life-after-RC

heads up

This afternoon (Thursday) I'll be Wendy Wiese's guest on Relevant Radio. Her show airs 1-2pm Central Time (that's 2-3pm on the East Coast). I'll put up a link to the audio when it's available in case you miss it.

UPDATE: here is the link to the show.

UPDATE II: I've written two reflections on Pope Francis (unrelated to LC/RC). The first is a short piece at Catholic Lane, and the second is at my main site. No telling what this choice does for the Macialistas in the Curia. Oremus!

Curial Collusion?

Jason Berry has a more detailed piece here which is beginning to incorporate more of the unsealed documents, and here we will consider the actions of Cardinal Rode:

In 2004, Rodé became prefect of the congregation that governs religious orders. His predecessor, Cardinal Eduardo Martínez Somalo, took a $90,000 gift from Maciel, according to the priest who carried the envelope. Martínez Somalo refused interview requests.

Rodé said he took no cash gifts from the Legion.

"I esteem the charism of the Legionaries," Rodé told NCR in a Nov. 29 interview at his apartment at the Vatican. He saw young men of rock-solid orthodoxy, their numbers rising in Latin America as vocations sank in Europe and North America. Rodé gave celebratory speeches for the Legion in Brazil and Chile and praised the founder after Maciel's ouster.

Asked whether that was a mistake, he couched his answer in the context of papal loyalty. "It is difficult to say it was a mistake by the pope," he said, referencing John Paul's praise of Maciel long after the 1998 case filed in the doctrinal congregation. "I don't know. I wasn't there" to know what John Paul knew, or would not consider, about Maciel.

Rodé defends the Legionaries as a phenomenon apart from Maciel, a position Benedict took in the Vatican takeover to reform the order.

A former Legion priest, speaking on background, said he met with Rodé after Maciel's death and the cardinal told him of a VHS he had seen when Maciel was superior general of Maciel and his young daughter.

Asked about this, Rodé gave a somber nod, saying it was "late 2004, or early 2005." The Legionary who showed it wanted him to have the information before the order's election for superior general, the position Maciel held for decades. Rodé says he persuaded the 84-year-old Maciel, by then under investigation, to step down. Maciel was re-elected and then retired.

What did Rodé do about the videotape showing Maciel's daughter?

"I told Msgr. Scicluna all about the problem," the cardinal said.

Scicluna reported directly to Ratzinger.

As the prefect over religious orders, why did Rodé not punish Maciel?

"It was not for me to pronounce the penalty," he said. "But he was, in the end, corrected" -- by Benedict's 2006 Vatican order sending Maciel to a "life of prayer and penitence."

Did the cardinal confront Maciel about his child?

"It was not my obligation."

Why not?

"I was not his confessor." Rodé paused. "It was my obligation as prefect for religious to get him to step down, and I did."

One must look at the date here [11Dec08], as well as the content, since Cardinal Rode was an enthusiastic supporter of the group. He spoke glowingly of both Maciel and the Movement after 2006, giving lectures at Legion venues in Rome and Atlanta. His words are curious, given his understanding of founders and their relationship to their foundations:

“Religious life, being a gift of the Holy Spirit for each religious and the Church, depends especially on fidelity to its origins, fidelity to the founder and to the particular charism. Fidelity to this charism is essential, because God blesses faithfulness, while he ‘resists the proud.’ The complete rupture of some with the past, therefore, goes against the nature of a religious congregation and in essence, leads to the rejection of God,” he said.

In light of that teaching, consider these glowing remarks he made at the 2007 YFE, knowing already that the Founder of LC/RC was not what he appeared to be:

Your charism is a gift that the Holy Spirit has delivered personally to each one of you in order to serve the Church. This gift is part of God's will with the intention of making each of you a source of radiating it thereby. So the charism is both a gift and a responsibility.

I know how your founder insists that outside the Church, Regnum Christi is meaningless, and how you, as faithful children, take care and nourish the relationship to the Pope and the Church. It identifies you like your DNA. Where there is a member of Regnum Christi, there is profound communion with the Vicar of Christ and with the Mystical Body of Christ. Communion with the Pope and with the Church is your guarantee of apostolic fruitfulness.

It is true, as I have repeated many times your founder, that to follow Christ is to deny yourself. In this effort, keep in mind the leitmotif of Pope Benedict XVI's speech of the beginning of his pontificate: "Be not afraid: Christ takes nothing and gives everything."

Do not be afraid to grow, but rather fear not to grow. How much good will accrue if you grow! And, how well, sadly, it will cease if you do not grow! The Church needs you, and you need to become even stronger and larger. To carry out your apostolic charism, you are to grow.

