life-after-RC

A Legionary "withdrawal"

Vatican Insider provides a little more information about numbers:

It's the largest institutional retreat of the last years. The biggest internal restructuring since the scandals which have involved its founder, Marcial Maciel Degollado.

Until not long ago, the Legion was considered the religious institute enjoying the greatest growth, both financially and in terms of memberships, in the years following the II Vatican Council. It only took five years and a founder guilty of all sorts of immoral acts, including sexual abuse on children, for the machine to dramatically stop.

The spokesman of the congregation in Rome, Andreas Schoggl, confirmed that the adjustment measures respond to the lack of vocations, the impact of the international economic crisis, the need to maximize resources and the public scandals.

"It is true, a retreat is visible, but it can also be seen as a change in strategy. In the past, we bit off more than we could chew and now it is time to adjust our work; though we have no problem with that", he said.

Noting the loss of 124 members of the congregation, the author add perspective:

Since the Maciel case crises, the order lost 5% of its priests, which is a significant result if one thinks that, in over 70 years of history, only around a hundred priests left their ranks (to which the above-mentioned 42 must be added).

I must run now, but will be back shortly -- just wanted to get the information up. At first glance, though, I don't think the numbers have ever been entirely trustworthy. And the next part of the article mentions that the problems aren't all MM, but also financial mismanagement.

The gimlet eye of Chiesa

Sandro Magister calls it an "exile:"

The removal of Fr. Luís Garza Medina from the leadership of the Legionaries of Christ is the turning point that could change the future of this embattled congregation.

The news came unexpectedly in the middle of July, with a letter from the director general of the Legion, Álvaro Corcuera. Effective August 1, Garza will no longer be vicar general. He will move to New York as territorial director of the United States and Canada: a territory that is anything but friendly to him, one of those in which the Legion is most disabled, already abandoned by its best men, Frs. Richard Gill, Thomas Berg, Jonathan Morris and others, who have gone into service with the dioceses, and where even those who have stayed view the arrival of the new director more as an undeserved punishment than as support. Garza retains the role of supervising the consecrated virgins associated with the affiliated movement Regnum Christi, but only on a temporary basis, until the apostolic visit to investigate this movement – just recently concluded – has been translated by the Vatican authorities into practical decisions.

Maybe. Interesting details, and refreshingly "non-legion" in its non-flowery wording. Ultimately, Garza still lays it all at the feet of the Vatican:

Garza acknowledges that Cardinal De Paolis is a capable jurist and canonist. But precisely for this reason, he adds, "he needs a credible accusation to begin an investigation."

Because who could ever have doubted the founder? "After years and years of revering the founder, and the Holy See praising him," Garza responds, "we accepted it."

Remember, this uber-reverence for the Holy See is what Pete Vere brought to our attention as one sign of cultishness. It seems that everyone was proven incapable of rational thought once the pope offered his imprimatur -- and that's simply not Catholic. (Which doesn't mean I believe Garza, but only see this as hiding behind MM's construct to throw off the rank-and-file members.)

ADDENDUM: the best analysis has been provided by AnonObserv:

A reporter is at times no better than his sources, and that has helped me to properly value Magister's coverage.

1. True Eyes from the Inside: I think no one has covered better the reaction from inside and given voice to objective and sound critiques from the order's members and former members.  He nails it quite well in his reporting, and one can see he is very passionate about giving these men a voice that the LC nomenklatura and the Vatican damage control machinery would like to just go away. He has the names of those brave and noble men like Victor Pajares, Alfonso Aguilar, etc.. who from inside speak honestly and fight for the transparency that will permit the power structure to crumble. Jim Collins in "Good to Great" has a chapter on "facing the brutal facts" that these men have obviously assimulated and know the full and total truth now is life or death for these men's ability to function as religious in the future.
2. His depiction of the Holy See and of DePaolis is really a plea to listen to these men.I have never found Magister's inside info on the personages of the curia to be all that accurate, at least as far as what followed after in events and discourses of the said persons. He attributes to them a pursuit of justice, that even if a subtle one and more diplomatic in its exercise, never was born out by the language of DePaolis et al. We note how DePaolis has had his own moments of villifying the press for causing the loss of vocations and the rise of the dissidents. So why does Magister treat him so well? I think this is Magister's own effort to editorialize, to paint something of an ideal that he longs for DePaolis to measure up to. He is trying to tell DePaolis he has an opportunity to set things right--as in this case--to 'let's use this to get the investigation started type moment.'

