life-after-RC

New directors for Third Degree

The Delegate's letter has been published in English concerning the two new directors: Agostino Montan, SC will be in charge of the 3gf's (he already oversees the Ordo Virginum in Rome), and Fr Ghirlanda, SJ for the 3gm's.

At first glance, this seems like the best news yet since the Visitation. The local "consecrated" men and women will still report to their local LC's, but any Legionaries overseeing them will ultimately have to answer to the two directors, who have previously shown themselves to be solid men who understand authentic Religious life.

This comment is from one who understands (and considers the combined effect of the announced appointments by Cardinal DePaolis):

De Paolis is definitely struggling with the situation. He had to make public the nominations in the LC and had to write an overnight letter to deal with the earthquake in the 3G.

Regarding the nominations it is a Solomonic decision, like the one he took when he chose two new counsellors. One and one. Sylvester is the establishment's candidate for the new Director General. He has been empowered by Corcuera and Garza so he is one of them. He said a couple of days ago that he has had a very positive experience in the Legion. That statement, coming from someone who is a territorial director, is at the very best, naïve, and shows evident complicity with the cover up made by Corcuera and co.

Regarding the letter about the 3G, it is obviously a desperate meausure, an effort to avoid further losses. He tries to give a strong signal about the autonomy of the consecrated, loosening the bond between the LC and 3G, although he tries to soften it with the idea of participation in the same charism and being a spiritual family. Putting Montan at the top of the 3GF and Ghirlanda in charge of the 3GM (cutting off Corcuera) is a strong move indeed. (The rationale of this is that Montan has experience with female consacrated life because he is in charge of the ordo virginum in Rome). Nevertheless this measure is tempered by the fact that the territorial directors keep their competences regarding the 3G though they are under Montan and Ghirlanda. If their supervision is like the one De Paolis gives to Corcuera, then we are done.

Finally his statement about those who have left is even more drastic than the ones made by Legionary superiors. They are called, albeit implicitly, unfaithful. But he shows his fear about the situation when he invites those who left not to proselytise. Very faithful to his line of compromise, De Paolis continues to show the very lack of leadership for which he is blamed.

So Malen's decision tipped his hand and forced an important concession. God bless her for her courage, and let's redouble our prayers for all these faithful souls who now have to make some very important decisions. God is patient, this isn't life or death, but simply good and better, or if you like, a half-life or freedom.

Important letter from Malén Oriel

Trastevere blog offers the text of a letter written to Cardinal DePaolis by Malen Oriel:

Malénn Oriol takes leave of the consecrated women of Regnum Christi

It's official. Malén Oriol has sent a message to the Regnum Christi consecrated to explain and inform the fact that a group of consecrated, about 30, have decided to exit the Third degree of the movement to live their consecration outside this structure. The message also reports that on January 24  the cardinal and pontifical delegate of the Legionaries of Christ, Velasio DePaolis, accepted her resignation as assistant to the general director for the RC.

According to the information that has reached Trastevere, one of those who is leaving the RC consecrated hinted that it is not a "schism" or a "separation", but the desire to live their consecration in the way that the Church asks. They just want to be out of a structure deemed "harmful and wrong."

My sources in the LC and RC are shown baffled by the fact that Malén Oriol has communicated a copy of this message to Luis Garza Medina, remembering he "no longer has anything to do with the 3GF at this time.

And she adds her invitation to ask for "these sisters and friends that God our Lord strenghen and give them the light necessary to continue faithful to what the Holy Spirit will indicate in relation to their commitment to Jesus. "They will begin, my sources indicate, without a fixed hierarchy and gradually discerning how they will live their consecrated life.

"Many years, say my informants, to live in a culture that fed on an alleged charisma (nobody knows) and an alleged spirituality (we all know was based on lies). Now they begin a new way (not easy) and will require many steps (not to mention time) to purify souls." [thank you for the translation, AnonObserv]

From: Oriol Malen
Posted on: Sunday, February 12, 2012 18:31
To:. DG 3GF
CC: Alvaro Corcuera LC, LC Luis Garza Medina
Subject: Note and prayers

Thy kingdom come!

My Very dear Consecrated:

I want to approach each of you and honestly tell you what happened to me.

Only God knows and am reporting to the PC, the restless desire has always moved me to help each and every 3gf, looking to walk the path of love, understanding and truth, especially in recent years, which have been mysterious and unexpected.

During the events of recent weeks, as most know, there has been between us diversity of information, rumors and even dare I say, judgments and suspicions that are not always accurate. Therefore I present what I consider the facts in order to clarify, with no desire for defense, justification or bias.

In recent years, the number of abandoned 3gf's has been increasing, through a proper discernment of vocations, others by the discovery of our history and life of the founder. Have been added to this, others have shown little confidence in the internal renewal process as it relates to the consecrated of Regnum Christi.

