hockey schedule is a little more intense this year. And rather than take place openly between those both in and out, as it does in the U.S., the discussion usually happens in whispers over coffee at Tim Horton's when former members run into each other.

***
U.S. Conversation

"I left RC because Fr. Maciel is a pedophile.

"I could put up with that, now that he's gone, but I cannot tolerate the lack of apology from the LC."

or

"But look at all the good work they do!"

***
Canadian conversation

"Hi Jim, haven't seen you in a long time, how's RC going?"

"It's going good. Why haven't you been out?"

"Mark made the travelling team this year, so I'm busy running him to hockey practice. Say hello to everyone for me. Which reminds me, I'm off to the arena right now. Just ran out for a quick coffee, but I better get back since the game is going into the third period."

OR

"Hi Jim, haven't seen you in a long time, how's RC going?"

"I haven't been out in a while. Mark made the travelling team this year, so I'm busy running him to hockey practice. Say hello to everyone for me."

"Oh, I've been too busy with the Knights of Columbus, since we moved the council to the parish, to get out to RC. So I haven't been out either."

"You too, eh? Actually, with all the allegations surfacing about Fr. Maciel, this is probably the break I needed."

"I understand. I don't say this too loudly, but I read on one of the American blogs that he may have fathered up to six children at last count."

"Really? I can understand keeping a low profile, that's what I'm doing, but those Americans are certainly kicking up a fuss. I think they're on to something. Hey, Mark was just in the second intermission when I left, so I've got an entire period before I need to get back. Do you have time for a quick coffee?"

"Not now, I have to be at the parish in ten minutes. We're holding a spaghetti dinner tonight to raise money for the local right to life. Jim and Wayne are also gonna be there with their families. They've gone inactive with RC as well, and are now volunteering with the knights and local right-to-life. Why don't you drop in after the game? Family rate of $20 and it will save you having to rush home and cook supper. We can catch up then."

"Sounds like a great idea! I've been meaning to become a little more active with the parish. See you then."

[anonymous]

Still RC,

What you say about the Nov/Dec meetings is more or less true. I'm not sure who attended the meetings, but it seems right that Sodano/Rode would be there.

The news broke in the states the last week of Jan, with things heating up the first days of Feb.

Fair came out with a statement in answer to questions coming from the press, which he gave first to CNA, on Feb. 3 or 4. But there was no public statement made freely by the Legion before that. They let the rumors swirl for a few days before responding.

The Legion had been telling people the news in various territories outside the US much before that. A friend of mine in Spain had heard the news in early Jan, but they had been asked not to say anything.

Actually, I know for a fact Alvaro was in Mexico holding secret meetings with LCs in middle January. Not all LCs were informed, however. An LC I know in Rome didn't find out until Feb. 1.

Once the news was told to the section in Atlanta -- or was it DC -- that's when the whole thing was leaked on the Internet.

The Legion wasn't totally caught off guard, b/c they knew it would eventually happen, but they didn't expect it to happen so quickly after Alavaro arrived to the States. And they hadn't made it to all the formation centers before it leaked, and that caused problems b/c consecrated/seminarians were hearing it through people in their sections or from family, and not through Alvaro himself.

Paolo Scarafoni also made a statement after being contacted by the secular press, and Alvaro came out with one a few days later on Feb. 7.

The LCs and Fair were really scrambling that week. Nothing was really organized or orchestrated.

[Still RC - For Now, Anyway]

I sympathize with your views, ambivalentPC but do want to point out that the Praesidium initiative (which Fr. Scott also told us about last Feb) is really only complying with most of the dioceses' rules for "safe child" measures put in place the last few years. In fact, it appears the LC was slow to get this going compared to many dioceses which is really incomprehensible for a group that purports to work with the Church AND has extensive youth apostolates. The letter states that this is a more recent initiative and I got the impression too from Fr. Scott last Feb.

Perhaps someone can correct me here, but I can't help but think that the LC initiated this as a "defensive" measure to avert bad press, and it may not work - mainly because they are closing the gate after the horse escaped.

[Pete Vere]

Anyway, to finish my thought, it would be a mistake for Legion superiors to conclude this is a uniquely American problem just because Canadians (and members from other English-speaking countries) aren't as vocal. They might not be speaking as openly and as candidly, but most Canadian members with whom I have corresponded pretty much agree with the Americans.

Nor does it help Legion apologists to play the anti-American card. After all, it's easier to respond to open criticism than to a whisper campaign.

Having said that, I was told by someone well-place in RC when the story first broke - someone who was still defending the movement at the time - that Americans were informed last, after members in all other parts of the world had been informed, and that the process of informing members in the U.S. was hastened because of how quickly it leaked to the outside after the first U.S. members were informed.

[giselle]

Still RC -- I got the impression that the Legion avoided the "safe child" measures for a few reasons: many in the US thought they were ridiculous (practically making the children responsible for what are adults' grave defects), exposing kids to sexual ideas unnecessarily, and with the Legion's "stellar" reputation, no one could imagine the need. (In that respect, I think the entire Church has had a wake-up call about abuse and not to go by appearances.) Then there is the standard LC elitism that sets them above the rest, much like they managed to exempt themselves from the nationwide visitation of religious houses.