Magister's article will get a lot of play and that brings some new curial attention to the situation that will do some good I hope, and will sustain the zeal of these insiders to keep working to open the eyes of the brothers, and not let their future be built on a lie.

Separately, there is one clear fact that must emerge among those watching the LC situation in the US: The LCs in the US are expendable in the mindset of the nomenklatura and the Delegate. They are just necessary collateral damage to the latest power play to rid Europe and Mexico of Garza's dark web of shadow financing and managerial control. The LG comment stating he set Integer up, but then had nothing to do with afterwards will have to be seen by any astute LCs as a lie. So many mysterious decisions went back to him and no one could see the one ultimately responsible and accountable unless you had your antennae up.

There are so many other men who have solid experience with US bishops and RC leadership that they could have chosen if they were taking good care of the US, but right now Rome and Mexico is what they want left standing--if anything is to be left standing at all.

One of these congregations is not like the others...

Aaron offers some links on how, beginning with an article on LC finances by Sanjuana Martinez, and he notes:

In it she comments on one aspect of fundraising, the scolarship programme (support a seminarian kind of thing). I think she is quoting Nelly Ramirez:

Adriana Lemus is in charge of collecting this money in the Méxican territory. Each month she hands this money over to the Territorial administration and it is sent to a (Inc) Company which in turn send it to the USA, to the bank accounts of three companies established in that counrty. These companies hand the money over to Rome as a distibution of shares (dividendos)from their associates.

Elsewhere she states that "The Legion of Christ does not operate as a religious congregation. Is a holding company with investments in the stock market and bank accounts in tax havens. It has dozens of firms, civic associations, companies ... The abundant resources of Regnum Christi are handled by Garza by Ethical Funds Integer Group (IEF)."

Aaron continues -- Note that that throws up three similar names: Grupo Integer, Integer Ethical Funds and Integer Foundation. This latter is somewhat elusive. I have found it in a list of businesses for a salary related census in Colombia, and it is also mentioned by an employee who is/was suing the Legion for harrasment in the work place.

I have also seen it in those strange search provider created CVs where people have been listed as employed by Integer Grupo and Integer Fundacion. They may be the same thing, but its a bit convenient having different but similar names.

Here, the European Territorial Director comments on a couple of businesses he does not name which form part of a foundation in Zurich. [From what I gather, they explain the exclusive investment plan as a sort of sharia-compliant affair which won't traffic in drugs, arms sales or contraceptives -g.]

Fr Oscar Sánchez explains: Funding for schools come from private donations. Keep in mind that they are bilingual schools and Catholic, a comprehensive educational model increasingly in demand. Other than the Santa Isabel de Barcelona school, they are all private. However, we also have a significant burden mortgage to be paid with revenues generated by the schools. We're great friends of the banks! Right now we are negotiating a global agreement to work with Santander [article is dated 2010].

 

"What we do"

If I'm not mistaken, this mission statement has been tweaked since the last time I read it:

Preaching and extending Christ’s Kingdom is the ideal that inspires, stimulates, directs, and shapes the apostolic purposes of the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi Movement. Their ideal is to make Christ reign in hearts and societies, to transform men according to the ideal of the New Man in Christ, and to create the civilization of love and justice.

The Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi seek to collaborate with the local churches by lending help and support to the bishops and parish priests as they carry out their diocesan pastoral programs, and by contributing the charism they have received from God, for the good of the Church.

Working with lay people is an essential part of the Legion’s apostolic methodology. The Legionaries carry out their apostolate above all with Regnum Christi members, forming them in human and Christian virtues, serving them with their priestly ministry, launching them in pastoral action, uniting efforts in their shared mission, and thus spurring on a great variety of works at the service of the Church. Apostolates have often arisen as a response to concrete needs or upon the initiative of the lay people themselves. Thus, not all of the apostolates have the same institutional relationship with the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi.

