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1. pete

   1 year ago

   I remember that John Paul the Great had asked the Legionaries to take parishes, because of the large numbe of vocations and because of the clergy shortage in the Church. Maciel refused the Pope. That's when I got suspicious of them. After all, they were not contiemplatives, not even semi-contemplatives.
   It seems to me that they could do this now; they could keep their community spirit by putting maybe at least 6 priests or more to each parish they would accept. in the countries where they are.
   

2. Aaron

   1 year ago

   Hi Martina,
   As an exlegionary still in Ireland, my heart would love to see the leopardstown road premises knocked down - there have been decades of sexual abuse there, abuses reported even from the last few years.
   
   Of course I must point out that no arrests have been made and nobody charged.
   
   I would also sincerely love to see the legion of christ disbanded, and regnum christi too: they have only brought hurt and suffering. Even in ireland the RC has only lived on promises of what it might be or could be or how it is elsewhere.
   
   Perhaps it is harsh of me to want that, perhaps it is understandable but wrong... I don't know. I would hope that as a RC member you inform yourself of the truth of Maciel and the Legion of Christ, how it has protected the sexual abusers in Ireland, I know you cant read Nelly's book, but there are other testimonies. I suggest you find mine in the www.regainnetwork.org website, for example.
   
   And I have never heard an answer to this question: specifically what good does RC/LC do?
   

3. Fr. James Farfaglia

   1 year ago

   Response regarding the comment of Jack Keogh: When I was a member of the Legionaries of Christ I knew Jack Keogh quite well. I had and still have a tremendous respect and admiration for him as a real leader and gentleman at all times. Friends do not agree with each other on every detail of life's twists and turns, and I think that it is important that I comment on Jack's response to my recent article.
   
   Maybe we have a different idea of what "rocking the news" means. A simple Google Search will show that Nelly's book received signficant news converage in Mexico. Simply by the fact that popular news correspondents Valentina Alazraki and Paula Rosa jumped onto the story is signficant enough. I found the book easy to read. I discovered the book during an August trip to Mexico for a much needed break after a very intense summer of getting organized in a new parish assignment. I read the entire book in three hours during my flight back to Corpus Christi. I am not a fast reader, but the book captivated me. It is true that I did not know Maciel as well as Jack did. I was never within his "inner circle" of colaborators, but I did have a lot of contact with him throuogh his numerous conferences, personal letters and during my first year in Rome when I had lunch with Maciel within a small setting of seminarians at least 35 times. On other occassions, because of my assignments, I was in frequent meetings and dinner meetings with Maciel. So, compared to the younger members of the Congregation of today, I did have a lot of contact with Maciel and I did get to know him quite well. Never was there ever any sign or indication of any wrong doing. In fact, it was just the oppposite. This is what is so amazing about the Maciel fiasco. His spirituality letters to us were rich and beautiful, his conferences were inspirational and formative, and our meal time conversations were always incredibly enjoyable and fascinating.
   
   Although Nelly's book does contain some technical information regarding the life of the Legionaries of Christ, it is not all technical. In fact, most of it is not.
   
   Regaring any new information, perhaps Jack knows or knew much more than I do or did, but I would have to disagree with him on this point. True the book contains a lot of information that some of us already know, but there is one bit of information that was new to me that I find quite shocking and it is this information that really caught my attention as I devoured the book.
   
   Maciel's history of founding the Legionaries of Christ is a fascinating story, at least that is what we were told over and over again in seminary classes and conferences (even many of them given by Maciel himself on the history of the Legion of Christ). He told us and other LC superiors told us that he was expelled from the Montezuma Jesuit seminary once. We were never told that he actually returned to Montezuma, only to be expelled again. Moreover, Nelly's book cites evidence that Maciel was expelled twice because he was involved in homosexual activity amoung the seminarians. To me, personally, the fact that he returned only to be expelled again, and the fact that there is evidence that he already had a serious problem is quite shocking. I think another article just on this topic alone is worth it.
   
   My own personal information about Grupo Integer, my information regarding Fr. Luis Garza and Fr. Evaristo Sada all indicate to me that the actual problem within the Legionaries of Christ is extremely delicate and quite dangerous. Jack seems to downplay the importance of Nelly's book, the importance of Garza and the importance of Grupo Integer. I respectivelly disagree.
   
