VATICAN CITY
Lexington Herald-Leader
By Rachel Zoll
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Even as he was dogged by claims of sexual abuse, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ religious order remained a favorite of Pope John Paul II.
Yesterday, Pope Benedict XVI showed a bold willingness to correct his beloved predecessor by disciplining the Mexican priest.
It's the latest move by Benedict away from John Paul's legacy.
"Benedict was certainly a big fan of John Paul's and probably even considers him a saint, but saints aren't perfect," said the Rev. Thomas Reese, former editor of the Jesuit magazine America and an expert on the Vatican. "Benedict is acknowledging this and correcting some of the things he thinks John Paul did wrong."
The case against the Rev. Marcial Maciel had been building for years, with no official response from Vatican leaders. Nine former seminarians first accused him in 1996 of having abused them when they were boys or teenagers during the 1940s to 1960s. Later, other alleged victims came forward.