The most important fields of their apostolic work are: education, youth and family ministry, evangelization (especially in the mission territory of Quintana Roo), and social work. In all of these areas, they pay special attention to building up a new culture of esteem and support for woman. In the past few months there has also been a significant growth in the area of forming diocesan priests and in mass media.

The last paragraph contains what used to be front and center: education and mass media, although both of these have been significantly diminished of late. Their primary schools are Pinecrest (Atlanta) and Highlands (Dallas) and this year the Apostolic Schools are being consolidated. I've never heard of any "social work," but I could have missed something. They may still support this facade, but I can't get through to the site. (The statement I did find compared the potential of the "college" to the Sorbonne, the University of Paris, Oxford and Cambridge -- seriously.)

If the Trastavere news about Integer is true, then the empire is really crumbling. Sadly, it didn't have to happen this way. Authentic self-assessment, true contrition, dedication to reform and a moratorium on legitimate apostolates could have allowed for an actual renewal of purpose and an ability to reform. But "full speed ahead -- we're fine!" has led to disintegration and decline.

So in the mean time, they're rallying around "collaborating with local churches" -- which might mean infiltration, duplicity of purpose and poaching, but that cannot last forever, especially as their "charism" is still undefined. Prayers continue for those discerning their future within the ranks of the Legion or the 3gf's, and our love demands us to pray for their freedom. God's will in all things.

Pulling out all the stops

The contest is to find a sentence in this interview with Fr Garza that doesn't mislead in some wretched way (and the questions don't count!) A sampling:

My mission as a Legionary has always been to help form apostles to serve the Church and bring souls to Christ. So how can I even describe the shame of learning that while carrying out that mission there has been a dark element that has caused so much pain and suffering?  It is only the conviction that the Legion is a work of God and that he called me to be a part of it that has sustained me in these dark times. I know that only with God’s grace can I begin to heal myself — and help others to heal...

[For information about his fan club, go here. Maybe she can give Aaron some tips about how to get a meaningful response.]

An entirely reasonably response from the combox:

The whole thing is a joke, and everybody but the most brainwashed or mentally challenged know it. Again, does anybody really wonder why the moral authority of the Church has eroded away to almost nothing? When everybody can see the Emperor is Naked, but the institution keeps desperately trying to say he actually has some pretty spiffy robes on(i.e. there really is a charism here and this system of abuse founded on lies, sodomy, and all sorts of other rot straight from the bowels of hell is actually going to magically turn into a valid religious order that will bring a wellspring spiritual renewal to both its members and the Catholic Church at large), it's hard to even keep a straight face.

People just aren't so uneducated, superstitious, and poor anymore that they don't have the resources and time on their hands to figure out what is really happening here. As long as the Vatican continues to let Garza run PR interference in the States and the likes of Alvaro, Bannon, and Sada lead the Reform! charge in Rome, this farce will continue to be seen for exactly what it is not only by the majority of Catholics but the world in general---a complete but very unfunny joke.

It's hard to be proud to be Catholic these days--now that the common man has the means to find out what is really going on. It's more like a perpetual head-hanging walk down a long Hall of Shame. Perhaps that is the way it is actually "supposed" to be given fallen human nature and the fact we can't expect much here on earth, but it sure doesn't feel very good walking the walk.

Mastermind or dupe?

As previously noted, Fr Garza has resigned his post of Vicar General of the Legion of Christ and has been appointed Territorial Dirctor of North America. The Register notes:

Father Garza will leave his post in Rome and assume his new duties Aug. 1, in a new development likely to fuel criticism and speculation from some present and former members of the order. Many have called for the order’s leadership — most notably Father Garza and Legionary Father Alvaro Corcuera, the general director — to resign after the explosive scandal generated by the confirmed abuse allegations against the founder, Father Marcial Maciel, resulted in a loss of moral credibility, membership and financial support.

