"This complex situation"

Published on the RC site:

In response to a radio and television program that appeared March 3 in Mexico, the Legion of Christ is releasing the letter that Fr Carlos Skertchly, LC, wrote to Mr. Raúl González Lara this past January 12. We publish it with absolute respect for the person of Raúl González Lara, bearing in mind that he himself published it on March 3. The attached letter shows the Legion of Christ’s position toward Mr. González and this complex situation, which we have come to know about through him after the death of our founder, Fr Marcial Maciel, LC. Fr Carlos Skertchly is currently in Rome, replacing Fr Cristóforo Fernández in his functions as general procurator of the congregation.

We share the suffering and pain of the members of the González Lara family, understanding the difficult circumstances they have lived and are living.

In recent years, the Legionaries of Christ have gradually come to know, with surprise and great sorrow, hidden aspects of the life of Fr Maciel. We confirm our commitment to act in truth and charity. We renew our request for forgiveness from the affected people for all of the suffering this has caused and for the ensuing scandal.

Communications office of the Legionaries of Christ, Mexico

***

Fr Carlos Skertchly’s letter to Mr. Raúl González Lara:

Thy Kingdom Come!

 
Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Mr. Raúl González Lara

Present

Dear Raúl:

I would like to leave a written record of our meeting this past January 6, according to your wish for a first response to your requests. With the intention of being precise and formal, I preferred to do it in writing. I also confirm my availability to continue dialoguing with you.

At this time, it is impossible for Fr Álvaro Corcuera to come to Mexico to meet with you as you requested, so he asked me as his representative to be available to meet with you and listen to you.

Our intention as members of the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, is to do whatever is possible to uncover the truth about our founder’s life, to look for the best solutions—in a spirit of gospel charity—to the complex situations that are presenting themselves, and to reach out pastorally to all of the people who have suffered or who may be affected by it. It is in this spirit and with these intentions that I met with you.

In our meeting this past January 6 at the Anáhuac University North, we had the opportunity to talk for an hour. During that time, you mentioned some aspects of your life in relation to your father, whom you identified as Fr Marcial Maciel. You also informed me of your intentions and the petition that you are presenting to the superiors of the Legion of Christ: you are asking them to give you a sum of 6 million dollars in fulfillment of what you say was your father’s will, expressed orally to you in a conversation. You also ask for another 20 million dollars as compensation for your sufferings.

On January 8 in the afternoon, I received your phone call, in which you confirmed your request, affirming that “if you give me the money, I will keep quiet about the truth,” and you asked for a response by January 13 at the latest.

In response to your petition, I can tell you the following:

1. As I affirmed in our meeting and on the phone call, we want to understand your situation, try to shed light on the still obscure aspects we are facing, seek the truth, and reach out to people. However, in no way can we accede to your request for money in exchange for silence. While we value all of the pain and suffering that you have shared with us, and we deplore the evil of scandal that may follow, we will never accept petitions of this sort, which are also illicit. We prefer to seek and face the truth, no matter how painful it may be.

2. In fulfillment of the responsibility I have received, I informed Fr Álvaro Corcuera of the content of our conversations, and I will tell you his comments and answers. From now on, I can confirm our desire and availability to accompany you and offer you the pastoral support you are willing to receive, since, as you told me, the deepest solution to your difficulties is not economic. I would also like to take this opportunity to mention that we have heard that a Mexican journalist will soon be publishing a book on topics related to Fr Maciel. We have not had any contact with the author and we have yet to know the book’s content. We are deeply sorry for the suffering and moral damage that this writing may cause you, your relatives, and us as well. We are also sorry for the public and ecclesial scandal it will generate.

I ask you once again to reflect on your position, and once again, we are always ready to work together to seek the truth, the evidence, and the best solutions to this situation which is so painful for everyone. This will surely be a difficult process that will take time.

With the assurance of my prayers for you and your family, yours sincerely in Christ,

Fr Carlos Skertchly, L.C.

Notice that the word "Church" is missing. 

Comments

[randie]

I'm reposting this here.

Re: the letter on the RC website -

I question Fr A's sudden inability to meet with the Raul.

You can see why the Legion chose to publicize this letter. It doesn't look good that the sons have requested financial compensation. From their perspective, if they were promised an inheritance, I could see that they would expect it (I'm not saying it's right) They have also had a year to witness the cushy life lived by the Normas, ostensibly due to an agreement struck with LC leadership as well. After all they have endured, it's understandable they might hope for the same sort of arrangement.

[gto]

Rough translation:

The jig is almost up. Darned if we'll admit it all quite yet. We learned from a master. Watch us be the victim.

[Lee]

Are we to believe that the son did ask for money in exchange for his silence? For all the obscuring and attacking by the LC ... I have my doubts - it is Father Skertchly word.

Of course the progeny of Maciel should receive their inheritance.

[Back to Basics]

OMG! The smear campaign continues! This letter makes me feel physically I'll as well as very very angry! How dare they act with such collosal viciousness and total lack of charity? It beggars belief! And of course it is only their side of it, spun to omit problematical little details like the fact that their holy founder sexually abused this poor man for many many years. *stomps and storms around*

I am so furious about this!

[anon]

How often has the Legion (or any other organization beholden to the amlighty dollar) ever paid out damages for its actions without a non-disclosure agreement?

