life-after-RC

"Deep disappointment, profound concern"

Fr Thomas Berg has an excellent piece at the First Things blog that includes the following:

After twenty-three years as a Legionary, I discerned that it was best for me to abandon the congregation in 2009. Since the naming of De Paolis, I have watched and waited for needed reform. Now, two years later, I have decided to lift my silence to express my deep disappointment as well as my profound concern for the fine young men and dedicated priests who still compose the Legion.

In point of fact, the Legionaries are not some centuries-old and long-cherished religious family, deserving of every ounce of the Church’s energies to salvage it. The Legion’s seventy-one years of existence are immersed in controversy. Serious questions have been raised about the various “approvals” of the Legion in the 1940’s on account of Maciel’s duplicity. The Legion also escaped extinction under dubious circumstances after a Vatican investigation of Maciel in the 1950’s. I have held for quite some time that it would have been best for the Legionaries and the Church had Benedict opted to suppress the congregation. That he did not do.

He attributes two errors in judgment to the Papal delegate:

• leaving the current superiors in place; and
• refusing to investigate who collaborated with MM's lies.

In the wake of this ineffectual leadership, there is little hope for authentic reform or accountability:

Current members more open to radical renewal believe that the most likely result of such a process will be little more than superficial and cosmetic changes to norms and discipline—a far cry from the sweeping changes to the internal culture of the congregation so urgently needed.

To be sure, the Catholic faithful have a right to a detailed account of just how the case of Marcial Maciel and the Legion could have ever happened in the first place. The facts—no matter what they may reveal in terms of negligence, omission, and even complicity from within the ranks of the Roman Curia itself—would be far less scandalous than the present refusals to know and embrace the truth.

Not only is there "institutional resistence" to digging out the truth, but there is a willful obsfucation from the LC leadership, misleading the membership about the nature of the problem:

This is bolstered by the institutional conviction that the naming of a Papal Delegate constituted a de facto pontifical "approval" of the Legion's continuation as a congregation and affirmation of the existence of a valid charism and mission. Those contentions remain un-argued assertions which beg theological substantiation.

He outlines the fundamental problem with honesty about MM, and gives excellent suggestions concerning the discernment process for the existing members:

Which of us would have joined the Legionaries or made our temporal or final profession of vows, much less gone on to ordination, had we known of Maciel’s depravities? In my own case, the only prudent course of action in 2009 was immediately to seek sound spiritual direction from an experienced director outside of the Legion. Every Legionary at the time should have received assistance in doing the same. Every Legionary who remains today, if he has not already worked through that process, should be given the means to do so. Yet, the many current Legionary superiors would appear oblivious to such common—pastoral—sense. Family members of Legionary seminarians would do well, therefore, to persevere in convincing their loved ones to request a period of time to return home, and in a non-Legionary environment, aided by a sound spiritual director from outside the congregation, carefully to discern God’s will for their lives.

He ends with the exact sentiments of multitudinous commenters of this blog, which should be the last word about the "fruit" of the Legion:

The Church does not need the institution of the Legion of Christ. What is good in the Legion is the ensemble of elements of spirituality, piety, and traditions of religious life that are not unique to the Legion, but which rather emanate from the Church’s own spiritual patrimony. What the Church does very much need, however, are the good and zealous men who currently remain in the Legion.

Please read it all, and pray that his words have a wide hearing. [H/t to -9 years, thank you!]

"the beautiful reality"

That is what Regnum Christi is called in the special letter sent from Fr Montan, marking the June 1st start of the new general government:

Dear Consecrated women of Regnum Christi,
Today, June 1 2012, the general government of the Regnum Christi feminine branch of the Third Degree officially begins its service. You already know their names:

- General Coordinator*:	Rodríguez Díaz, Gloria
- 1st Councilor:	Fernández González, Luly
- 2nd Councilor:	Ávila Diaz-Rubín, Mari Carmen
- 3rd Councilor:	Errázuriz Sotomayor, Paula
- 4th Councilor:	Pirie, Mary Patt

For all those who have the beautiful reality of Regnum Christi in their hearts, including the consecrated women, today is a day for joyfully thanking Our Lord and renewing our trust in him.