   As to my question as to who is really in charge, with all do respect and admiration for Pope Benedict XVI it would be quite naive to asseret that he is in charge of the Legionaries of Christ. When Alvaro Corcuerra, Luis Garza and Evaristo Sada have nothing to do with the running of any aspect of the Legionaries of Christ and the Regnum Christi Movement, when these three men are doing simple priestly duties like working with the poor and the sick, or being a humble chaplain in a school, or running a parish in Chetumal, then and only then will I believe that the Pope is in control and that true reforms are taking place. In my estimation, the only true reform is for the Legionaries of Christ and the Regnum Christi Movement to disappear and for someone to rise up and start something anew and fresh, free from money, ambition, power and sexual proclivities.

4. Dina Estrada

   1 year ago

   Regarding who is in charge of the Legion, of course it is not Fr. Garza but Pope Benedict. Fr. Garza wouldn’t be where he is now if the Pope would have decided otherwise after the investigation. I have met the Garza family (some of the members of the family...from my hometown) and I admire them. Fr. Garza’s nieces who are consecrated women in RC are brilliant and joyful girls which edified me with their purity and generosity while being high school girls a couple of decades ago…they were just special and never seemed to live a luxurious or presumptuous life even if they were born in a very rich, hard working and generous family. This family, instead of taking away money as Maciel did, has donated so much as many other benefactors have done. I can tell this family had a special way of seeing life and helping others, and these girls at least had an education which I wished I could have seen in so many other girls their age. Their mother, Fr. Luis’ sister, was present in my mother’s funeral when I had been consecrated for one year and she didn’t know me much…I will never forget her presence and support even if I have failed to thank her properly. I wish to meet Roberta, whom I admire as she is frank, honest and open to a huge world, bigger than RC or even the catholic church; she’s also Fr. Garza’s sister and has had a different way of seeing things but that doesn’t mean she is totally right or wrong…she just sees the picture from a different perspective, belief and experience which can enrich us so much.
   
   I have also met Fr. Luis Garza and I consider him focused, with an outstanding intelligence which has been used to help administrate and keep running the assets and works of apostolate. Fr. Luis has also helped create an association that works for the education of the poor in Latin America; it’s a foundation that benefits people who have nothing to do with the LC. Many who have been close to the Legion have had so many good experiences and have changed their lives for good through this works of apostolate. Obviously they have not been perfect and even for some they were a place where they sadly lived a horrible experience :( The people who have suffered being sexual or psychological victims are the ones who are giving insights on what to work now to prevent horrors to happen again not only in LC but in the world. Aaron, you and others have been brave and awesome and your work will pay…kids in the future will be safer and parents aware; the whole church must change and it seems to be working on it; I am so thankful that you spoke up. Let’s keep in mind that Fr. Maciel recruited Fr. Garza and others when they were young, and in their idealistic youth they decided to give their life for a good cause and placed their minds in making things run and grow using their specific talents. There have been many flaws and mistakes as we followed a false prophet in those years of indoctrination, years of idolatry, years of blindness and seduction… years to come must and will be different, but there is a process in each heart and also in the institution as a whole. It’s true that Integer is a Fr. Garza’s creation which might be difficult to understand for some, but it was a brilliant way of keeping administrative control of the hundreds of works as Fr. Maciel wanted to keep them centralized. Things have changed now, and Integer will be changing for the better; I know Fr. Luis Garza could still help on that since he, as all of us, has learned so much these past years. In my opinion, the ones who direct Integer mentioned in this article, were placed there not only because they are close friends or relatives of Fr. Luis; I met them many years ago and I have seen that they have put on the t-shirt of the organization before they were hired; they have loved RC as consecrated people do…they have given time, money and their lives to the cause, and that started when they were positive they had an admirable and saint founder…they still believe that despite the founder and the many wrong doings in the past, so much good could be done.
   
   I wish we could open our hearts in understanding to learn from others…no one is perfect but there is great good will and lots of virtue and skills in the members who are still believing they can love where they are now, and in those ex members like me who have left following other great paths as well; we are walking and moving forward in the midst of pain, still lots of pain and meanwhile we are opening our eyes in discoveries, that pain could still blind us in some other aspects…we will never have a 20-20 vision and we tend to think the way we see things is the best one. Hmmm…way to go.
   