If there are any records that you must carry from this meeting, it is this: Grow. Grow in depth and grow in extension. Growing up means growing in depth knowledge and love of Christ, intellectually and apostolically, and assimilate that knowledge into your charism. Growing by extension means to grow numerically, so that through Regnum Christi there will be more apostles, more work, more initiatives to serve the Church and souls. This is what the Church needs and what the world needs. And I would say, I need every one of you if you are not going to defraud God's plans for your life.

And also, to assimilate and penetrate the charism of your movement, apply what the Church tells her Religious: the Founder's interpretation is the interpretation of an authentic charism. So, read, meditate and assimilate the words of the one whom God chose to convey to this spirit, your Founder, Fr Maciel. It is the preferred means through which God imprints the charism of Regnum Christi in your consciousness, in your heart and in your actions.

Dear friends, members of Regnum Christi, grow always in the love of Christ, the apostolic impetus in living charity, which is your charism. The Church needs these traits.

Stunning words, knowing that he knew by then that MM was a fraud, that Movements depended on the holiness of their Founders, and that the more he encouraged this group to grow (right out of MM's AFIRE manual) the larger the cancer at the heart of the Church--to which MM and Rode encouraged it to cleave.

There is also the problem that 3gf members of RC were living by statutes ostensibly approved by Rode's dicastery, but that were later admitted not to have actually been so approved.

The decree is signed by Archbishop Rodé and by Archbishop Piergiorgio Silvano Nesti, secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

The decree continue: "Its specific charism is the same as that of the Legion of Christ and consists in knowing, living and preaching the commandment of love that Jesus Christ the Redeemer came to bring us by his incarnation. Well known, in fact, is the work carried out by the Legionaries of Christ and the members of the Regnum Christi apostolate movement in building the civilization of Christian justice and love."

"The founder of the Legion of Christ and of Regnum Christi presented to the Apostolic See the 'Statutes' of the Regnum Christi apostolate movement requesting their definitive approval. The Supreme Pontiff received this request paternally and with his supreme authority has approved them," it states.

Remember that for years previous to this event, the Movement stressed that everything had already been approved -- but ultimately this approval amounted to roughly 1/10th of the whole body of rules by which 3gf's (and 3gm's) had already been living.

I leave it to you to consider what this means. I find it disturbing and misleading--promoting a known fraud, encouraging his compromised creation to grow, encouraging the members to follow rules that were crafted by a liar; and then standing by as the Founder died--and was praised as a good and faithful servant. Why? Cui bono? And still it continues.

Legionary semantics

This post will be amended numerous times as needed. It concerns the long comment here, which is a letter written to all those in positions of authority concerning the Legion (inside the congregation and without). I will provide one section here, until heroic friends of LARC step forward to translate the whole thing.

For now, the author stresses the linguistics game, so that outsiders understand that words don't necessarily mean what we think they do.

We must not lose sight of the semantic problem, ie the grammar of the Catholic faith is not the same as the grammar of the Legion. The words sound the same but the meaning is different. In the present case the two keywords are ECONOMY and SALVATION. One is the way to the Church, one for the Legion. While the Church is [devoted to the] economy of salvation, the Legion [is devoted to the] SALVATION OF THE ECONOMY. To the Church, salvation in Christ is important, for the Legion the economy is paramount.

That said, I'll skip to his examples:

The texts on the economy as part of the fifth chapter: convey love. First section "Conditions for vigorous growth." Letter "F) vigorous economy":

143. LEGION CAN NOT APPLY widely and effectively their role in the Church unless it has the ordinary means that, according to the designs of providence, our turn and bring SEARCH.

COMMENT: The Legion historic engine is the economy. God has arranged for the ordinary Legionary to seek and find money. Like those who subscribe to Marx's historical materialism, Legionaries believe that economics is the driving force of history.

144. The growth of the apostolate and its necessary expansion require us all a greater commitment and institutional personnel in finding the necessary financial resources. As our founding father noted, no one can be exempted from this COMMITMENT.

COMMENT: The works require money, money works grow and demand more money to grow and demand more money. The key apostolic work is not a person who helps other people, what matters is money. Getting the love of money is the teaching of the Founder sacrilegious.

145. Therefore, we ask for a renewed effort to make each center section or apostolate ACHIEVE financed through own funds or donations, more efficient operation and savings. We must also build on our own, following the example of our founder, a real passion for faith, trust in God and HUMILITY IN ACHIEVING VOLUNTARY. Often, the only thing missing is launched to ask, without fear of failure that often accompany this activity. Specific applications can be varied, since the attainment of scholarships to members in formation or maintenance of the members in ministry, in collaboration with the collection offices have been established in some countries to obtain resources to finance construction, investments, etc..

COMMENT: Paragraph 145 illustrates fully the semantic problem. Faith, trust in God and humility are virtues [in the pursuit of] money.