Others have been committed to continuing their consecration, since the Holy Father expressed his desire that we remain united under the authority of a bishop, desiring to live their consecration as an answer to the call of God in their hearts. They wanted to check with the Holy Father before proceeding, to act on a right path, trusting the process followed by the RC under his Papal Delegate. The Holy Father has sent through the ecclesiastical authority, support and blessing to this initiative.

This fact does not exclude or confront those who continue in the current path 3gf renewal of RC, and live with peace, confidence and freedom. The various positions have been, are and I think that should be respected, accepted and reliable. To disqualify or condemn any of them is to assume an authority which only God has over one's personal conscience.

Why the fear? Isn't this an opportunity for each and every one to follow the path the Lord stirs in our hearts? Can't we join forces to form among the beloved Church of which we have spoken many times, a way that provides the best and most fitting path, or is it a dream to think that there is respect, prayer, support and love among all Christians and for all?

The words of St. Paul to the Corinthians (3: 4-5) come to mind "When you say, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I'm of Apollos,' are they not acting as do other men? After all, who is Apollos, who is Paul? Simple servants, through whom you have believed, and each of them is as you received from the Lord."

What a distinction which may arise among our more life to join the ranks of many who seek to love God in the Church, serving as consecrated women!

For my part, please consider the personal letter of 29 October 2011, where I stated the fact I have submitted my resignation as assistant to the General Director. I confirmed it publicly on 24 January in Rome and asked Cardinal de Paolis directly for his advice. I await his response. Besides, I need time, prayer and distance to discern God's Will for me. At times it has been said that the reason for this personal request is the result of fatigue, impairment or other lived so in advance I hasten to clarify that the reasons which lead me to make these decisions live in great peace, beyond of myself and God has placed in my heart.

I know that God brings salvation through the history of our lives, that same Lord who has begun this work and bring it to fruition in each and every one.

Let us join together in the consecrated life of the Church, certain that God is always with the best is yet to come.

A sincere encouragement for all, helping us to continue towards our final meeting in heaven. I sincerely thank each one for so much charity, the examples of dedication, the testimonies of generosity and love, humility and sacrifice ... God knows everything, will be compensated.

I apologize for any pain or damage that I have inadvertently caused, for all my mistakes, limitations and eny bad example, for having failed to help or care for all. I'm sure that the merciful God will heal all, and will give birth to each to continue their journey in following Christ and holiness.

Be assured that you will be remembered particularly in my prayers before the Virgin Mary, the best of mothers, who keeps us all in her lap and is the Mother of hope. Pray for me, so I need better than anyone and PC has been confirmed. A hug for each with all the affection of one who is her sister and servant in Christ, "

Oriol Malén M. [a clean translation of the original letter posted at Trastevere would be very much appreciated]

UPDATE:The story was covered by AP here with a little helpful interpretation:

In her role, Oriol had headed the Legion’s branch of consecrated women, some 600 women who live like nuns working in Legion schools, recruiting and fundraising.

Oriol also revealed that a group of consecrated women had decided to leave the movement and live out their vocations under the authority of local bishops — a blow to the Legion that suggests that groups of reformers are now stepping outside the movement because their superiors are refusing to change.

Dozens of priests and upwards of 400 consecrated women from the Legion’s lay branch Regnum Christi have left the movement since the revelations of Maciel’s double life emerged in 2009.

Most of the priests who have left have become diocesan priests. But most of the consecrated women who have left have simply returned to life as regular Catholics: working, going to school, getting married.

What makes the exodus of the 30 consecrated members significant is that they are seeking to continue living out their religious vocations under bishops — something that is potentially problematic for the Legion’s survival since it shows a potential avenue for continuing similar lifestyles outside the Legion, if others were to follow suit.

This is a response, over the signature of Luis Garza. There is word that the other TD's wrote similar letters, and the same text is on the RC site. If this form was used in the letters. one can imagine that nothing was sent directly to 3gf's or to the rank and file of RC.

Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Consecrated Men, Fathers and Brothers, pax Christi,
Greetings. Malén Oriol, the assistant to the General Director, has sent a letter to all the consecrated women announcing that she has presented her resignation to Cardinal Velasio De Paolis. As well, she mentions that some consecrated women have asked the Holy See for permission to live out their consecration not as members of the Regnum Christi movement but under the authority of a bishop. From what she writes, it seems that the Holy See has granted this permission. Malén does not say that she is thinking of forming part of this group. With gratitude for all the years that they have lived as consecrated, let us pray for them and keep the gift of the consecrated life in Regnum Christi in our prayers so that God grant each one of us the grace to move forward in this path of renewal that the Holy Father has invited us to undertake.
God bless,
Yours in Christ, Fr Luis Garza, LC

ADDENDUM: these are the "official" numbers provided by the Legion

Father Schoggl told CNS, "At the beginning of 2012, there were about 900 consecrated members in Regnum Christi: over 800 women and about 100 men. In comparison, at the end of 2008, there were 1,064 consecrated members, 956 women and 108 men."

