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	Parsing Father Berg Life-after-RC February 10, 2009 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2009/02/parsing-father-berg.html From the outset, I want to express my great love for all priests and my appreciation for their selflessness in giving their lives for the Church. In particular, the frustration I have long felt about the Legion is specifically because their priests have been so obtuse about so many things -- especially their understanding about family life, human freedom, and what actually builds up the Mystical Body of Christ. That said, I have some comments on the heartfelt letter written by Fr Berg, recently spread throughout the internet. He begins with an apology that resonates with many read with gratitude, but it is full of alarming signals that people have to learn to interpret: ... I also beg you forgiveness for the disastrous response which this crisis has received from our upper LC leadership. There is no other way to say it: in so many respects, Legionary superiors have failed, and failed miserably to respond adequately to this crisis, and not surprisingly, have engendered in many of you and understandable lack of confidence. Those are the facts and your reaction is natural and reasonable. With all my heart, on their behalf, I apologize. Our superiors are human instruments; I know in their hearts they have trying to do the right thing, under inhuman pressure. Please understand that. Remember that "they are human" is also the cover that the Legion is providing for Maciel. Here, again, is the reminder that we all sin, but mean well. That's not necessarily true. Despite the fact that we all sin, not everyone means well all the time. He is telling the rank-and-file what to think about their leadership. Why can they not come to their own conclusions about the facts? Why must Father Berg decode their hearts? RC members are adults -- don't tell them what to think. But it is more than just crisis management. The thing I am most pained about—I share this as a brother—is the near absence of but fleeting suggestions of sorrow, and of apologizing for the harm done, both to alleged victims of Maciel, and, frankly, to all of you. I am deeply, deeply sorry, and I personally apologize with my heart in my hand to each and every one of you. This is an open letter to the RC. Why is he apologising to them for the harm to the victims? What does this mean? What was the harm? Why are they still "alleged"? What apology does the rank-and-file deserve except one concerning having deceived them? [Read this piece again for clarification.] This is a fuzzy and misplaced apology. I understand your feelings of betrayal. For twenty-three years I have loved and tried to follow Christ in the Legion. I can say before God, in spite of my many human frailties, I have been faithful. I have also, more than many of you to be honest, gone out on limb after limb, trying to defend Maciel. I have lived my priesthood always with that cloud hanging over me, always having to essentially apologize for being a Legionary. You feel betrayed? You feel rage? I can only say that the rage, and raw emotions that I have felt these past days (the hardest days of my entire life, emotions like I have never experienced) are only a glimpse of the unspeakable hell that victims of priest sexual abuse must go through. My thoughts and my heart have been so often with them these days… This is honest and sincere. I have no quibble with this, except for the fact that it contradicts the "alleged" in the paragraph above. Allegations don't bring rage -- actual abuse does. I know that many of your are utterly confused about what you are feeling and about where we go from here. In no particular order, let me offer my advice and counsel as follows: Now here is my concern. Why is he issuing a paint-by-numbers instruction manual to the rank-and-file? What sort of control is he trying to maintain? What authority should he have over these individuals when they consider how to get through each day? In retrospect, it underscores how these members are used to being led -- in very pedestrian ways. Troubling. 1. Most of you are going through the stages of mourning. Understand that and know what that means. This is a very useful site: http://www.cancersurvivors.org/Coping/end%20term/stages.htm They are also going through a rough detox, similar to drug users whose primary source has been removed. A better site would be here. 2. Keep talking to your section directors. Let them know how you feel. Let them know if you are satisfied with their response to you. This is to make sure that they don't defect. As long as they stay in touch, the well-formed directors can remind them of their "special" vocation and the present need to heroically stay the course. 3. Many of you might find it to be a wonderfully freeing and healing experience to offer acts of reparation for those suffering the effects of priestly sexual abuse. You might also find it healing to reach out to persons who, in any way, have found themselves hurt by their experiences with the Legion or RC. This is a good point, though any rational adult should have thought of it. It is also a form of "permission" to talk to ex-members. Thank you, Father. 