The grammar of the Catholic faith and grammar of the Legion collide with unusual violence: faith equals money, trust in God equals money, humility equals money, the charism equals money.

No matter the person, what capital is launched to ask, no matter who, no matter what, the sacrilegious pederast Founder is the example of lack of scruples.

Despite the end, or the means, or the intention of the donor, money must obtained under andy unscrupulous pretext: scholarships, missions in the Maya area, building schools, ask, ask and ask even for investments. Requesting equity from the women's congregations to make Triple A investments. The whole structure of the Legion (center section apostolate) was created for finance.

In my last letter I told you about the General Chapter of 1992, in the hallway of the third floor of the headquarters of the Directorate General in Rome, Maciel with the index finger pointing to Father Luis Garza Medina (as Vicar General of Maciel) and Blum Jose Perez (Acting General Manager) sentencing "you know, only triple A investments, investments only triple A". One of his partners noted: "Our Father, triple investments are very safe but low yielding." The other third, "except triple investments in weapons and pornography." While all three laughed, Maciel repeated "you know, only investments triple A".

To this end, the author provides an anecdote that shows the perfidy of the Legionary core:

In my last letter I told you about the General Chapter of 1992. In the hallway of the third floor of the headquarters of the Directorate General in Rome, Maciel once pointed his index finger at Fr. Luis Garza (vicar general) and Fr. Jose Blum Perez (general administrator) and said "Remember, only Triple A investments!" One replied "but triple AAA investments don't generate much money" the other said " except for some, triple AAA investments in pornography and arms!" to which Maciel replied "remember I said only triple AAA investments!" and they all fell about laughing...

And now, the difference between prudence and materialism:

147. Saving is a concrete way to live our vow of poverty and relieve the economy of the Legion. Must be a slogan for all permanent, we have to practice with a special delicacy. Fields are diverse: from the responsible use of energy to the care of the Congregation movable to prevent spoilage and unnecessary expenses, Comporta also discerning media apostolate, especially in the case of instruments technology, so use only what is appropriate to the true apostolic needs, avoiding the fascination of fashion or the foolish ostentation.

COMMENT: According to number 147, there was no required vow of poverty. This paragraph clearly reveals the confusing concept of vow of poverty that exists in the Millionaires of Christ. Maciel is an example of caring for the property, his Mercedes and BMW were in perfect condition, vehicles territorial directors and major superiors are spotless. Father Evaristo Sada Derby as Secretary General of Maciel always had the [latest] technology. The superior would discerning what is poverty for him and what is for the subjects.

 

Next, he provides specific examples of the diverse interests of the Legion -- purportedly to evangelise all peoples, but actually to extend its tenacles into areas that will provide cash, supposedly for the Kingdom. Since paragraph 148 is long, he has divided it in order to provide his own commentary.

148. (1) Finally, we believe that we have not yet sufficiently INSTILLED (inculcate) in the members of the Movement, from ECYD on, how much responsibility is theirs for the financial support of the Movement, and its economic expansion, which results in a greater need for resources.

COMMENT: It is nice that language comes to mean more than what is intended. Inculcate (instill) is a word often used in the Legion. INSTILL means using the heel as a hammer. Goes along with trampling, trampling. The word projects the perfect sense of what made the Legionary superiors, by dint of repetitions performed with the lowest achieving their purposes. INSTILL is press, hammer home the lower and back. Instilling, press, crush to get a response, a responsibility. Press to get money. On top of this pressure must be initiated in children. Stomp to haunt children in the pursuit of money. Unlike Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens, ECYD children have to get money in industrial quantities.

148. (2) It is sad to note that in many places, the coverage of the quotas, which would be IMPERATIVE for sustaining ELEMENTAL sections, is very small. Let alone achieving additional donations from members.

COMMENT: The text bears the unmistakable stamp of Father Gabriel Sotres with his terrible pessimism and divine determination like that of Torquemada. With Kantian stiffness, he converts quotas into an basic categorical imperative. It's out of proportion considering that the communal reading of the Gospels has the imperative dues. This obsession with economic know pretext of religious fanaticism.

148 (3) We believe that it is not only a matter of encouraging generosity, but a way of forming consciences to be sensitive to the needs of the Church and the Movement, so that members take responsibility and are willing to forgo, if the case requires, of their own essentials in order to contribute from their own resources to sustain and grow the Legion and Regnum Christi.

[may I just recoil in horror here? is that what you wanted for your children? giselle]

COMMENT: Once again the semantic problem, the problem of meaning, which the Church considers AWARENESS is different from the sense given to the Legion. "Forming Consciences" means generating a guilt complex, forming a bad conscience. "If the case requires" is not facing an emergency objective is the subjective case, the weakness of the person who gets to feel bad if you are deprived of their own property. This is the case of Mrs. Flora Barragán, Bety Canavati and American Gabrielle Mee. The text referring to "support" seems to speak of charities such as nursing homes, homes for AIDS patients, but it is actually sustaining the Anahuac University and colleges of the most expensive on the market.

