BishopAccountability.org
	Legion of Christ Issues Yet Another Mea Culpa By Martin Barillas Spero News February 23, 2010 http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=33&idsub=123&id=27859&t=Legion+of+Christ+issues+yet+another+Mea+Culpa More than 10,000 members of the Catholic movement known as Regnum Christi - Latin for “Kingdom of Christ” – and supporters of the controversial order of priests called the Legion of Christ met in Mexico City over the February 20-21 weekend. Rev. Evaristo Sada, Secretary General of the order, said that the crisis in the order and its associated lay movement caused by revelations of the double life led by its founder, Rev. Marcial Maciel, has brought about a time to “face the consequences and, with determination, correct what must be correct.” “With all my heart, I wish to ask forgiveness of the persons who our founder may have affected as a result of the immoral acts in his personal life, and the persons who may have been wounded by their consequences. Father Alvaro (Rev. Alvaro Corcuera is the current leader of the order) has done so and has is doing so publicly and personally, but we again ask forgiveness because we sincerely regret what the Church and these persons have suffered.” So said, Rev. Sada in a talk entitled “How to walk on water without sinking.” Sada has been visiting various countries and meeting with members of the Legion and the Regnum Christi movement to share his reflections on their current situation. Sada said that, with regard to Father Maciel, he has had to “accept that, while I was living with our founder, I did not see the negative things that we now know; I did not see them, I was only able to see the good and I did not notice the bad. God permitted it so. Now that I know them, it pains me greatly to confirm it, it pains me for the people who have suffered, it pains me that it has brought discredit to Catholic priesthood.” Sada said that the consequences of the revelations that Father Maciel allegedly sired several children, despite his vows of celibacy and chastity, and that he may have also engaged in homosexual acts and abused as a priest the sacrament of penance, has been a lesson in humility. “ Speaking of Maciel, Sada said that “…I pray for him, I pray a great deal for him. I also accept that he is part of my story even while it make suffer as the target of suspicions and distrust. But I offer this up to God in reparation. To give reparation is an important part in the life of the priest. When a priest sees sins, he must be a stimulus to love more and to give up more generously to God.” Sada drew parallels between the painting known as “The Tempest,” by the Flemish painter Rembrandt Van Rijn and the current situation of the Legion of Christ, saying “No one would have imagined the storm in which we now find ourselves. It is tremendous.” Furthermore, said the priest, I can underdestand that there has been disappointment, sadness and confusion.” Sada asked forgivness for any acts that may have hurt others while begging prayers for priests. He said that the “priesthood is a joy, but every cleric must face his failings and limitations and understand that you are a man like any other; nonetheless, the faithful expect you to be like Christ.” Sada recognized that this expectation may be too much to bear. He recognized that the vocation to the priesthood is “full o contrasts, since sometimes people will spit on you in the street, at other times you are shown disrespect, but you can go around the corner and they will say ‘Father, you are Christ to me.” There is an ongoing inquiry into the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi and a report is due in March 2010. Concern remains high among the thousands of members of theorder and the supporting lay organization over the future. Since the Legion of Christ was so closely identified with the discredited founder Maciel (centers of the Legion of Christ often prominently bear large photographs of him), critics have wondered whether the Legion can outlast the opprobrium attached to him.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.