4. For your own spiritual needs right now: a. Remember you are free to speak with anyone, inside or outside the Movement about your pain, your reactions to this tragic news, and for ease of conscience to speak to whomever you believe can best help you at this time. I would encourage you to reach out to and find guidance from priests whose holiness and sound judgment you trust, whether Legionaries or not. This is an enormous red flag: Permission to speak with outsiders. The reason he says this is because it is normally not the way of operating. He is graciously giving them what should, by all rights, be theirs already. "You are free to speak" is a frightening comment from a spiritual leader allowing his followers a "grace period" that isn't normally in place. Can outsiders see this? b. Your spiritual experiences—even when they came through the letters of the Founder—are valid, and real. God was working through those instruments. The sad revelations about Maciel do not change that. Try to thank God for the past, and sing his praises for the way he has done in your lives through RC. Prayer of thankfulness will help you. Prayer of thanksgiving for this deliverance he has given us now, and for the purification which we are undergoing will also be very helpful. Note comments on flawed instruments here. Otherwise, he is telling his followers how to respond. "Do this, think that, be happy." He also predicts the outcome of this purification, which is definitely "above his paygrade." c. If you still find the letters of the founder helpful in prayer, feel free to use them. But it is certainly OK to leave them aside. Remember that in many ways, the spirit and charism we have lived is Pauline. Continue to nourish your spirit on the letters of St. Paul. By all means, read what the pederast wrote to throw you off the scent. Read the clever duplicity. See how holy he could be on paper while he was engaing in serial abuse of the innocent and laughing up his sleeve. The Vatican said, "apart from the founder" back in 2006. What about that can't these men grasp? The spirit is not Pauline -- the spirit has been diabolical. d. In your meditation, go back to the bedrock truths of your life and ponder them serenely before God and let him use that meditation to soothe your hearts: the Incarnation of the Son of God, the Redemption, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, your Baptism, your call to a more deeply committed Christian life, and a loving meditation (”Mary meditated on all these things in here heart”) of all the wonders God has done in your life. There's that word "serene." It's a lovely word, but it parrots Fr Corcuera in reminding the members what they are to think and feel. I thought Fr Berg was outraged and betrayed. How can one feel both things simultaneously? Part of the grieving process he links to in his letter allows for stages: anger is a legitimate stage that shouldn't be glossed over with serenity. e. I also recommend using The Better Part by Fr. Bartunek, and any other spiritual writings be Legionary priests. You might find those helpful. Your section directors should also be able to point you in the direction of other sources on which to nourish your souls. Share your ideas with each other. Ah yes, come back to the Legion. Read our soothing words, even though we've been betrayed. Read the words of men living the 4th vow and telling others how to think, feel, and respond. Don't leave the reservation -- we need you. Finally, I encourage you to speak to Legionary leadership, and even in the form of petition letters, demand nothing less than full transparency regarding the case of Fr. Maciel. Demand that Fr. Alvaro seek an independent third party investigation (perhaps in the form of a temporary review board or Visitation team from the holy see) into uncovering any Legionaries who may have been accomplices to Maciel. Demand that a similar body guide Legionary leadership in introducing any needed reforms into the internal culture, methods and religious discipline of the Legion. When we have enough letters demanding that we take care of things, we'll compile them to prove to the Vatican that our rank-and-file wants US to take care of this in our own way. I know I'm being particularly dark, twisting everything to one end. I just want readers to recognise the control that is still in this letter. The warning signals of a cult point to four areas: behaviour, information, thinking, and emotins. BITE. Every one of these buttons is pushed with this letter. Dangerous still -- caveat emptor. UPDATE: Word back from inside the LC is that, although they have the freedom to read outside opinions and accounts, they prefer not to. In charity they ask that such material not be sent to them since they trust their superiors to guide them. Heroic docility or another red flag? Tough call.
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