After a period of uncertainty that has included its share of suffering, the feminine branch of the Third Degree is taking a new and important step along its pathway.

For the first time, it has a general government. Besides being a sign of unity for the group of consecrated women, it is called to promote the Third Degree’s fidelity to the charism of Regnum Christi, and to animate its spiritual life and apostolic commitment. 

In continuity with the preceding norms, the Third Degree had its Regulations, promulgated on Pentecost Sunday, May 27 2012. While remaining provisional, they are a point of reference for regulating the internal life of the members.

Members of the feminine branch of the Third Degree see clearly that they form part of the charismatic family Regnum Christi; but they’re also conscience [sic] of having been given a just autonomy, particularly for their internal governance, since they have their own specificity within the Church.

We need to thank the Pontifical Delegate, Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, for the love, intelligence, and prudence with which he is guiding Regnum Christi’s path of renewal in its different branches.

I wish to extend a sincere thanks to the General Coordinator, Gloria Rodríguez, and to her council, Luly, Mary Patt, Mari Carmen and Paula, for accepting their assignments. I am sure that we will sustain their important service with our prayer.

My gratitude also goes to all of you, consecrated women of the Third Degree. You have lived this period in a spirit of prayer and interior purification. You have sought to verify God’s plan for yourselves and the Third Degree. When your companions, who have accompanied you along your way, have requested dispensation from their promises, you have not remained indifferent. The new government and the territorial Coordinators have begun an attentive reflection about this occurrence. The discernment to follow, which will involve everyone’s participation, will serve to renew the formation processes and configure the characteristics of Regnum Christi consecrated life. 

Dear consecrated women, in a way that I could say is almost unanimous, you have expressed your approval of the persons called by the Cardinal to form the new government. In conferring these positions, we proceeded in a similar way to when appointments were made for the Legionaries. In the first place, the results of the consultations were taken into consideration. Furthermore, we had in mind the directives of the Code of Canon Law (Can. 626; 624 §2) as well as the indications from the document The Service of Authority and Obedience (2008), where it enumerates the responsibilities considered important in the service of authority (#25). I repeat: your acceptance was almost unanimous. Taking into account that a government is evaluated by how it governs and by how it succeeds in getting things done, I believe that we can look forward with well-founded confidence.

The new government will make known the appointments to come. It will also mention the stages and deadlines for the various questions that will be addressed. Inevitably, the complex work awaiting you requires patience and a progressive maturity. For my part, I can let you know that the commission to review the Statutes will be established soon. The work to come is important and will involve each and every one of you. We will strive to give a unanimous identity to an experience that is a gift of the Spirit to his Church. As a reality, Regnum Christi is at the same time one and manifold. One through the identity of spirituality, mission, and the call to perfection; manifold because it includes a diversity of vocations, services and ministries, all oriented toward the achievement of the Kingdom of Our Lord.

Let us renew our confidence in each other. Let us overcome a one-sided vision of the other and the realities in which we are immersed. Let us pause over the demanding text of Saint Paul to the Galatians: “Now the works of the flesh are… hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy […]; the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (5:19-22).

The Holy Father hopes for a positive path of purification and of conversion, which has as its goal the conforming of ourselves to our Lord Jesus Christ.

I wish to assure you that, according to the indications given by the Holy Father, Cardinal De Paolis will continue accompanying you along your pathway.

May the Mother of our Savior accompany us and sustain us.

Fr. Agostino Montan
Josefino del Murialdo

NB: During the month of June, there should be a community encounter of prayer with the theme: “We give thanks to God for the gift of Regnum Christi. May the Lord direct his fatherly gaze to the feminine branch of the Third Degree and grant wisdom and charity to those in authority.”