About 200 members left between 2009 and 2011 and about 50 new members were consecrated in that period, resulting in the net loss of about 150 members, he said.

"A proper autonomy"

From a 3gf living in Chile:

In September while in Rome, we had the opportunity to meet with the papal delegate, Cardinal Velasio de Paolis, who has been following Regnum Christi on this journey of personal and institutional renewal. From that meeting emerged the letter we recently received. This letter is a "sign" that we are unequivocally in the hands of the Church and the Pope. The Delegate together with his counselors came to tell us that the Regnum Christi is a work of God and that He is the first interested in her. He said that he wants to help take care of this work to reach the fullness of God and thus to remain for the Church and the world a tool through which many souls come to know the love of Christ.

For some, this letter says a lot and others may not say anything. What it is clearly expressed its desire that we be joined with the Church at this time: "You are not alone," he tells us. "We're here to help," were words that constantly repeated in this meeting.

The Bishop himself made that clear, and that "in the apostolic visitation was found that the consecrated members are grateful for our calling and live with joy our consecration to God according to the evangelical counsels, well aware that we offer a precious service to the Church."

The Regnum Christi should be a response to what the Church needs today. Therefore, the Cardinal does not speak of a relaunch or a separation, but a rightful autonomy, "generally perceived a positive assessment of the relationship between the Legion and consecrated persons in the Regnum Christi."

At the same time is saying it will ensure "a proper autonomy, in which consecrated persons should live a partnership with the Church", keeping with the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ "a link in the participation , albeit differently, in the same charism, spirituality and apostolate, keeping a precious treasure that they have inherited." Therefore, we seek "proper configuration, which corresponds to canon law, to safeguard, promote and further develop this treasure."

There are three levels to this insight, a personal one, which is placed before God with all your being so that you will be enlightened and make a decision and personal choice. Another, sharing with our brothers in their vocation, for while God speaks directly through His Word, He also speaks through our brothers ...

How enriching it is to listen to others living with you, who are on your side, who are part of your life because you are all living the same challenge! The third level concerns the superiors, whose decisions are to to be made with the participation of all who are engaged in the same orderly structure. This level is the one that the Church will consider in the coming months.

We are accustomed to a world of quick and easy answers, but we must trust our beloved Church and know that her answers are full of wisdom, deep reflection and prayer -- and seek always to please and serve God.

We must be aware that we are growing in "oneness" in "being a family", the family of Regnum Christi, which brings together many lay people, consecrated, and the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ. In this family we find supported, someone to listen and an attachment to an end that is the same for all, "come to Christ, definitely reach heaven."

We must pray, pray hard, pray for each and every one of us in the Regnum Christi, as Pope Benedict XVI recently said, "Where is God, no future, no hope."

Just a note that, while I admire her respect for the Church and perserverence in her chosen vocation, she provides the usual sleight of hand at the end, as though choosing this Movement = choosing Christ. To turn it around, to walk away from the RC is to walk away from Christ. Unfortunately, although that doesn't follow, it is the standard hook by which young, impressionable souls are nailed into this group.

It remains to see how much "wisdom, deep reflection and prayer" guide the superiors who are charged with forging their future. Prayers for God's most perfect will to prevail.

[The original text, written by Araceli Delgado, is found here.]

Legion response to the AP

The Legion has distributed talking points to help clarify the present situation:

As for the arguments that address the points [made in Nicole Winfield's article], the following items should be taken into account:

1) Renewal process, content and speed: Everyone knows how the Papal Delegate has explained his role and work. He has repeatedly reminded us that progress is to be measured according to the objectives set by the Pope and the Church -- and not by personal expectations or the public opinion.

Read and share [with others] what these steps are and what has already occurred.

2) With regard to the alleged "mass defection," the numbers for the Legion were already released a few months ago, and were made public here. The discrepancy with the numbers indicated by the AP is the fact that the journalist was only concerned with the number of 232 novices and religious who have left the congregation for any reason, including the normal process of discernment which is necessary over the formative years. However, to calculate the variation of number of brothers in training in 2010, one must take into account incoming (143) and ordinations (62, which are no longer in training). This is the change of the total: +143 - 62 - 232 = -151. Trying to explain the unexplainable, she talks about those who have dropped out, which is the only data of interest.

The numbers for the consecrated members are as follows: Currently (October 2011) there are more than 900 members in the Regnum Christi consecrated -- more than 800 women and 100 men. In comparison, in December 31, 2008 there were 1064 consecrated members (956 women and 108 men). From late 2008 to 2011 more than 200 have left the religious life for many reasons. Therefore, taking into account the income, it is a total decrease of about 150 (of 1064 to just over 900). [Giselle here: life with the 3gf's is NOT religious life. These are lay persons, which is a large part of the problem. The Visitation concluded as much.]