"Criticism and speculation?" Well, yes, to put it mildly. A man who stood for many long years as the ranking administrator below a fraud and a paederast, running the shop while Maciel spent his time either posing as a saint or philandering in absentia must have been pretty close to the rot. Which causes one to pause when confronted by a statement like this (from a 2006 homily):

I want to see into Nuestro Padre's eyes, to see the footprints God has left on him, to know why he is so devoted, why he overcomes so many difficulties and lies, why does he have such an intense faith...Due to my vocation I am the son of this man that I proudly call Nuestro Padre...

A devoted son might have been blind to his father's deficiencies, but that's hard to believe, given the near-inability of the founder to say Mass unassisted, the fact that MM was never bound by the Legionary methodology which the rank-and-file followed scrupulously, the scandal eruptions that were continually made against MM and his congregations (each of which had to be isolated and annihilated behind closed doors) not to mention the "walking around" cash handed to Maciel for his extended (unexplained) out-of-pocket forays around the globe.

Either Fr Garza was a terrible administrator to miss so much, or a brilliant administrator to have staved off the inevitable crash for so long. And either one makes his move to North America both highly suspect and (for that matter) scandalous.

This appointment is not the maneuvre of a Congregation who wishes to show itself:

• contrite,
• remorseful,
• reflective,
• astute, or
• serious in any way.

Let's go back a few years to jog your memory. This is a photo dated May 3rd, 2005:

It shows Maciel with "the two Normas" at a house of Regnum Christi "consecrated" women, and another photo originally published with it shows not only the 3gf's in attendance to the MM's daughter and her mother, but other priests of the Legion as well. Whether Fr Garza could keep track of MM's international excursions may be questionable, but surely all of these visits to the very properties of the Movement itself (with tours included) had to be arranged.

A key question was asked after the news broke widely about the duplicity of MM:

Q: When, precisely, did you know about Father Marcial Maciel’s record of sexual abuse?

A: "There had been accusations in the press since the 1990s. The Holy See issued a communiqué in May 2006 that was more shocking. In fact, a month before, the Holy See communicated to us that the founder was found guilty of the charges against him. I didn’t believe that, I am sorry to say.

In June 2006, there was the appearance of a lady with whom Father [Maciel] had a child. At that time, I decided to do an investigation of my own, and by September of that year, I was sure he had fathered a child. Little by little, more evidence came in. By 2008, we had most of the picture."

No, the pictures were circulated long before then, CDF investigation was complete, and the Holy Father had sidelined him in disgrace. Why did the Legion need its own "private investigation?" And, lest we forget, these women were at his deathbed -- after which the Legion buried him as a purported faithful priest whose cause only awaited justice in the fact of slanderous attacks.

Note that he says the accusations were made "in the press," as though if the Legion hadn't happened to flip through a newspaper on a given day or caught the evening news, they might never have known. This is nonsense, for the press was always the very last recourse that any faithful Catholic has in a dispute with the Church. Each accusation was made in good faith to a superior, and each accusation in turn was buried -- with the accuser isolated, shunned and eventually separated -- usually in distressing circumstances. Luis Garza was a high-ranking superior himself "in the 1990's." He was an integral part of that system all along -- NOT a man who shook his head about potshots taken from the hoary heights of "the press."

Let's brainstorm on questions that the remaining members of the Movement should ask before submitting to the direction of this new territorial director:

• Who oversaw the remuneration for Maciel's concubines and children and how was it catalogued?
• Why did the Legion express shock over the immoral behaviour of the founder a year after concrete evidence was already available?
• Why didn't Fr Garza show concern over MM's "normal" life after the Holy Father had ordered him to a life of prayer and penance?
• Why did Fr Garza allow himself to be party to the sham praise of a man he had every reason to believe was a fraud?
• More? [I'll include what readers offer in the combox]

For those who speak Spanish, below are portions of a homily given by Father Luis Garza in 2008:

Aquinas Academy question

From a reader:

I would like assistance, please, in gathering information from you and your readers about Aquinas Academy in Menomonee Falls, WI. I am aware of possible(?) former LC/RC roots - and also perhaps a different name in its early years - but cannot confirm any strong LC/RC ties today.

