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
Using economic woes as an excuse for financial trouble: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.
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!]
Will this information find its way into the press - Catholic media and mainstream media? Paging Nicole Winfield and Jason Berry!
Posted by: les | February 20, 2013 at 07:34 PM
The Legion is about as anti-pro-life as it gets. People are simply a means to an end, and it's no wonder that Maciel and Co would find it hysterical to think they were investing in porn. They would probably find the idea of child porn even funnier, provided it was bringing in more $$$.
It is hard for me to take the Church seriously when she preaches about being pro-life but harbors (not only harbors, but coddles and supports) organizations such as this. People aren't stupid, and this kind of hypocrisy contributes to the pro-life movement getting exactly nowhere.
I hate to say it, but more and more I am realizing that when large organizations run by corrupt people really push an issue, it's usually because that issue is their weak spot, and they know it. This has led me to suspect that the reason the institution of the Church rails on the pro-life issue so much is that the PTB running the institution are anything BUT pro-life.
The continued support of the Legion by the institutional Church only contributes to my suspicion. Yuck.
Posted by: Gems | February 21, 2013 at 01:12 AM
Gems-- I think you're making the mustake of overestimating how big the Legion is in the universal church.
The answer is: not very. They're a weird, random new liturgical movement. Their numbers don't come close to OD or C&L, and compared to mainline groups, they're smaller still. In fact, the reason they endured so long is not that they were so powerful, but because they are so small that most bishops/pastors/etc. didn't look at them too closely.
They're only big and indicative of the direction of the church in their own heads. Really, they're a small criminal organization nestled in a corner of a humongous city. Sure, they have pictures of the leader shaking hands with the mayor and getting complements because he donated to midnight basketball or something, but they're not that big.
They're terribly evil. They've ruined lives. But they got away with it precisely because they were such a small, regional phenomenon, and because the inner circle found a group of nice, earnest people to use as cover.
So it's not "The church doesn't care about prostitutes." It's more "The church would never have guess this tiny group was pro-sex-trade, especially since the face the church saw was that nice Mrs. Johnson who shows up for Mass every day and donates time and money to that random small group of missionary priests.
Something that people who bought the LC lie sometimes forget...; the church is really, really, mindbogglingly big........
Posted by: Deirdre Mundy | February 21, 2013 at 09:25 AM
Deidre, I usually agree with you, but not on this one.
First, if you look at numbers, they almost matched of OD or CL. So that is not true.
Second, I can not swallow the fact that DePaolis waged his finger at Mahony (not that I am his fan), while covering up the LC scandal. Why is there no justice to victims 4 years after the “announcement”? Is it because DePaolis has to guard the “secrets” he mentioned to Nicole Winfield a year ago?
Maciel took advantage of a rotten, vein clerical culture, that exists to this day. Its is not LCRC, but has supported and benefited from Maceil. These people still are there. And please don’t tell me the OD curia pubahs that were by the side of JP2 all along did not know about all this. What did they do? Nothing. Or did they also profit from the slime?
Please stop this propaganda.
Posted by: Tom | February 21, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Tom. C&L claims 100,000 people IN ITALY ALONE.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communion_and_Liberation
Opus Dei - over 90,000 people:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opus_Dei
RC claims 70,000
So, okay...bout the size of OB (but dwarfed by C&L). And how many Catholics are there? 1.2 BILLION. Most Catholics, even most Catholic priests, will never even MEET someone associated with RC (or OD, for that matter.)
Lay movements are a very, very small part of the church. They reflect Catholic subcultures, not the direction of the church in general.
LC/RC are a huge problem, because they used Christ's church to promote lies and deceit. But it's not hard to see why people tasked with keeping track of the whole universal church didn't pay more attention earlier on.
If Maciel hadn't short-circuited the normal process back when he started, he would have been long-since suppressed at the diocesan level, like the Intercessors of the Lamb and other groups.
Posted by: Deirdre Mundy | February 21, 2013 at 01:06 PM
There is no way RC has 70k people. RC did massive incorporations during its large anniversary gatherings 1991 and the Millenium pilgrimages, but these people didn't know what RC was, never received a commitment card and never merged into an active RC group locally. I used to see the RC numbers on the EXPO system and we are talking about really, really surprisingly small numbers. ECYD was similar.
LCs counted in their total RC incorporated at massive events, all ECYD member who ever existed, the family dog and cat.