3) Some Mexican media have focused on the question of a PA who speaks of "financial arrangements with four or five people who say they have been sexually abused by Maciel." In this regard, it is known that the Papal Delegate has instituted a Commission to address these cases, in which people listen and propose responses according to the criteria of justice and charity, taking into account the various factors (his personal past, current human needs, etc.) It is not an award of damages or strictly legal.

The work of the Commission has not yet been completed and therefore can not provide information on all of this work.

4) On the issue of charism: We know that Cardinal De Paolis, with great theological and canonical insight, does not see the charism of a congregation as something that can be defined in a word or a famous phrase, but believes it consists of a set of characteristic elements for their spirituality and apostolate. So the question of "defining the charism in a phrase" is out of place.

5) For any investigation on who aided or abetted MM, it is enough to remember the explanations of the papal delegate conference last March, and the fact that canon law states that alleged minor crimes (usually prescribed 3-5 years) or simple judgement errors trial in complex situations can not be investigated or draw canonical sanctions.

As is always important to read the news critically and to look for opportunities to communicate in truth, charity and humility with the people around us who are interested in our journey, which is in the hands of the Church, and for whom we wish to bring to fulfillment the mission God has entrusted to us.

UPDATE: here is a response written specifically for English speakers (The memo above was not originally English)

My So-Called "Consecrated" Life

this is a guest post by Karna Swanson:

I don’t normally tell people that I was consecrated in Regnum Christi in the 90s. Actually, some of my closest friends have no idea what I was up to in my 20s, when I was young and idealistic. But in an interview with CNA (Catholic News Service), Father Thomas Williams divulged that I was a former member of the third-degree of Regnum Christi. This information is not a big secret, or something I go to great extents to conceal, but it is something very personal, and not information I share widely. Also, it’s not a part of my life that I’m particularly proud of, although in the past few years I have begun to speak about it more freely (thanks in large part to the healing I have experienced through reading this blog).  

Given Father’s remarks, however, I felt it was necessary to say a few public words about my experience, as I want it to be clear to all that I am no longer in any way associated with the Legionaries of Christ, or Regnum Christi. Actually, I had left Regnum Christi as a member in 2003, just before I began working for ZENIT. More than anything, my reason was based on the fact that I was now living a very “real” life, in the sense that I had to attend such mundane tasks as paying the rent, finding a job, finishing school, filing taxes, etc., and Regnum Christi isn’t about providing spiritual support for people who live in the real world. Also, the idealism of my youth was fading. I found out that before I can “save the world,” I needed to do the basic things, such as fix my car, and buy groceries (I hate buying groceries).

In 2004, I began working for ZENIT. As a third degree member of Regnum Christi, I didn’t have a whole lot of contact with the Legionaries outside the confessional. I had been a reader of ZENIT and thought it would be an interesting job, and it really was! Catholic journalism is not something I had ever considered, and it turns out that it was a really good fit for me during those recovery years. There is a lot I can say about my experience at ZENIT, but in the end I don’t think it’s worth the effort. What’s done is done.

What I can say, however, is that I am more convinced than ever that the Legion needs nothing less then a complete re-foundation (although I would vote for shutting it down altogether). The level of dysfunction I have witnessed in the Legion during the last two years is worrisome. In the end, these priests have been victims, and they need to be treated as such. This means, they need to stop all apostolates and close their seminaries, and they need to dedicate themselves to healing (deep psychological counseling, good spiritual direction, prayer, fasting, penance, and rest). They need help, and they need it urgently (some more so than others).

And with regard to my four and 1/2 year stint as a “consecrated” member of Regnum Christi, I deeply regret it (consecrated is in quotes because the canonical status of this branch of RC is questionable). It was a decision I made hastily after graduating from college, and in hindsight, I think I chose it because it was the easy path. I mean, did I want to work for a faceless corporation editing training manuals, or did I want to “save the world?” What would you have chosen? I see those years as wasted years, years in which I accomplished very little. I got to travel a little (Argentina, Rome, Switzerland), and I learned Spanish, so not all was lost. I chalk it up to my crazy 20s ... wearing long skirts, praying 3 hours a day, in bed by 9:30 and up by 5:45! OK, maybe my pious 20s! (I am editing this and realized I made no mention of vocation...very telling about my motivations. What vocational director in their right mind would have allowed me to continue!)