While there is one (1) LC priest associated with the school (among many others who aren't LC), and while the school uses the NCE curriculum (not necessarily an absolute proof that they are connected or officially affiliated with LC), all other indications do NOT point to Aquinas Academy as a Legion school, at least not today.

Note that I am aware of basic, general telltale signs of LC/RC infestation, and after touring the school twice, see none. Still, I am having a hard time pinning down the history of the school, which is 20 years old. I need to know sooner than later if I am possibly getting my family into an LC/RC mess BEFORE we enroll there.

I am hopeful that your readers can provide me with actual, real information about this school, rather than general admonitions ala "NCE curriculum is proof positive of LC/RC control."

Thanks in advance for your help. I really like this school and really want it to be what it presents itself to be.

Perhaps someone from the administration of this school could offer information to explain the NCE link, and to clear the air about affiliation with the Movement. Perhaps all other apostolates could take note of the toxicity that affiliation creates in the mind of the lay faithful. We all love the Church and take our parental vocations seriously, but at present we cannot risk joining endeavors that may cause problems later.

Someone cut a deal

There's a shifting of hats, with Fr Garza exchanging one fedora for another:

July 15, 2011. In response to a proposal by the directors of the Atlanta and New York territories, the Legion has created the new Territory of North America. Father Luis Garza has been named territorial director, effective August 1.

Fr Luis has been the Legion’s vicar general since 1992. He accepted the requirement to resign from that position in order to serve as North American territorial director.

“America and Canada are countries that I have always admired and I am humbled to serve as territorial director of the united territory,” said Fr Luis. “We face challenges, but I am confident that with God’s grace and the great dedication and enthusiasm of Legionaries and Regnum Christi consecrated and lay members we will be able to serve the Church. It is exciting to participate in this great task of the New Evangelization forming apostles who can transform the secular culture and build a society of justice and love.”

When some men say, "they admire your wife/car/golf clubs/or corner office..." it may have a variety of meanings. This man is now our man, and he admires ... us.

[H/t to the faithful Cheesehead -- blessings upon you!]

The Full Monty

Since there has been some concern about translations and intermediaries in the case of the latest address by the Papal Delegate to the Legion, we offer this link to the actual address (found on Trastevere).

As Aaron further notes, this address was given shortly after the latest Oriol brothers left:

He was quite public about his departure and there are two letters circulating the internet - one in which Juan Pedro Oriol announces his departure and speaks warmly. There is another leaked letter which Juan Pedro Oriol wrote directly to Alvaro Corcuera and was quite hard-hitting. It came in response to an LC leaking a series of unglamorous reports about Fr. Oriol.

It is in this article, worth a read, by the Trastevere journalist Martinez De Velasco that a poster includes the letter about a quarter of the way down the page.

Respuesta del P. Juan Pedro Oriol I // jun 9, 2011 at 06:16

Estimado P. Álvaro:
*
Espero que se encuentre bien, con la gracia de Dios. Le recuerdo, padre, que todos los días pido de corazón por Usted.
*
Con gran alegría, en medio de un sinfín de comunicaciones a las que no he podido responder y agradeciendo el apoyo de tanta gente buena, le escribo este mensaje.
*
Resulta que lo que nunca quise creer que fuera verdad, sí lo es…
*
Gracias a Dios, esto se da ahora y ya no puede influir en nada en mi discernimiento pero el caso es que después de 31 años en la Legión, con todas mis debilidades y fallos que sé que han sido y son muchos, he recibido de un hermano de Roma la copia de mi informe de vida religiosa realizado por el Asistente de vida religiosa de Monterrey y los Directores Territoriales durante el 2010. Al parecer, algún hermano pinchó no sé qué computadora de la DG y entre otros datos, aparecieron estos informes que Usted, P. Álvaro, ya ha de conocer de sobra.
*
No pretendo defenderme, no, padre, no vale la pena. Menos ahora que ya he dejado la Legión.
*
Sólo permítame hacer unos comentarios al lado de los informes y si esto le parece inadecuado, le pido me perdone. Y quisiera comunicarme con mis hermanos de comunidad con quienes siempre he intentado ser leal, hasta el último instante vivido a su lado, y ellos lo saben como saben que cuentan conmigo.
*
No me preocupa lo que se dice de mí, ya no, y además es poco lo que ahí se dice para lo que yo merezco. Lo que me duele es que puedan seguir haciendo esto a más legionarios. ¿Por qué?
*
Gracias, padre, perdón por ser tan “mal ejemplo” como se dice en los informes y, por favor, pida por mí que mucho lo necesito.
*
Con gran alegría y de todo corazón le ofrezco mi oración, mi soledad y mi recuerdo desde donde Nuestro Señor me está devolviendo el amor, la paz, la fuerza, la fraternidad y la alegría.
*
Su hermano sacerdote en Jesús y María,
*
Juan Pedro Oriol Muñoz