RC would be lucky to achieve 7k - 15k worldwide active RC members now.
it would be helpful on this site to list the current active members of RC in the largest RC cities Washington, Detroit, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Baton Rouge-New Orleans. From there we can get a pretty good idea of the active members of RC in the US. Then after that we really only have Mexico, Brazil and a few more countries. Like I said no way 70k active members right now. Not even close. More like 7k - 15k active RC members total.
Posted by: Little Light | February 21, 2013 at 01:42 PM
I'd like to illustrate what happens when the Legion is involved in local churches. We have "Days of Evangelisation" several times a year in our diocese and the 3gf's were invited to participate. I cautioned the organiser that they shouldn't be paired together, because one couldn't be certain of what sort of "evangelising" [read: recruiting] they would do, so their teams were split up and paired with non-RC folks. I thought it was harmless enough until I just found out (months later) that they had recruited kind people to come and help them in-house, to help spread the word about their events, their mission, etc. These people had no idea that they were RC or related to the Legion -- they were just really sweet, earnest young ladies who so wanted to help spread the faith.
So, not only were they NOT up front about who they were, but they took diocesan resources away from evangelising and siphoned them off to work for them. Indeed, they used the DOE's as a networking tool to help the Legion instead of the diocese. This methodology hasn't changed from decade to decade.
You may be right about the numbers, Little Light, but wherever those few members exist, they cause big problems.
Posted by: giselle | February 21, 2013 at 02:03 PM
DG in Rome has all the current active RC memberships in the new version of EXPO. The fact they continue to use the 70k number is one more sign they are not interested in truth or reform.
Jim Fair knows the true number as well, but he is doing the job for the Legion Joseph Goebbels did for the Nazis. Misinform. Manipulate. Strong arm when necessary. He even misinforms and manipulates the Legion's own employees.
This is one giant game of chess...the important thing is to keep taking away their chess pieces and leaving them more exposed. This is a game of patience. Slowly the truth will win out, but as their strategy fails and they start to form their lines of defense, we can expect a few more Battle of the Bulge panic moves by the Legion to survive. If they can move a few more pawns into the Vatican and convert them into queens, this may give them a second wind.
Posted by: Little Light | February 21, 2013 at 02:03 PM
'active' members in Dallas may be about 65 and dwindling fast. "Active" includes those who are being recruited and those who have left but they are still being 'counted' with the hope that they will return. In other words, dying is the best known description. As Deidre says, the vast majority of Catholics in the DFW area have never heard of LC/RC, and it was that way even during the heyday in the area. They wouldn't cause a blip on the DFW Catholic radar. Oh there were a few self-designated 'power brokers' but truth is most people just ignored them. The vast majority of people in DFW who have encountered LC/RC dismiss them readily. So if Dallas is among the 'largest RC cities' then perhaps that reveals how the numbers are skewed and have been skewed all along. Even with a former LC bishop the LC/RC have never really gained traction here. All LC/RC wanted in Dallas was some of the rich ones and they got about five when all is said and done.
Posted by: anonymous | February 21, 2013 at 02:05 PM
BTW, discussion here:
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/duffy/2013/02/the-many-sides-of-a-scandal/
Posted by: giselle | February 21, 2013 at 02:13 PM
which victims have not been treated justly Tom? As far as I know, those who came forward were received and given a just compensation. Except those who sued in the courts, and thus the court system prohibits any settlement.
It would not be right to publish victim names, but unless you have some evidence, it sounds like you were out at the hotdog stand during the 3rd inning and missed a few runs scored.
Posted by: INandOUT | February 21, 2013 at 02:43 PM
@I&O: wow, is that Legion Charity (TM)? If my son were a victim and you referred to his suffering in that way, it would be even harder to forgive your insensitivity. As it is, knowing many of the victims, I know that they have come to expect nothing more from L/R.
Posted by: giselle | February 21, 2013 at 02:52 PM
Where are you getting your information, INandOUT?
BTW, court systems do not prohibit settlements. Oftentimes they are the very system that facilitates such.
If you don't believe that, just check with the Legion of Christ. They are quite familiar with the court system (though not so familiar with portraying their legal troubles accurately).
Posted by: It's the Duplicity, Stupid | February 21, 2013 at 03:05 PM
In and out I think you are repeating information which has been told to you by a Legionary priest.