148 (4) On the other hand, a lot more members of Regnum Christi and ECYD should be involved in fundraising, fostering in them a greater integration with the affective and effective movement. GENERATING WORKS Building and many other initiatives can be promoted to position the Legion and the Movement more able to help significantly to the Church.

COMMENT: INVOLVE together to instill and mystify are words of great use in the Legion and cast a wonderful light on the corruption of language and mentality inherited from Maciel.

The Legion confuses the words "mystic" and "mystify" just as Maciel did. Mystify is cheat, deceive, evade, falsify, distort. Mystic is a personal encounter with the Truth, with God. Indeed the pederast Maciel mystifies mysticism, deformed, mocks the encounter with Truth. For parents of Chapter 2005 of the Faith Mysticism equals pursuit of money (see paragraph 145). The theme of the mystical, the Communiqué devotes Chapter 156-160 number under "mystical, mystic, mystical" and defined in No. 156: "The mystic moves a person toward the ideals the Movement offers". Nothing to do with the sense that mysticism is in the grammar of the Catholic faith. The concept Legionary mysticism is brainwashing, KIDNAPPING OF CONSCIOUSNESS, AWARENESS extrinsic.

ENGAGE is another word that projects the background of the Legion mindset. ENGAGE is becoming wrapped in a personal entangle. Why must it involve children in ECYD fundraising! Human trafficking is PERFECT. Exploitation of minors with permission from their parents and apparent joy of children. Apparent because being trampled or crushed heels and become entangled in a growing demand to provide more money, the first thing is the joy disappears.

INTEGRATION, FULL, are Legionary words, is the corporate name of INTEGER. Integro equals total, all totalitarian. The "affective and effective integration" is what others call "brainwashing", "ABDUCTION OF CONSCIENCE".

"GENERATING WORKS" is the Legionary's term for business. The other side of the apostolate is the WORK GENERATOR. With the money the Legion is in a position to help the Church. Therefore aid is significant in direct relation to the amount of money.

With the reading of paragraphs 143 to 147, relating to the vigorous economy, it can be concluded that there is nothing evangelical in the issues raised. No consecration vows are required to live by what is written by the General Chapter of 2005. You do not need a charism, a gift of God to work as directed.

Brilliant point! All you need is street sense and business savvy -- not ordination or "consecration."

I wonder if parents who signed this communiqué Chapter Chapter read and discussed the text or its content themselves, with their perfect servile obedience. From the tenor of the entire release, it was intended to glorify the sacrilegious founder, the wording of these paragraphs was not of major importance. That allowed will result pages that show through the Legion as a murky business.

Next we see specifics in how the Legion empire was built:

At number 141: "... collaborate actively in the efforts and commitment to the culture persons endowed with more leadership-retreats, conferences, etc. - Constantly evaluating results."

Comment: The Legion reaches out to the rich people. There is no leadership in a popular [middle class, base] neighborhood, has no leader at a hospital in AIDS patients. The want "results" ie money, power. And to do so, they create a religious mask, spiritual terminology, a Catholic scaffolding.

The importance of the numbers shown in the 151: "... will be able to achieve that geometric growth that we all desire." And at 152: "... also finding the largest possible number of children for themselves."

Comment: It is a mentality trade, business, not evangelical. The "growth" and "number" is what counts, not the person, no human rights, no support and service.

In addressing the geographic expansion the number 154 says: "Therefore we must seek the expansion ... with strategic sense, establish them and multiply starting on MAJOR CITIES, defining each AREAS OF INTEREST MORE."

Comment: Legionaries do not care for the poor in cities. The aim is rich areas of rich cities. The vocabulary of Chapter 2005 Communiqué is unbiblical. Their approach is pragmatic, business-like, utilitarian, materialistic.

Then the author points out the moral bankruptcy of the Legion's business approach;

The first is that the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ is not governed by the economic rules of canon law. Father Maciel and Father Luis Garza Medina agreed not to put goods on behalf of the Congregation for the Vatican could not get their hands, hold them accountable.

For example, in Mexico City, where the Legionaries have many properties, only the name is Legion Field of the parish insignificant next to the Anahuac University [need help clarifying this point].

[The Legion's] property is part of a larger group that owns several companies. And several holdings by various real estate companies are among an international group "Horizons Inc." are traded and sold through shares.

The colleges are not owned by the congregation of the Legionaries. The land is in the name of a real estate company, say "Fuentes Brotantes, corporation", which leases the property to "Flora Barragán civil partnership" and the brand name is "Lomas Summit Institute".

