Court Rejects Lawsuits over $60m Gift to Legion of Christ

Town Hall
February 6, 2015

http://townhall.com/news/us/2015/02/06/court-rejects-lawsuits-over-60m-gift-to-legion-of-christ-n1954087

Three lawsuits filed by a woman who says her late aunt was coerced into donating $60 million to a disgraced Roman Catholic order called the Legion of Christ have been dismissed by a Rhode Island court.

The state Supreme Court justices Friday upheld a lower-court decision and ruled Mary Lou Dauray doesn't have standing to sue the Legion of Christ in an attempt to block it from receiving the money.

Dauray's aunt was Gabrielle Mee, of North Smithfield. Dauray says her aunt was defrauded and wouldn't have donated the money if she knew the Legion of Christ's founder secretly fathered three children and molested seminarians.

The late Rev. Marcial Maciel founded the Legion in 1941. Documents show Vatican officials knew about his abuse.

The Vatican took over the Legion in 2010 and launched a reform process.