It is not true.
I don't know of a single victim that has been recompensed or in any way treated well by the Legion. Velasio de Paolis stated that a few (3 or 4?) have received small payments. Nobody knows who these people are, but I know they are not Juan Vaca, Jose Barba, Arturo Jurado etc etc
It is not only fair, but it is the truth, to say that the victims of Maciel and of other legionary brothers and priests have NOT been recompensed, have not HAD justice and have NOT been treated well by the Legion.
In fact I KNOW for a fact that victims have been treated very badly.
Posted by: Aaron | February 21, 2013 at 03:58 PM
One of the greatest tactical errors of the Holy See/DePaolis was not to have heeded the Visitation's proposal to define the charism and in this context re-dimension the apostolic identity of the LC/RC from power-influence 'for the sake of the Gospel' [i.e. themselves] to a humble witness, filling ONE specific need in one corner of the Church's life.
DePaolis dismantled none of this and as illustrated so well by Giselle's comments and others above the harm is coming firstly by misdirecting so many good souls and resources away from the real work of Evangelization. I think this is a demonstrable reality that any Bishop could grasp and act upon.
Posted by: AnonObserv | February 21, 2013 at 05:11 PM
AnonObserv--- But none of them HAVE acted. Though, I wonder how many know that RC is active in their dioceses. For instance, they're still running conquest/challenge/ancora/what have you in Indianapolis: http://www.olafamilycenter.org/Our_Lady_of_the_apostles_family_center/Welcome.html
Presumably the new archbishop knows something about them, since he was Secretary for the Institutes of Consecrated life and all... but it doesn't appear to be on his radar.
(He seems most concerned with reaching out to lapsed Catholics... which is a great thing for our diocese, but the point is that even Bishops who you'd think WOULD be in the know don't seem to see this as an easy problem to fix at the diocesan level...)
Posted by: Deirdre Mundy | February 21, 2013 at 06:07 PM
And, mind you, I don't have any secret knowledge-- I just googled "Regnum Christi Indianapolis" and a slew of hits came up.. so presumeably, if the Bishop cared he could find this info as well...
Posted by: Deirdre Mundy | February 21, 2013 at 06:08 PM
@ in and out: "unless you have some evidence, it sounds like you were out at the hotdog stand during the 3rd inning and missed a few runs scored" So what's the score? Let's hear your evidence of settlements? You don't have to provide names of victims. You can provide locations and amounts of settlments, and the name of the criminal perpetrator if you want. After all there isn't anything innocent about the perpetrators to be protected. Oh wait. sorry. Forgot LC/RC thrives in secrecy. In and out, let's hear the facts. Since we've all be enjoying hotdogs we need to know: What's the score?
Posted by: sharon | February 21, 2013 at 06:11 PM
Also, this: http://campriverridge.org/information
Is the diocese as well...
I've reached the conclusion you can't expect bishops to act. And that the best course of action in response to all the wacky, demonic stuff in the church (certain false apparitions, personality cults, etc...) is to work hard to foster good catechesis and HEALTHY activities and devotions.
People turn to the fake stuff when they haven't seen the real thing and so don't realize they're being led astray. The more authentic worship and devotion prevails, the fewer Maciels we'll have.
Posted by: Deirdre Mundy | February 21, 2013 at 06:14 PM
Also... is it normal for boys camps to feature lots and lots of pictures of shirtless young men? As a mom, I'd be a little disturbed if it was my son, especially given the provenance of the group. I know most scout troops and what have you password protect the photos so only parents can view. Or they do distance shots where the kids aren't recognizable, but... these kids are all very recognizable, and anyone with a passing acquaintance could put names to faces.
Maybe I'm a little too paranoid and security conscious, but.... eww? I'm actually wondering if I should contact the moms involved and let them know these photos are on a LC website....
Posted by: Deirdre Mundy | February 21, 2013 at 06:21 PM
http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=17129
might explain a lot...
Posted by: giselle | February 21, 2013 at 06:23 PM
Seriously???? And the official statement sounds suspiciously like a confirmation....
Posted by: Deirdre Mundy | February 21, 2013 at 06:48 PM
From La Stampa, Herranz explains the new leaks (considering Herranz's report was apparenlty in a vault in the Pope's office, under the new electronic security system just installed, how did that happen? hummm).
...