The signatures of the real estate companies are enshrined, [Legionaries rarely unless either of May range--unclear meaning?] As enshrined not recognized by the Vatican have no accountability and higher as the subject to the control of consciousness, society is tranquil. Should the consecrated member of Regnum Christi leave, they will simply falsify your signature and get another. In major corporations like stronger bank accounts is the main signature of Father Luis Garza Medina.

The school pays rent for the property to avoid much profit, because it is a non-profit association. Income is also tax deductible. Other gains disappear under color of scholarships, but there are scholarships for poor students of this school are scholarships that are sent to the central government.

Telethon / CRIT people pay payroll of Regnum Christi. It covers Legionnaries' expenses (telephone, gas, airplanes, hotels). It organizes a budget to pay "Logistics" and command "Fellowship" is actually sending money to the central administration of the legionaries.

No cleaners, there is a contract with a cleaning company, equal to the security features. The Legionary priests or consecrated not paid or payment. The school principal has nothing to do with management. The administrator depends on the territorial administrator and the general administration. All the money will go to school land administration and land management each month get one month ago to school under an annual budget. So if it is not in the budget can not be done. If the director wants to make an improvement in the facilities or equipment you will usually be in the budget, but the director should get donations for investment or improvement. In other words, no tuition fees are reinvested in the school's all going to a mass of money controlled by the center. Parents do not know the finances of the school, do not participate in decisions, there is no kind of patronage, parents should make fundraisers and school improvement.

The Legion does not accept trusts because they don't want to be accountable to anyone. The Legion wants the whole school ADMINISTRATION, seminar works "A" "B" "C" ... "Z"

The Legionary superiors collect and hold the passports of the legionaries and consecrated. Given the amounts of money that moves the concentration of universities and colleges, bank managers are very accessible to requests from administrators legionaries. Members who are extremely open-minded banks like HSBC.

Let's say the government of Mexico has a hundred passports Legionaries and consecrated. They are of different age, nationality and gender. As in Mexico cash deposits over 15 thousand dollars generate 3% tax, management accounts and one hundred Legion opens 14.500 pesos deposited them. This deposit cash achieves almost a million and half dollars without paying the 3%.

This is a simple example of what can be done with so many passports. If this is repeated at the international, open accounts in the name of European, Irish, American, American ... as appropriate. From these small accounts is shipping to accounts in Switzerland or the Vatican.

Please note that Maciel insisted that the Legionnaires were simple and sober in your signature. It is a proven tradition of the Congregation of the Legionaries forge the signatures.

Do not forget that many times the superiors, after a great spiritual motivation and on behalf of the trust in the higher pressure on the religious Legionnaires sign blank sheets.

Making money on the poor, without helping any poor -- a dimension of the Legionary charism?

Father Maciel said that the poor are the best bargain.

So he copied the idea of ​​India and making microloans originated Compartamos Banco. Get donations for "poor schools" through the FOUNDATION TIES. One of his greatest achievements was negotiating with TELEVISA launching the fundraising campaign for Rehabilitation Centers minors we know as Telethon and CRIT. His first move was Helping Hand, knew selling the idea that the Cumbres Institute was expensive because it paid a rich kid's tuition is also paid for a poor child in school helping hand. Few have been opened and ITER HELPING HAND each school is initiating as almost free and gradually rise tuition into a pay school, not as expensive as the Summit, but not free.

Compartamos Banco plagiarized

Father Maciel, a teacher of plagiarism, learned of the Bank for the Poor in Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus invented in 1976. The concept of microcredit loved Maciel and launched in 1990 with Father Luis Garza Medina, then regional manager of Mexico and a few months pederast Vicar General of the Founder. Maciel and Father Luis Garza Medina cloned the idea, motivation, structure, examples, sentimental effects.

The efforts initiated in 1976 by Muhammad Yunus materialize in founding in 1983 the Bank of the Poor, or Grameen Bank (Rural Bank) The initiative became known in Europe and ocubre 1997, the founder of the Bank of the Poor, was in Paris (France)-UNESCO prize Simon Bolivar International 1996, for his contribution to freedom, independence and dignity of the people of Bangladesh. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 in addition to multiple international awards. Finally in 2010 it appears that the microcredit system has poor results in a terrible way to indebt the poor. In 2011, after a trial of the Central Bank of Bangladesh, Yunus is removed from the leadership of Grameen Microcredit Bank for mismanagement, including tax evasion.

Compartamos Banco is a clone of the Grameen Bank. It began in 1990 as Compartamos Association IAP Program (Private Assistance Institution), so as a nonprofit association. Like the Mano Amiga schools, the start is nonprofit. With the entrepreneurial mindset of Father Luis Garza Medina, the work in 2006 NONPROFIT becomes Banco Compartamos and 2010 in Group Compartamos.