Some descriptions of Regnum Christi, and especially the consecrated women, paint a picture that we were all zombies, brainwashed, that we didn’t have free will, etc..., and some of that is true, but I wouldn’t get carried away. There was a lot of emphasis on uniformity, but some people were given more leniency than others, and some by character weren’t as affected by the severe environment. I actually enjoyed the structure, and the community life, and wish I had some of that in my current life, where I work at home alone and with a very flexible schedule. But, there are some darker elements of life as a consecrated member that I was shielded from, or maybe too naive to recognize. I’ve heard stories of girls being emotionally beaten into submission, of girls being marginalized for not stepping in line, told they had to ask their parents for money, not allowed to see their families for many years (and others who saw them monthly because their parents could afford to fly to wherever they were).

In the end, it’s not a good life. There are good elements, but I would never, never, ever recommend it to any young girl as a path she should consider taking. I do believe there are good people still inside, and some even have real vocations. But they are victims, and they need to heal. We all do.

God help us.

Powerful discernment by an ex3gf

Claudia Madero is also disappointed with reform, according to Milenio:

Claudia Madero, who for 35 years was a consecrated member of Regnum Christi, decided to leave the Legionaries of Christ because, despite the Vatican having control of the congregation, there is no change in substance. In addition, she claimed, there is an internal prosecution against the those consecrated who "think and analyse."

In a 10-page letter addressed to the general director, Alvaro Corcuera, she details her disappointment about the founder Marcial Maciel, saying: "We were not formed to love, promote and seek the truth" but were "given to lying" and what seemed like a growth in humility was really "becoming slaves to instructions and protocols."

She explains the reasons that lead her to take that step that was "in itself difficult, painful and heartbreaking," and she shares what she considers her "spiritual journey" from July 29th, 2008, when she heard Father Luis Garza said the truth about the founder's life.

In analyzing the errors of Maciel, said: "I was able to capture the founder presented us with a perfect ideal of holiness, angelic" than he, "as described, was the flagship model. There were others like John Paul II, but no life as a martyr in the persecution allegedly suffered so tremendous that during his lifetime. "

In addition, the consecrated were subjected to a multiplicity of rules calling for the strictest perfection, "we become slaves to instructions and written protocols with the greatest thoroughness, and were not to develop any individual qualities," she explained.

White lies

The former consecrata reflects in her letter that "it appears that they were not prepared as an institution, to see, live and promote the truth, because we are not educated in love to promote the truth." Madero said that in 1997 someone asked Maciel: "Why, if lying is sin, we sometimes allow white lies, such as inflating the number of vocational growth or incorporated members."

The founder said, "Why, if the children of darkness lies used for their evil purposes, we can not use these little white lies for good ends?

In assessing the current situation, after the appointment of papal delegate Velasio De Paolis, Madero stated that "there were no essential changes. It has been 64 years, for how many more years will we continue to deceive our people and those to come later? "

She adds that the founder used to discredit and isolate those who doubted his upright conduct, and this form of government still remains, justified as necessary to maintain unity, so enemies are made of those who simply want to contribute to the reform.

At present, considered three groups of dedicated, those who suffer a kind of internal persecution because they are "thinking and analytical" and put in "the position of being enemies."

There are others who have become chronically ill or are affected in their psyche. And the third that are "tagged," the elderly, who are directors.

The former consecrated provides dates and details of correspondence sent to the director Alvaro Corcuera concerning the bias that was influencing the affairs of the Legion and the Movement, but of this she said, "I have not found any resonance, not an attitude of listening, being open or willing to compromise," so she states that "the form of government has not changed, it remains as it was during the founder's life, with the same injustices, judgments and decisions made about those people who begin to differ."

"It seems that there is a vacuum of authority," she said.

The consecrata concluded with four thoughts: "The way you're facing this time of purification will discover the true desire of structural change.

The ex3gf concluded with four thoughts:

1. "The way you're facing this time of purification will discover the true desire of structural change.

2. "We must accept that the founder created an institution with a religious guise that basically entails systems, procedures, traditions and habits that do not correspond at all to the Gospel.

3. "All of us who dealt with the founder are affected by his un-Christian vision and we need ... to get help, advice.

4. "To preserve the structure, governance and formation, there will have to be resources dedicated to the members' physical or mental health."

Kindly remember, dear reader, that there was a Visitation of every house of consecrated members in Regnum Christi, and even if the follow-up report was finished and turned in (as it was supposed to be this past summer) it still hasn't been made public in any way. There are a few reasons to consider:

• Rome works slowly (yes, we get that);
• Lay vocations are secondary to priestly vocations (so what's the hurry);
• The report is being blocked by someone;
• The RC will only hinge on the Legion, so no report is forthcoming;
• There are financial complications (please, no ...)

Let this stand, then, as an accounting of the those members who are obviously a state of great distress. (Those who aren't have evidently acclimated themselves to a horrid situation, based on lies and manipulation.) We've known for a long time that the situation inside isn't healthy on any level. These women have been generous, self-effacing and loyal for decades: we beg Rome to regularise their situation, so that they can move forward in a healing way for their good and the benefit of their long-suffering families. Either allow them to reform apart from the Legion under the proper canonical forms, or send them home. This is abusive and scandalous.