[anonymous]

"As we have just mentioned, we wish to be close to anyone who has suffered in any way, and at the same time ask them to live the Christian virtue of pardon from the depth of their hearts."

This is so very arrogant. No humble apology, just a guilt trip for their victims about how they should react.

Sickening.

[MnM]

"On the other hand, the Legion is facing a much larger scandal right now than it would have faced had it accepted the Holy See's 2006 invitation to separate themselves from the work of the founder."

Bingo.

It cannot be said enough! I am still in the trenches and hear RC Men and Women still singing the praises of MM. Brainwashing runs very deep and it takes years to see the light.

[Polish Pilgrim]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the most obvious reason for the letter: That the investigation is underway and in any battle a pre-emptive strike is better than just staying in the defend mode.

Clearly this was written to make Chaput feel like some of his work is already done; that sweeping changes don't have to be made because, well, see, we already made them.

And it was written to prepare LC/RC members for how to answer during the visits--get them to the next stage in grief counseling so they give better answers to Chaput.

[Jeremiah]

I worked for the Legion in their Territorial Administration for many years. I can't, in good conscience, help but comment on a few of the financially related remarks.

"On the financial side, for a long time now we have had yearly audits done by outside accounting firms."

Q. What do Lehman Brothers, Washington Mutual, Worldcom, General Motors and Enron have in common? Anybody?
A. They are the top 5 bankruptcy cases in history and they all had yearly audits by world-renowned accounting firms.

Anyone who has worked in the Legion's US Fundraising Office or Territorial Administration of the Legion knows:

• The Legion has MANY separate US corporations. The relationships are very confusing and not transparent.
• An audit of The Legion of Christ, Incorporated (one of these corporations) implies -- but does not necessarily mean -- the audit of ALL these financial entities. And, it definitely does not apply to any of the hundreds of Legion entities in other countries.
• If the Legion in the US sends money to the Legion in Rome, a US auditor has no knowledge of how that money is used.
• These financial audits watch out for embezzlement, but don't concern themselves with whether donations were used in the manner designated by the donor when given. I worked for the Legion for a long time. There were many donations that were not spent in the manner intended by the donor. There was one poor family that gave over a half a million dollars for a chapel at ICAS in New Hampshire. That chapel was never built and the money was spent on something else.

"We could not have acquired the loans we needed to purchase our seminaries and found the many works of apostolate undertaken during these years without systems in place of strict accountability and responsible financial management."

Ha, ha, ha --- have these guys heard about all of the bank failures due to bad judgement and bad lending practices? Hello?

"In recent years, due to the growth of our operations, we have put in place a still more professional system of business management through the services of Integer Group. Staffed by lay professionals, Integer has further improved our operating and management processes to ensure the integrity of all our operations."

Hahahahaha!!!

Stop. Please. You're killing me. No, really. I can't breathe...

[Jane]

Polish Pilgrim is on the right track, re: the timing of the Visitation and the Stages of Grief. Excellent observation.

I also believe that the news of the other Maciel children came at a bad time for the LC. The RC activities slow down in the summer, and without the reinforcement of regular contact with fellow RCs, I sense that the months of waiting for the Legion to do the right thing has begun to wear on even the most faithful RCs.The latest revelations of more Maciel children, as well as the difficult questions about how much Pope JPII knew may well have been enough to push loyal RCs over the edge.I would not have been surprised if, come September, the number of "active" RCs dropped dramatically.I think the Legion saw this, and knew they needed to put out a statement, any statement, that would give the weary RCs a reason to hold on a little longer. It has probaby worked, too.

In the spring, Father Bannon promised that apologies were iminent, that the Legion was trying to find the victims to apologize. It didn't happen. Later, some RCs were assured that the Legion was going to make private apologies to individual victims. We know that has not happened either. I would feel foolish hoping this latest promised apology is any more believable just because it is couched in slightly less flowery, tedious, Macielesque tones than most LC messages of the past 7 months.

I do wish, for the sake of the abuse victims, that this is a promise they will actually keep.

[bruce]

there are still only a few people making comment for many. aside from mm's abuse victims,et al, the group mentality of its members which is a lifestyle hiding the individual person are the current victims as they are being used to support the vapor of LC/RC's elitism. they are the ones who think they can still make this work because they are the ones who still believe that they can do the work necessary to prove they yet have a charism, and that charism is the one they have been hammered into believing, by the few who speak for them now. when who they really believe in is themselves and their own intrinsic charism, the one they were born with, in the church they were born into. it will take the vatican to remove the vapor of LC/RC elitism.

this would then be humility as the highest gift. gifts of their personhood no longer subject to a false god, or a facsimile of the catholic church, but the church herself. perhaps it is an impossible task, and it's just wishful thinking that somehow a tragedy can be avoided.