The natural question is whether Compartamos Banco is a plagiarism of the Grameen Bank? Were the vices and mismanagement of the original duplicated in the Legionary clone? One source of evidence concerning Banco Compartamos says yes.

Using economic woes as an excuse for financial trouble:

One of the business strategies of the Legion is to say that it is in financial trouble, there is no money because there are many vocations, because it helps Maya in Quintana Roo missions because donations are down or there is a national or global crises.

It is a fact that the Legion does not give money to missions of Quintana Roo, and most of the Legionaries are concentrated in Cancun. The social work of the Legion are letterhead for fundraising.

They say they have no money, but the Legion has 12% of the shares of TVAZTECA. In 2011-2012 American University UNID Development won 600 million pesos. The Legion owns Banco Compartamos and if we do an audit of the Universidad Anahuac and each school will be surprised of the profits. In Mexico there are schools-now called Legionnaires School Network Semper Altius, because Legionaries is brand burned-charged ten thousand pesos monthly tuition. To this is added the cost of the various uniforms, books and many more services fee.

And now to the heart of the Mee case

The superiors say there is no money, but only the inheritance of Mrs. Gabrielle Mee expected $ 60 million. Wills are a big business, as in life every Legionary must give his inheritance to the Legion and if he leaves, they are supposed to return it. Firstly, if he leaves, it is only part refunded. For example if a Legionary inheritance receives a million dollars and after 20 years in the legion out, although I will give the maximum a million dollars, not a cent for interest. But they can say that will be in installments because there is no money, which means that in the next 20 years will receive their inheritance. If it's an inherited house, the Legion collects rents, but not required to maintain, maybe skip paying taxes so that after 20 years, returned home without maintenance.

Some even propose that through the present renewal, they will change the name Legion for its diabolical resonance in the Bible (Mark 5.9, Luke 8.30) and that the Congregation would then be called Fathers of the New Testament -- and by this charism they will get the new, latest and sick and final testament of rich widows.

I wonder what is the vow of poverty? It would be more consistent with the choice of poverty not inherit the religious congregations and refrain from administering estates and wills receive. By the vow of poverty will receive inheritances, By the vow of chastity no one to inherit. By the vow of obedience is given the inheritance to the congregation.

Duplicity concerning scholarships

Between the Institute and the Institute Rosedal Summits in Lomas, Mexico City there is one offices or classrooms for getting scholarships. There Legionaries and consecrated are exclusively dedicated to contacting people, telling them that in Rome there is no hot water, they lack food, vestments needed. It is an industry of the scholarships because those at the seminar or consecrated their parents ask them to send them money. In short, they double charges on one hand to parents and other benefactors.

With these funds buy the homes for children of Maciel, as detailed on the Spanish magazine INTERVIU properties Maciel's daughter, Norma Hilda Rivas Bathrooms in Madrid, Seville and Barcelona for several million euros

Is it possible that the current reform can change all of this, creating a Congregation dedicated to Christ's kingdom using the age-old means of living in this world but not being conformed to it? Doubtful -- especially if the rank and file are completely unaware of how they have been victims of Maciel's fraud.

[Better translation would be appreciated!]

Important question on healing

I am highlighting this comment, since it deserves special consideration

I have a personal question that maybe some people here can help me with:
I enjoy venting every once in a while about my bad ol' days in the Legion and all the ridiculous stuff we had to go through. It helps me understand my experiences and maybe gain a little wisdom. It feels good to laugh about it.
On the other hand I've had the growing conviction lately that my life is in my own hands and the last thing God wants for me is to feel like a victim.
So how do you balance venting, reminiscence, and acknowledgement of evil on the one hand, and taking full control of your life and personal situation on the other?
A big step for me lately was to acknowledge that I also played a role in letting so many years go to waste. While the Legion hindered my discernment that the priesthood was not for me, I was also avoiding facing the real question and am partly responsible for that lost decade. Believe it or not, this gave me more peace, not less.
Another thing has been to keep in mind that, at least for me, it wasn't all pain and suffering, there were good experiences too.
And another question: what has helped people here speed up the transition to a productive lay life? I am on my way, but the transition to a meaningful career has been taking me months longer than I thought it would.  

Those who understand his question and may have passed through this process are welcome to share their insights. Others may want to add their own experiences concerning this particular hurdle.

Documents to be released

UPDATE: Details of case here.

The Legion's effort to block the release of documents related to the Mee lawsuit has failed, and the documents will become avaiable at any moment. Here is the AP story:

Documents related to a disgraced Roman Catholic order called the Legion of Christ were released to the public Friday amid a legal battle over a widow's bequest of $60 million to the organization.