“It's an issue that we reported to the Pope exclusively”-assured Herranz to Radio 24-. “Sure there was also talk of this hypothesis behind the resignation of the Pope, but I think we have to respect people's consciousness. Consciousness of people is the sacred place of every man, are decisions made in the depths of consciousness, and as such should be respected. "
As to the complaint by the Pope at the ceremony on Ash Wednesday regarding the face of the Church being defaced, Herranz commented: "Of course there are divisions and there have always been, as well as violent conflicts of ideological lines, are not new, but they have a weight."
...
I don’t like when the gay community manipulates words like marriage (what is the evolutionary role of reproductive organs?), I am not gay, but to insinuate that the Pope, like Cardinal Herranz does, resigned because of the Vatileaks report that allegedly includes information that there were men having relations with other men is unbelievable.
Abuse of tens of thousand of children, hiding a serial abuser like Maciel, money laundering, including for the mob, none of that is a problem.
It is only that after 2000 years, they “discovered” that some men had adult consensual relations with other men. Wow.
Lets see if they release this report and what it really contains.
http://goo.gl/3lL3W
Posted by: Tom | February 22, 2013 at 04:49 AM
http://es.catholic.net/laiglesiahoy/noticias.php?id=44580
Beatísimo Padre:
Los Legionarios de Cristo y los miembros del Movimiento Regnum Christi queremos presentarle nuestra profunda gratitud por el acompañamiento paternal y solícito que ha dado a nuestra familia carismática durante su pontificado. Gracias por la mano firme y bondadosa con la que nos ha guiado para avanzar llenos de esperanza por el camino de purificación y renovación que estamos recorriendo. Su renuncia nos ha causado por un lado tristeza, considerando todo lo que usted ha hecho por nosotros y como nos ha guiado personalmente y a través de su Delegado. Pero, también, nos llena de admiración y orgullo filial constatar una vez más su gran amor a la Iglesia, su confianza en Dios y su profunda humildad.
Este miércoles de ceniza, los legionarios de Cristo y los miembros consagrados del Regnum Christi hemos querido acompañarle en la audiencia general y en la misa de imposición de las cenizas para mostrarle nuestro afecto y nuestra adhesión incondicional al Sucesor de Pedro. Nos gustaría que supiera que hoy, y en la nueva etapa de su servicio a la Iglesia que iniciará al terminar su pontificado, cuenta siempre con nuestra oración y con un lugar especial en nuestros corazones.
Le pedimos, humildemente, su bendición. ¡Gracias, Santo Padre, por su magisterio en palabras y obras, por su testimonio de entrega a Cristo y a la Iglesia!
This is the text of a letter sent by acting LC Genereal Director Sylvestor Heerman to the pope on behalf of the legion/RC on hearing about his retirement.
It is a soppy ring-kissing letter which serves two purposes: it states implicitly that the LC and RC are at his disposition (we'll scratch your back if you scratch ours) and also states to tell the pope that the LC/RC community will be at his final audience on ash wednesday so please say hello to us and we can do some great PR work with that!
-----------------------------------
Tom I don't think the fact of supposed consensual sex would be enough to cause a scandal to make Ratzinger resign - although it has been insinuated by some clergy to be worse than pedophilia - but the keywords for me are blackmail, power struggles (ie politics), unethical economics and homosexual activity. It is not necessarily supposed that all four activities are linked.
I wonder if the Pope has been compromised and forced to retire: I do not imply that he is an immoral person, but perhaps he has been stung somehow unwittingly? There are some crafty folk in the vatican.
Posted by: Aaron | February 22, 2013 at 05:22 AM
Aaron, I agree, if there is a network of people that engage in perverted behavior, orgies etc in the curia, this needs to be dealt with, there should be no room for that. Either clerics are celibate, honest and keep their zippers up, or be are allowed to marry (as in the Eastern rites), or be fired. This going to confession and all is good until the next time needs to stop.
But other corruption needs to handled, equally: abuse of tens of thousand of children, hiding a serial abuser like Maciel, money laundering, including for the mob; physical, spiritual and financial abuse in new ecclesiastic movements, to mention a few..
Saying “round up the usual suspects”, e.g. them homosexuals, like Cardinal Bertone already did once, as the cause of all evil and everything will be fine does not fly.
But I agree, lets see what is the whole story..
Posted by: Tom | February 22, 2013 at 06:23 AM