[anon]

Whose Kingdom come?

[Anonymous]

The LC blows it again in the hide and seek presentation of facts...
1) From day one they should have set up an agreed upon 3rd party (respected Catholic lay and ecclesiastical leaders) to establish to veracity of all claims about MM for this particular family, in the sincere desire to know the truth of all with openness- and spare me "the Vatican investigation is closed" argument."

2) Additionally they should have also setup the same or another group of 3rd party arbiters to determine what if any compensation is due the family in justice and charity. LCs are just nonsensical to pretend mediating the situation directly will help when their own credibility is in the toilet.

LCs all I can say is STUPID STUPID STUPID. When will you learn.

[anon]

'Cuz calling the victim a mercenary always goes over so well.

What next? Saying he's a liar and a cheat just like his Dad?

Fools.

[RCish]

HIGHLIGHTS:

"we want to . . . seek the truth, and reach out to people."

"in no way can we accede to your request for money in exchange for silence."

"We prefer to seek and face the truth, no matter how painful it may be."

"we are always ready to work together to seek the truth, the evidence, and the best solutions to this situation"

Of course they are. Of course.

[Anonymous]

This was an off the cuff interview with a rank and file LC- some moments of lucidity seem present (read my translation at your own risk):
http://www.am.com.mx/Nota.aspx?ID=387407
It is disturbing: Father Patrick
LUIS MIGUEL LOPEZ
NOTE PUBLISHED: 3/4/2010

This is "exceedingly disturbing" said Patrick O'Connell, a priest of the order of the Legionaries of Christ and head of the Men’s Section in Leon, referring to the sexual abuse of children that was committed by the order's founder, Marcial Maciel.

"I only heard the last 10 minutes of the interview (...) but it was enough to open my eyes, if I had any illusions that many of the things about Father Maciel are true or half true, I think what came out today is exceedingly disturbing [una “aberración impresionante”] and I think for us as Legionaries, we have the last nail in the coffin of this man”, he said.

O'Connell, who met Marcial Maciel in the seventies and was his cook while studying in Rome agreed with what was said in the interview of José Raúl González Lara, one of the sons of Maciel: that on the outside, people did not suspect the "other side" of this priest.

"He was always very kind to us, but this double life (...) we cannot deny what is surprising is the baseness, the disgusting manner in some way, of all his conduct with other young people, with women and in this case, his own children, " he said.

The priest acknowledged that the Legionaries have lost credibility as an institution, but noted that the witness will be the individual work of every priest of the order.

"Certainly I do believe that our credibility is badly damaged," he said.

He thought that the order would not disappear after the investigation by the Vatican, although it may have to change its name after all the loss of credibility it faces.

[Anon out of RC]

I remember hearing last year the possibility that Norma was paid off to keep silent...any truth to that?

She was around at his death, she was at the funeral (know for a fact thru a friend). What kept her quiet for so long?

[PaulM]

There's no way Norma was paid off to keep silent! LOL

From point #1 above:

However, in no way can we accede to your request for money in exchange for silence. While we value all of the pain and suffering that you have shared with us, and we deplore the evil of scandal that may follow, we will never accept petitions of this sort, which are also illicit. We prefer to seek and face the truth, no matter how painful it may be.

[SO DONE]

I'm with PaulM, There's no way that the Legion would "EVER" pay someone to keep silent...they are all about truth and transparency and charity...

Forgive my sarcasm. This is so laughable, it's not even funny. ;)

[Bigtex]

Has the recipient of the letter verified this version of it?

[randie]

I hope someone has saved this RC webpage. The LC will be handily criticized for this detraction (if not outright lie) and will pull it down asap.

I'm printing and saving a copy.

[Anonymous]

Can someone verify if this the RC version is the same version Raul received? Legitimately please.

[anon]

Looks like something a Legion lawyer drew up. Love the I am not a crook bits.

[anon]

I think they're trying to say they are not into polygamy and can only buy out the first family to come forward. Everyone has got to have some standard.

[aizo]

+1 to Anon 3:07!

[Lauretta]

Should not a discussion be had about returning the money that so many gave to this group thinking that they were a legitimate charity? I know a man who has annuities with this bunch. It would seem that all of this money needs to be returned immediately since it was received under totally false pretenses.

[gregorbo]

"and us as well"

Really? You just couldn't communicate, just once, without mentioning how much pain this scandal is causing YOU???

[SO DONE]

WHat I noticed listening to the interview with Carmen Aristegui and reading this letter, is that on the interview the sons didn't say how much money they were asking for. That information the Legion was more than happy to provide. Totally despicable...

[Pete Vere]

Friends:

Let's not get too excited here. Please remember that we are to believe none of the evil we hear, and treat suspiciously the evil that we see.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I was neither party nor witness to Raul's alleged extortion attempt. I have only Fr. Skertchly's account to go by. I also find it a little suspicious - given that Raul in Mexican and everything took place in Mexico - that Father would communicate with him in English (since there is no indication in the LC news release that this is a translation).

Therefore I refuse to believe it. As we say in canon law, "one witness is no witness."

[bruce]

as soon as the tests show they are truly MM's they should sue their ass

[m]

Gospel Charity in legionese = Shut up, stop talking, pretend this never happened.