Nota bene: This is why we work so hard against the apostolates that are bent on recruiting more young women into this life. It is not Christian, and is unworthy of the most basic norms of human dignity. We continue to speak out because we love, and we pray without ceasing because we want these men and women free. God bless Miss Madero for having the conviction and courage to break away, and for going public in a manner that had to be enormously difficult.

Achieving "moral freedom"

We now have a much better translation of the Trastevere letter, thanks to a dedicated reader (who may have time to finish the rest shortly). As always, please pray for his/her intentions and kindly keep all these 3gf's in mind as they discern in the coming months.

Dear Father Alvaro in Christ:


.... You know that for several months I have asked to speak with you, but apparently it has not been possible to set a date for a meeting, so, I send it in writing.

I would like to inform you that after many hours of prayer and consultation with people who have spent and still spend their lives selflessly in loving union with Christ by our beloved Church, I think God's will for me is to continue living my life outside of the consecrated life of Regnum Christi. I want to die consecrated to Christ's love, and yes, I still see that my life has meaning only being one with Christ for the salvation of souls in the Catholic Church, though not in the Regnum Christi.

Therefore, I request a dispensation of my vows of consecration in the institution of consecrated life in Regnum Christi ... 



... I want to specify clearly the reasons I arrived at this step, which is in itself difficult, painful and heartbreaking. To do this, let me share with you a written account of my spiritual journey since (day and month), when I heard Father Luis Garza comment on the truth about the life and person of the Founder of the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi Movement.



My first experience was a sense of "moral freedom," as if the weight of an immense burden of guilt and personal dissatisfaction that I had carried around for the past 25 years of consecrated life had been removed. That feeling was physically expressed with a sigh, yet it still took me months to conceptualize what had happened.

A few months later, when Fr. Luis Garza invited us to analyze our responsibility in the errors we lived with the Founder, the following questions came to mind: "What is it that we live? To what point am I responsible in what we have suffered, demanding more and more from each other -- work, perfectionism, concrete results and total surrender -- without ever being satisfied and without consideration of our human limitations?"

I could grasp that the Founder presented us an ideal of holiness that was "impeccable," "angelic," and that he, as he described himself, was the ideal model [of holiness]. There were other models, such as John Paul II, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, but there was nobody that was such a martyr in life due to the tremendous persecutions that he had allegedly suffered during his lifetime.

Our large number of norms demanded strict perfection. When this perfection was lacking, it was seen as an evident sign of not loving Christ, and if the defects undermined the good image of the institution, it was necessary to "conceal or hide them," to talk only about the positive, and of course, make a plan to remedy them the next time.

In the last 12 or 15 years, these demands for perfection were multiplied and intensified in the name of "institutionalization," which essentially did little more than reinforce the puffed-up value of the institution itself, even over the individual good of its members. There was the duty to ensure fidelity in unity by adhering to well-defined guidelines for multiple systems and procedures. We became slaves to these instructions and protocols, which were drafted with the greatest attention to detail, leaving out both the assessment and development of individual qualities that enrich a work.

At another conference, in 2009, I heard Fr. Luis Garza say that the founder had the innate ability to negate our critical judgment of the Gospel. I clearly grasped the truth and scope of those words. It meant that we did not pass anything through the filter of the judgment of our conscience: not his actions, or his statements or all that he asked us to live and do. I asked myself: "How did this happen? What kept me from weighing in my conscience what came from him or the directors?" My conscience was blinded by two principles that were inculcated and reaffirmed by him:

1.    The supernatural spirit of faith and trust, that is, to see God in [the Founder] or the directors and, therefore, abandoning oneself to their decisions. One did this with absolute confidence, in heroic obedience (which is blind and radical), voluntarily and in good conscience. Since he was the Founder chosen by God, he received the light from God to guide and direct us; what corresponded to us, if we wanted to fulfill the plan of God and abide in faith, was to act with faith on what we received from him or on his authority, as if it came from God himself. Using one's reason leads to "rationalism," which is the destroyer of faith and trust. Once these are undermined, obedience is no longer possible.

2.    Charity demanded that we think no evil and speak no evil. Even admitting the possibility of [error on the part of] the founder or director was to admit that he could be wrong, and thus constituted a lack confidence and a sin against charity.

In short, to make a judgment against something that came from the founder or a legitimate authority involved a triple fault or sin against the faith and supernatural trust, and against both obedience and charity. And this was an obvious sign of not loving Jesus Christ as he deserves to be loved.