(*Translator’s note: in the English language it is difficult to find an apt word for the title responsable general. General Coordinator was chosen for lack of a better term.)

Reaching for an analogy

Amidst the ongoing discussion of the Legion which has taken place on this blog for years, we've pulled in many literary references (though nothing stands out more than Moby Dick). Below is a clip from Master and Commander, which was a movie combining a few of Patrick O'Brien's Jack Aubrey novels, and nicely done! As this clip shows, Jack loses a mast in the heart of a storm, which then weighs down the entire ship, threatening to sink it. A decision must be made:

 

It's not a perfect analogy by any stretch, but just an illustration that might shed light on the current predicament. Discussion might tease out some likenesses and some dissimilarities, or you could find a better illustration from books or films.

[Don't forget the novena -- almost there!]

Questions from Trastevere

José Martínez de Velasco, the head of Spain's blog, Trastevere, asks a series of questions of the Papal Delegate. Original here.

Two years after the Holy See's release of the report following the Apostolic Visitation, it would be nice if someone finally answers the questions everyone asks:

• Why does Father Alvaro Corcuera and other superiors in Rome or elsewhere, continue to occupy leadership positions at the head of the congregation and its territories?
• Why has the Legion not publicly apologized to the victims of the predator Maciel and why isn't it seriously committed to compensating the victims?
• Why does the Legion continue to stifle the sexual abuse cases?
• Why do those who have suppressed scandals - and whose names are on everyone's lips - continue in the Legion, although sheltered from view?
• What has happened with the children - recognized or not - of Maciel?
• How is it that the private vow has reappeared in the draft new constitutions, on which the Legion is working to reform?
• Why have questions about Social Security for religious, priests and consecrated (sic) not been addressed, so that those who demand respect for their legitimate rights are forced to go through the courts?
• Why did the superiors of the Legion appeal to an outside agency to shed light on cases of pedophilia, while for years and until now, there are people who have been repeatedly denounced these business, despite persecution and pressures of all kinds (and even calumnies) they have suffered and continue to suffer? [translation unreliable -- please help!]
• Why has the information about the Holy See's investigation concerning the seven accused of sexual abuse been made public precisely now ... when we know perfectly well that there are many other cases, and that all were already reported - with full name - in many forums, and this for years?
• Why was the case of Father Thomas Williams released just now?
• Why has the Legion not taken the time to seriously question the fact that all members of the Oriol family have left the Congregation, one after the other? Why does the Legion not address the enormous wealth that the family has made available to the Legion?
• Why did Benedict XVI not meet with the Legion's victims of sexual abuse during his last visit to Mexico? How could anyone tolerate the fact that the Mexican Episcopal Conference did nothing to arrange such a meeting?
• What is the result of attacks Athie Alberto has suffered in recent weeks from the Bishops' Conference?
• Why was there no answer to the letter of Juan Jose Vaca, addressed to the Pope in which he asked why he had not met with the victims in Mexico?
• Why was there no answer to Nieves Garcia' letter -- so touching, sincere and courageous -- addressed to Father Montan?
• How long, Cardinal De Paolis, are we to question your reasons for inefficiency as suggested or imposed?
• Finally, Eminence, when will we finally get to see that truth that will set us free?

Meet the new RC leaders

The heads of 3gm's and 3gf's are as follows:

The papal delegate who has been governing the Legionaries of Christ has appointed new for the order’s lay branches.

Cardinal Velasio De Paolis has been governing the Legionaries and the affiliated lay branches since 2010. This week he appointed new leaders to head the consecrated men’s and women’s lay branches. He also appointed vice-directors and council members. The appointments were made public Thursday, May 17.

The new leader of the men’s branch is 48 year old Spaniard, Jorge Lopez, who is currently rector of the University of Anahuac in Mexico.