[Previously, another commenter noted this version of the address, while reminding us: "If however the translation was done by an LC/RC, as someone else suggested, that makes it untrustworthy. The Italians have an expression: Traduttore=traditore or 'The translator is a traitor.' " Caveat emptor!]

Fundamental Disconnect

I'm creating this post from a few comments made by Deirde who was scratching her head over the Legion's "business plan" which included a bullet point about holiness. While we might snicker at Protestant churches that use screens in their worship spaces to help worshipers follow the latest power point presentation of their faith, this is more than just a comment on using mundane channels for transcendent ideas, it's about the Legion's ideas themselves:

I'm sorry, but "Holiness First" doesn't even make SENSE as a business plan! Look at the Saints. They didn't sit around going "I'm working on my Holiness Quotient!" They put Knowing, Loving, and Serving God first---Holiness was the result of dedicating their lives to the service of God and their neighbor.

I think one problem with RC and similar movements is that it's too self focused. "How can I be Holy? What steps must I follow to become Holy?" It's all me, me, me, disguised under a patina of religion.

In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the people who PASS BY are the ones focused on "Holiness First"-- they don't want to incur ritual impurities that will interfere with their plans to worship in Jerusalem---  meanwhile, the Samaritan is focused on love of neighbor, and so fulfills the law while the others break it. On the other hand, when Francis went out to serve, he wasn't thinking, "What will make me Holy?" It was all "God, I love You. Please let me show my love for You! What, you want me to hug a leper? Ok.... I'm a terribly sinful man who thinks they're gross and subhuman, but YOU are asking me to and I love You!!"

Those who are actually Holy don't spend a lot of time wondering if they're Holy yet. They are actually VERY aware of their sinfulness and failures, and they spend their time focused on God, not on their own virtue.

The Legion "Holiness first" is actually, once again, a quick and easy road--- in the wrong direction. I'd be much more optomistic about the reform if the bullet points were something like:

1. Community Prayer and Sacraments;
2. Service to the poor and outcase;
3. [or to be really retro] Love the Lord Your God with All your Heart, Mind and Soul, Love Your Neighbor as Yourself.

Is that too musty and dusty for a bright shiny order like the LC? The slick thing about the "holiness first" line is that the RC would swallow that one hook, line and sinker. "Holiness" is such a buzzword around here. So if Fr. LC can't give the triduum this year because he's focusing on his own holiness first, that's ok. And if the LC suddenly pulls out of your city and stops offering you spiritual direction, that's ok because they need to focus on their holiness first. 

"Holiness first" is a convenient excuse for dropping whatever they need to because the numbers are down or the bishops are redirecting them into the parishes. The parish work is definitely a focus for them and they've mentioned it time and time again this year.  While they claim this new direction is really what they've been shooting for all along, and were just waiting for sufficient growth to occur to achieve such, it's interesting that they've increased their parish work now that their numbers are actually DOWN and growth prospects so bad.

[And "Shrinking" adds] My advice to RCs still sticking with it is to leave RC, and try living as a quiet, anonymous Catholic for awhile. Turn your apostolic zeal towards good works of the Church, that truly benefit others, not just the movement. Refrain from talking about yourself or your own personal holiness. Try reading St. Therese of Lisieux, recognize how small you really are, as she did. Take away the L/R noise. You may eventually see what focussing on Christ is really all about.