I asked myself: "Is there a fallacy in these principles? Is there something in them that does belong to the Christian spirit? Do the religious and consecrated who have taken a promise or vow of obedience within the Church live them in this manner? Did the great saints live like this?" These questions haunted me. I started looking for answers in the documents of the Church. What did I find?  In the following I cite Perfecta Caritatis (PC) and the Code of Canon Law (CCL), comparing both documents with our Statutes and Norms.

PC No. 14, speaks of obedience. Those paragraphs are found almost verbatim in our Statutes (ERC), however, there are three distinct elements:

1) ERC explains that the promise of obedience "offers the total surrender to God of their conscience and will as a sacrifice and holocaust of themselves out of love, ..." (ERC 102)

-- PC talks about "full consecration of their own will." [Translators note: in the Vatican's English translation of PC, the word surrender is used. In the Vatican's Spanish translation of PC, the word "consgracion" is used.]

-- The CCL says, "The evangelical counsel of obedience .... obliges submission of one's will to lawful Superiors ... " (601).

It is noteworthy that neither of the two Church documents use the word "surrender," but rather "consecrate" and "submit" [See translator's note above]. Neither questions the conscience, but rather only the will.

2) Furthermore, the Statutes and Norms of the Movement (ERRC) call to superiors to govern their subjects as children of God.

-- In PC, the superior is called to "govern these as sons of God, respecting their human dignity. ... They should be particularly careful to respect their subjects' liberty in the matters of sacramental confession and the direction of conscience."

It is noteworthy that basic elements are missing concerning such as respecting the human person and the freedom of conscience. Instead, other numbers within the ERRC establish mandatory and specific intervals for spiritual direction (487) with the director of the house (567, 1) (even though this is now called dialogue of personal formation), and weekly reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (472), giving to the General Director the competence to name the priest and spiritual adviser for each house of consecrated women. Certainly, another number allows one to choose a confessor, but in practice it is not accepted -- rather it is frowned upon if someone asks for an external confessor.

3) ERC: "All members of the third degree, in the spirit of faith and love for the will of God, show humble submission toward the directors, using all the forces of their intelligence and will, as well as their natural gifts and of grace, in the execution of their mandatory compliance of the charges and responsibilities entrusted to them .... "(108)

-- The PC says that the members, "in the spirit of faith and love for the divine will should humbly obey their superiors according to their rules and constitutions."

-- The CCL "... requires submission of the will to legitimate directors, who act as God when they command according to the constitutions of their own" (601).

Thus, there is a condition or limit to the obligation of obedience for the subject, so that if a superior commands something not in accordance with the Rule and Constitutions, the subject is not obliged to obey. It's implied that the duty of obedience only to superiors acting in accordance with the natural law, with the law of the Gospel and with the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church, for there should be no rule or constitutions or statutes lawfully approved by the Church that overrule any of these three sources of objective morality for every Christian in the Catholic Church:

Also, two more statements can be made:

1.    It is recognized that superiors are fallible, that is, they could ask something not in accordance with the Rule and Constitutions, and therefore, hinders or goes against canon law, the evangelical counsels or the natural law. To think that it's possible that the superiors could make a mistake is not "to think badly," nor is it to "not trust them," it is rather a mere anthropological realism.

2.    Subjects are recognized for their ability to be responsibly free, therefore it is their moral duty to submit to their judgment of conscience the terms of the above before acting; performing an act "in obedience" does not exempt the subject from his/her moral duty to answer for the morality of the act. If we have obeyed authority without analyzing the judgment of conscience, we could have carried out mandates that do not respect the evangelical counsels, natural law or canon law. And, in fact, this is fact the case! This is very serious! I realized then that judging from my conscience (to which I have the duty to adequately train) so to question authority, is not the indication of a lack of faith or lack of supernatural trust, it is rather a duty to live my obedience as a rational human being who must be free, and capable of assuming responsibility for each and every one of his acts.

For the first time in my religious life, I was analyzing, in light of the Gospel and the Magisterium of the Church, what I had received and learned within the Movement in living my consecrated life, and I was quite surprised by what I found.

Taqiyyah at the "Holy Headquarters"

Nelly Ramírez doesn't have much hope, according to this Vatican Insider report. It lays out the history of the visitation of Regnum Christi and notes how closely the Movement is still tied to Maciel's carefully laid master plan:

The primary obstacle to the freedom of Regnum Christi appears to be its history and its form of governing. In fact the movement is governed by the same leadership of the congregation, headed by the current director general, the Mexican Álvaro Corcuera. A solid group of consecrated members does not have the intention of assuming its own destiny fundamentally for fear of the unknown.

From its birth Maciel governed the movement with an iron fist. The daily life of the consecrated members is governed by a few Constitutions of more than a thousand issues that include even the most minute details. Over these internal regulations arose a controversy in 2009, when it was discovered that the Constitutions approved by The Vatican only include 123 sections.