A Rhode Island Superior Court judge said last year that the documents raised a red flag because a steadfastly spiritual elderly woman transferred millions to "clandestinely dubious religious leaders." But they had been kept under seal until The Associated Press, The New York Times, the National Catholic Reporter and The Providence Journal intervened, arguing that they were in the public interest.

Pope Benedict XVI took over the Legion in 2010 after a Vatican investigation determined that its founder, the late Rev. Marcial Maciel, had lived a double life: He sexually molested seminarians and fathered three children by two women. The pope ordered a wholesale reform of the order and named a papal delegate to oversee it.

The will of Gabrielle Mee, who died at age 96 in 2008, is the focus of the lawsuit. Mee's niece, Mary Lou Dauray, had alleged that Mee was defrauded by the Legion and unduly influenced by its priests into giving away her fortune. Her late husband was a onetime director of Fleet National Bank, which has since been absorbed by Bank of America.

Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein ruled in September that Dauray could not sue, but he noted there was evidence that Mee had been unduly persuaded to change her trusts and will and give the Legion her money. Dauray's lawyer, Bernard Jackvony, said Friday that the documents being released show an orchestrated effort by higher-ups at the Legion to get Mee's money and cover up Maciel's misdeeds.

The Legion says its actions surrounding Mee and her estate were appropriate and honorable. It says it did not exert undue influence over her decision-making, and that the gifts she gave to the order were made of her own free will.

Among the documents being released are depositions given by top-ranking leadership of the Legion, including the Rev. Anthony Bannon, who was once Maciel's deputy, and the Rev. Luis Garza, current head of the Legion's North American operations.

The Legion's argument was that these documents might prejudice a jury in the future, and just such a case is on the horizon.

A Connecticut man has sued the Legion of Christ, accusing the disgraced Roman Catholic order of using ‘‘predatory’’ means to persuade his ailing father to hand over hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Paul Chu’s lawsuit alleges that the order used ‘‘undue influence’’ to persuade his father, a retired Yale University engineering professor, to make the Legion the beneficiary of his retirement funds. Paul Chu’s lawsuit seeks the return of the more than $1 million he donated and $10 million in punitive damages.

The suit says James Boa-Teh Chu was in declining health when Legion representatives visited his East Providence home to ‘‘coerce’’ him into changing his retirement beneficiaries. Chu lacked the capacity to make decisions about the distribution of his assets and would not have made the Legion his beneficiary if he knew about allegations facing its founder, the lawsuit said.

The elder Chu, who was born in China in 1924, served on the Brown University faculty before working at Yale. He died in 2009. Paul Chu, of Meriden, Conn., is the executor of his father’s estate.

Legion spokesman Jim Fair denied the allegations in the lawsuit and said the order doesn’t pressures anyone to make a contribution.

‘‘We’re very confident that everything regarding him (Chu) was handled appropriately,’’ Fair said. ‘‘We’re always very concerned with respecting the intent of any of our donors.’’

UPDATE: It is important to clarify something related to Mrs Mee. Consider thist statement:

The disgraced Roman Catholic religious order the Legion of Christ bent its own rules for a wealthy elderly woman while it also isolated her from some relatives, according to newly released court documents, and a lawyer says the moves show the order was intent on becoming the beneficiary of her $60 million fortune.

The Legion counters that widow Gabrielle Mee was independent, strong-willed and happy and was never coerced into anything. The fact she led a less-restrictive life than others in its community shows she freely gave them her money, the Legion argues. Mee died in 2008 at age 96.

This very argument -- that she was given more independence than the other 3gf's -- is not a courtesy that denotes more freedom, but is rather a form of pandering. If a congregation has a rule, it is there for a reason. If women make promises of poverty, chastity, and obedience, then that is how they live their consecration (although, remember this is not real consecration).

If Mrs Mee made those promises, and then kept her own money, her own furniture and clothing, and ate her own food, and lived an independent life, then she was not living according to the statutes of her community. I know that elderly Religious (living in authenticly consecrated communities) often can skip portions of the Office, can have special diets, and a more relaxed life, but that is not what we have here. We have a woman with lots of money who was invited to live as a 3gf while not renouncing her money -- or living any sort of obedience.

That unique way of life was combined with the darker form of control -- namely the isolation from others who could benefit from her singular "independence" (i.e. members of her family). To allow her a chequebook and the ability to spend her money, but not allowing particular visits without minders or other forms of subtle control reveals the true nature of the Legion.

The "independence" she was allowed would not have been offered to any others (meaning women without fortunes) and thus it shows that her money created a particular status that the Legion played for their own ends. I don't fault Mrs Mee in the least, but cannot allow the Legion policy of pandering to a wealthy woman to be interpreted as their good will. Rather, it shows a kind of deviousness that played all ends to the middle. The "middle" with the $60 million fortune at their disposal (while keeping a pious elderly woman happy).