Lopez entered became a consecrated member of Regnum Christi in 1981. He holds a bachelor’s degree and licentiate in economic sciences. He was vice director of the formation centre for consecrated men in Spain, and has served in various directorial capacities for Regnum Christi in Mexico. Lopez also found time to pursue graduate studies. He holds two doctorates, one in Administration theory and culture and one in Education.

Another Spaniard, Glora Rodriguez, will take over as head of the women’s branch of Regnum Christi. Rodriguez is also a native of Madrid. She graduated from the Regnum Christi-run preparatory school Colegio Everest in that city and became a consecrated member of Regnum Christi in 1998. She completed her formation at the Monterrey Formation Centre. Subsequently Rodriguez served as vice-director of the movement’s centre for students, then as director of the centre for consecrated women in Barcelona while running the Colegio Highlands preparatory school. She is currently director of the centre for consecrated women in Duseldorf, Germany and assistant director for the west and central Europe region of Regnum Christi.

The "pact of steel"

The Legion has a long way to go if reform is going to take place, according to Giacomo Galeazzi at Vatican Insider: The writer considers the latest scandal (Fr Williams) and why the congregation is no closer to spiritual health than previously:

“All the new things that are emerging are showing that this issue will not simply be resolved by the order severing its ties with its founder because other representatives of the Legion are guilty of the same offences,” a qualified source told Vatican Insider. “All remaining irregularities need to be removed in order to save the majority within the Legion of Christ which did not have double standards.”

For a long time now, the pact of steel between the Legion’s leaders and some elders of the Roman Curia has guaranteed “extensive moral exemption” which Joseph Ratzinger put an end to the minute he was elected Pope. However, the recovery process is far from over, as has been proven by the latest scandals which have broken out in the order. Seven Legionaries of Christ are being investigated by the former Holy Office and in at least one of the cases, it was found that the abuse was committed recently.

[And at the end, he remarks on how the latest stage of the reform has unfolded.] The Legion of Christ was later on placed under the administration of an external commissioner and underwent an ecclesiastical inquiry. It looked as though the external commissioner was only going to stick around for a short period of time. In actual fact, however, there was still a great deal more to be resolved within the order. The nightmare is not yet over for the Legionaries.

Any time that the "pact of steel" is mentioned, it's a good thing, because it's an element that cannot be touched through the normal channels -- and it's the key item that has brought us to this point. Until that pact unravels, the Chinese water torture of revelations will continue, and the entire Church will pay the price.

Another obstacle to reform

From the indefatigable Nicole Winfield:

Two years in, the logistical process of rewriting the constitutions is going ahead. And just this week - on the same day the Williams revelations made headlines - De Paolis announced that he had named new leaders for the Legion's female branch to help shepherd it through a process of reform as well.

But in yet another indication that the process is anything but linear, none of the members selected by De Paolis are considered reformers, with most, if not all, of them strongly linked to the old guard leadership and with little experience in the field.

Former members of the so-called consecrated branch of the Legion say De Paolis' choices don't reflect the results of the voting undertaken by current members to choose their own leaders. They predicted a new exodus of members frustrated that their efforts to reform had again been rebuffed.

"I believe this will generate numerous and significant desertions," said Nelly Ramirez, a former consecrated woman who left in 2009 and has written a book about her experiences.

The takeaway is:

• The Legion modus operandi cannot stand up to scrutiny (and I'm including the Cardinal's actions in that MO, since he has clearly adopted their methodology);
• With the previous veil of secrecy, a breach of trust like this would have passed without notice;
• Even if previously the women had suspected that their wishes were entirely ignored, they would have taken it in stride, swallowing their indignation with a heavy dose of humility, assuming that Jesus was testing them through their divinely appointed superiors;
• There must be a reason why the Cardinal ignored the election and chose malleable leaders, which makes his leadership completely unworkable;
• Without leaders that the women can trust, their future is dimmer than ever -- but may lead to action that will separate even more of them from an environment hostile to basic human dignities;
• Finally, this reminds us of the overarching misogyny that has marked this Congregation, using the women for the private ends of the group by means of unapproved statutes and manipulative norms. Perhaps this will remind the Church of the dangers of maintaining quasi-religious communities that cannot be adequately protected by canon law -- God willing, we'll see significant and lasting changes for the good of all.