The board sorted out the conflict arguing that it all involved “a secretarial error” and that the document with more than a thousand prescriptions should have been considered as the “extended version.”

Oops. That's what happens when trusting one's superiors is paramount and critical thought is put out to pasture. Now, people are supposed to begin to find their own way, when they hardly know how to operate in a straight-forward manner, according to Nelly:

“What the Holy Headquarters must understand is the internal culture, how we live and what both obedience and fraternal charity mean to us, where being content is not heard but is feigned. This must be understood in order to achieve a real change,” said Ramírez in an exclusive interview.

To do this the apostolic visit must culminate in a process of purification and opening up to become acquainted with other religious lifestyles; a large process would involve “a revolution” because it would mean the acceptance of diverse points of view. “I do not know if they are willing,” she pondered.

In any case Nelly Ramírez is pessimistic about the success of the Vatican’s involvement: “what I believe will happen, according to the mentality of the institution, is that a few new statutes will have been created beforehand, there will be a simulation in which supposedly all are able to voice their opinion but on subjects that are already well developed. From there supposedly new rules will result and it is all over.”

Docility simply doesn't work out well when those in charge have ulterior motives--and there have been no changes in the leadership. And awakening these 900 women (are there really that many?) after their looong siesta from rational thinking will prove extremely difficult, and virtually impossible when those who might have stimulated real discussion were marginalised and left.

News on Abp. Blazquez

From Periodista Digital:

 (Jesús Bastante) -  After several months, Ricardo Blázquez concluded his apostolic visit to Regnum Christi last Tuesday. On June 30 the archbishop of Valladolid will present to Benedict XVI his report on the lay branch of the Legionaries of Christ. Among the key points is a request that the consecrated women gain “full independence” from the order and be allowed to become a religious congregation with full canonical status.

Blázquez ended his visit in Brazil after visiting houses in  the United States, Venezuela, Italy, Mexico, Spain and Chile. The investigation, carried out under the auspices of the vice-president of the Conference of Bishops, had three aims: first, to listen to Regnum Christi members’ complaints or doubts regarding the future of the movement and the congregation with which it is associated, the Legionaries of Christ, and its founder, Marcial Maciel; secondly, to investigate the situation of lay members of the movement, one of the most active among a new crop which includes the Neocatechumenal Way; lastly, to address the specific problem of the “consecrated women” who do not have a separate identity apart from Regnum Christ, nor any legal or canonical standing.

The principal recommendation that Blázquez will make to the pope will be that the consecrated women be allowed to acquire official status, drawing up statutes and developing a model for religious life, while maintaining a fond connection with Regnum Christi, as well as with the Legionaries of Christ, provided the congregation founded by Maciel survives the pope’s final decision.

In regard to its lay members Blázquez was pleasantly surprised by Regnum Christi’s commitment and its work in the field of education and solidarity. The doubts that persist stem from the degree of affiliation that the organization must maintain with the clerical branch, which now finds itself on the spot. Many members of Regnum Christi want to neither hear nor talk about Maciel’s Legionaries, although they are aware of the importance the Holy See places on all lay apostolic movements having some sort of branch affiliation with a priestly order, as is the case in the Neocatechumenal Way and Opus Dei.

Excellent suggestion for the 3gf's

From Polish Pilgrim (and others--thanks!):

Special Vatican Meeting Discussed Problems of Religious Life
 
At a special June 13 meeting convened by Pope Benedict XVI, the leaders of the Roman Curia discussed several concerns about religious life, according to the leading Vatican journalist, Andrea Tornielli.
 
Tornielli-who has been consistently accurate in his reports on the inner workings of the Vatican-says that the topics discussed during the meeting included the importance of maintaining separation between men's and women's religious communities; the limits of lay leadership (especially over priests); and the pitfalls of excessive devotion to the founder of a religious congregation or to an apostolic movement. In discussing the excesses that should be avoided in religious communities, the dicastery leaders reportedly emphasized that the commitment to a religious congregation or movement should never work against the unity of the universal Church, the authority of the teaching magisterium, or the conscience of the individual member.
 
The conversation on this point appears to reflect the painful lessons learned from the crisis within the Legion of Christ. In addition to encouraging adulation of their founder, the late Father Marcial Maciel, the Legionaries also followed a rigid system of discipline that included a rigorous ban on any criticism of a superior.

I think MM's methodology will provide a footnote to most discussions about Religious life, for as long as the Legion exists (perhaps afterwards, as well). but this discussion didn't only reflect on what has transpired, but may also help bring about a rumoured change for the 3gf's (who are NOT religious, btw), From Aaron:

Jesus Bastante claims that +Blazquez will reccomend that the 3GF be completely independent from LC and that it have merely affective links with LC and the rest of RC (1GF and 2GF). No substantiation of allegations though, but they go hand in hand with the Pope's meeting about separation of female and male religious...