[Bernie] Jackvony said in an interview Saturday that the order's decision to bend the rules for Mee was designed to "gain her favor and keep her under their wing."

"The rules did not apply to her, and when you look at it the reason why is clear: because she had the capability of providing enormous amounts of money on a regular basis," he said.

Lent 2013

Life is full of unexpected twists and turns, and this new year as already offered its share. The stunning decision of Benedict XVI to renounce the papal throne is settling in, and we now should be face down in prayer for his successor and the transition. The world doesn't understand, and has proven to be full of venom and vitriol -- what is to be expected by those who don't understand the Church? There is so much to be said in support of this excellent man who led us for the past few years. Even in such a short time, he left a significant mark: on the liturgy, on the ecumenical front, and in regards to the priest scandal. He inherited a Church infected with some serious toxins and did a heroic job to sanctify those corners that had slipped into decay. He knew this would be difficult (remember his pre-conclave homily) and can rest now after his labours.

There is one thought I can add to the insights of so many faithful Catholics, a thought which I haven't seen written elsewhere. I think this extraordinary step--which takes us into unchartered territory--will go a long way towards combating our tendency to idolise our pontiffs. We have been blessed with excellent men, theologians and philosophers of the highest rank, but it's not the men who should be the object of our veneration. It's the office -- the See of Peter.

Perhaps (as Pete Vere alluded to here) it was the idolisation of the men and their preferences that fed into the blossoming of a full-blown cult in the bosom of Holy Mother Church. "The Pope likes us!" became a form of subterfuge, causing perfectly reasonable adults to set aside their gift of reason, leading them to embrace things that they never would have otherwise. "The pope had dinner with us at our seminary!" "The pope gave a shout-out to the Legion at a Wednesday audience!" "The pope thinks we're spiffy" all translated into carte blanche for deviousness and further injury, and a cudgel against any who questioned their methodology. All wrong and bad.

I declined an interview with NPR this week concerning the papal renunciation, realising there was little to say to the secular world. A follow-up question came anyway. Did I think the pope's decision was in any way based on his inability to reform the Legion? Good heavens, what nonsense! Benedict walks away a heroic, humble, realistic man who knows that the Throne of Peter is surrounded by wolves--some of whom wear cassocks. May the next man be fully prepared for the battle, may we support him with ardent and unceasing prayers, and may we absorb the wisdom that this decision offers us: The Church will survive; the Blood of Jesus is our only refuge; and the Legion will not survive if it is not of God.

Blessed Lent, my friends, and keep the faith!

Curiosity on the LOC site

As I was perusing the Legion site, seeing what numbers and apolostolates they're still visibly associated with (more stealth works remain), I saw that under "Education" they claim an association with the JP2 Pontifical Institute for Marriage and Family. This is ... curious, to say the least. I never before realised that there was a link, and so I looked at the school's official site.

Since many works use the previous Pontiff's name in their titles, I thought maybe there were two. But they're both Pontifical institutes (that's a BIG deal), both founded in 1981, and they share all the other details. The school itself has no board members who are LC, no listed profs or alumni that would explain the claim, and wasn't started by the Legion, I am wondering what their reason for claiming the schools as one of their "works" (along with the schools that they do run):

We have to let Jesus Christ reign in man’s heart, mind, and life. The specific mission of the educational institutions of the Legion and Regnum Christi is to form integral people, working together with their families, so that they will be leaders of positive action and convinced builders of the civilization of justice and love according to the principles of Christian humanism. This is the ideal summed up in the motto “Integer Homo”.

The only justification might be that they send some of their members to the school. That's nice. But then we seem to have some serious obfuscation concerning the Legion's real association.

[This school (in the surveying stage) relies on the same Integral Formation noted on the LOC page and links to NCE -- a distinct L/R brand, but offers no other visible link. If indeed, this is not a school associated with the Legion (and certainly they are not known for the Trivuum methodology) then they should be very careful, since the Legion has trademarked the concept "Integral formation."]

Suing the Legion 2.0

Another case has been filed by a family defrauded by the Legion, this time by the family of a convert, a distinguished graduate of Yale and previously a Mechanical Engineering professor at Brown. Mr James Chu died in 2009, and his son Paul is suing for fraud, undue influence, the Legion taking advantage of his father's reduced capacity, and punative damages.

Since the groundwork has been laid by the Mee case (and this man was evidently groomed to be "consecrated" in RC late in life as well, and the only obstacle to the previous lawsuit being sucessful was the "lack of standing" by Mrs Mee's niece, this son stands a great chance of prevailing in court. 

He has demanded a jury trial, which is now the Legion's argument against releasing the documentation from the Mee case, since they posit that it will prejudice the jury.

[Trying to figure out how to put the PDF files up; the story is found online here.]