Legion is currently "on the right track"

From a reader: "Seems something is moving in the US..."

North American Territorial Leadership affirms Action Plan
Participants in annual planning/budget meetings report on robust discussions of the future of the Movement
                            
The Action Plan for the Mission gives the North American Territory solid direction for the future and base for future work.

That was the conclusion of participants in the territory’s annually planning/budget meetings held April 24 to 26 in Atlanta.  Territorial Director Fr Luis Garza, LC, led the meetings, which were attended by his territorial assistants, LCAs of representative localities and some staff members. Participants reported that the majority of localities have conducted “conversations” around the Action Plan in which local Movement members could share their impressions and talk about how the plan can be used in their own formation and apostolic works.

“I’m confident that we are on the right track, but we have much work to do, especially in terms of achieving complete financial stability,” said Fr Luis. “However, there clearly is a renewed sense of the importance of our mission to the Church. And by any measure, our people are doing remarkable things to serve others.”

A further reflection on the Action Plan, presented last October by Fr Daniel Brandenburg, LC, is available as a PDF or audio file.

Yes, "the mission" is extremely important, but focusing on that is like "sand in the eyes," distracting from all the important revisions that are needed within the group. Perhaps it's like a fire station that says to its men, "Let's go save people in that burning building!!" without having done the due diligence on its ladders, hoses and training. Yes, people are in great danger -- but that doesn't take away the fact that the training and equiptment are also urgently in need of repair.

"On the right track" in this sense relates to the mission, not the health of the group. We cannot forget that.

A heartfelt apology

Interesting that there is a corollary between authentic contrition and [leaving the Legion] not being in lock-step with the leadership--I stand corrected. (Nota bene: bishops are often addressed as "Monsignor" in Europe.)

April 22, 2012

Dear Msgr. Justo, in Christ,

With shame I read your recent interview where you outline the calumnies and lies that you suffered at the hands of my congregation, the Legion of Christ. Since I am no more than a simple member, my apology does not have much value, but anyway, I do ask your forgiveness for what you suffered at the hands of Fr. Maciel and his collaborators.

Despite the efforts of the Pope, Msgr. De Paolis, and a small group of Legionaries, macielism in the congregation has not been banished, and those who committed all types of wrongdoing, defamation, as well as canonical and administrative irregularities at the orders of Maciel are still being covered for. In fact, the majority of the macielist leadership continues to govern the Legion and with the same contrivances that they learned from the founder: falsified elections, half truths, “clarifications” of Vatican authorities, lack of transparency in economic affairs, and, overall, blindness towards those who were harmed by the crimes of this man and his followers.

Without impunity, seminarians in Rome are still taught that Maciel was a prophet. They still have a vow of “humility” by which religious swear before God to denounce their brothers.

In a letter dated November 3, 2010 addressed to the Secretary of State, it was requested that a truth commission be established to investigate once and for all the wickedness of macielism and to bring justice to those who were harmed. The hope was that those who covered up for Maciel within the congregation and inside the Vatican would be barred from office. It is painful that the suggestion was not considered opportune and the majority of those who signed the letter have now left the congregation. In this way, cases such as yours, those of other churchmen and calumniated Legionaries will never by cleared up.

Finally, Msgr. Justo, I would just wish to thank you for having the courage to face Maciel’s corruption, to have listened to the victims and to have worked so that the most serious scandal of the Catholic Church in modern times be brought to light. I understand that you have paid a significant cost for your loyalty to the Church. We can only hope that history and He who is the “Light of the World” will acknowledge you and reward you abundantly.  “Ex Igne Lux.”

Yours in Christ, Fr. Peter F. Byrne L.C 

[at 6:15pm, I replaced the whole letter with a better translation]

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.