5. Dina Estrada

   1 year ago

   I may have a different opinion. To know if Nelly’s book was explosive or not, we would have to know how many books have been sold. To consider it “rocking the news in Mexico” I guess Fr. Farfaglia must have been based on some known info; I just can tell you that I bought the book during the first weeks and the guy in the bookstore told me: “Some have said I physically look like Marcial Maciel…lots of people have come to ask for this book”, I answered: “Well, I met this guy, he was the saint of the saints for me, and I even recited a moving poetic speech for him in a dining room”…then I laughed because I realized that we both had been bragging mistakenly. Later on, I saw this book announced on TV and you don’t see book commercials on TV very often in Mexico. I read the book in a day, when I have taken weeks to finish similar books on the matter…I don’t think I am obsessed with rules neither I am a conspiracy theorist. Probably, this was my experience because I did live the consecrated life in Regnum Christi for several years and I know Nelly personally. I know she wrote it with a broken heart, with the best intention, and she wanted to help others who she thought were in danger. I agree with Jack noticing that she wrote it on behalf of others who didn’t give their face or name (some legionaries or ex legionaries, obviously), but Nelly was not “used” by them, she wanted to do so this way because she knew many wanted to write but didn’t have the means to do it…and Nelly felt she was in the position to help. I just didn’t see an anti-Vatican agenda behind the book at all, on the contrary, I noticed that Nelly only pointed out the wrong in the Legion but had left the rest of the Church and the Holy See untouched and pure, as if the problem relied only on this RC group. That was a mistake –in my very personal perspective-, but understandable because Nelly wrote the book immediately after leaving the Movement, and her process of understanding the whole picture has just begun and she will probably regret some of the things she wrote later on as her understanding grows. It has happened and will still happen to all of us who tend to judge things so quickly, things that we have not digested well….not even swallowed probably.

6. Aaron

   1 year ago

   Interesting thoughts Jack, I don't know about any anti-vatican sentiment, or doubt in the vatican's current wishes. There are certainly doubts by some people about De Paolis' effectiveness at the moment - the vatican's decision to salvage the legion are indeed palusable, but perhaps there is in a currently ineffective salvaging going on - even us doubters are still aware that the process is not finished and are wishing to be proven wrong about the current situation.
   
   Personally I believe too much good christian trust and hope have been placed in the Legion old school members - change is possible, but not with Maciel's appointed men still in charge.
   
   The question about who is really in charge does not perhaps produce the obvious answer that you provide: certainly the Pope has looked and he has spoken, he has put into motion a programme of change, the authority being Pope - De Paolis and his assistants - Legion of Christ Director and General Council. Somewhere in this mix the secretary of state is involved, and perhaps on the sidelines some other dicasteries.
   
   That is the general line of authority as we all know it. But the reality is that the General Director of the Legion of Christ and his Council are in charge of the legion, effectively seeking the approval of the imposed authority for their own wishes. They are calling the shots, De Paolis is yaying or naying, facilitating. This may be a strategy of the vatican - and indeed there is the dilmena of creating a dicotomy by encourgaing freedom in religious life through legislation and rules: you do not replace rules about how to eat a banana (with a knife and fork) with a new rule: eat or don't eat bananas whatever way you like.
   
   I believe that the Legion of Christ is governing itself. for example It is deciding who is or isnt a superior, de Paolis considers the propostion and agrees or not - he does not know the men that are appointed rectors or novice masters for example. These decisions are apparently made by votes, by the council at least, so he agrees with the "common vote" so to speak - he is not despotic. He did not decide to oust luis garza and send him to be the TD in USA - no, the US territories requested a unification and that implied a single TD instead of two. Garza's approval was scouted and his proposition as superior was presented to De Paolis AND THE COUNCIL as the will of the LCs in the US territories. De Paolis said that if it was the will of the LCs he found no objection.
   
   So who placed Luis Garza as the TD of the US and Canadaian territory? Who was in charge? Not the Pope, not De Paolis, but the LC council.
   
   I think it is also important to understand that Nelly has directed this book towards a specific RC and LC audience - those of us that were or are members will understand her words more than others, not simply because of our familiarity with the subject but also because she is speaking to us directly.
   
   I think also that disagreement with particular decisions in the vatican is not simultaneous with disagreeing with the vatican as a whole. This kind of statement "an anti-Vatican agenda" might be stretching it a little and plays into the Legions taught beliefs that anyone against the Legion is anti papal and anti vatican. This is not necessarily so.

7. Martina Kealy

   1 year ago

   Fair play Jack Keogh. You have written a well written and balanced piece. We members still in Regnum Christi here in Ireland hope and pray that the order will reform and succeed as soon as possible. On the feast of St Pio, who I have great devotion to, I pray today that the reform happens as soon as possible. Thanks for that extremely well put together piece Jack.. God bless you. I have no doubt that you are continuing to do God's work.

8. oregon catholic

   1 year ago

   Follow the money trail and it will always lead you to discover the true 'charism' of a group. In the case of the Legionaries I suspect it is to line the pockets of the leaders and buy influence in high places.

9. Jack Keogh

   1 year ago

   Nelly's book is not "explosive," it has not "rocked the news" in Mexico, and it is most certainly not a fast read. Frankly, there is very little new information in the book. It has gained whatever traction it has among those who are aggressively opposed (a position which I do not find unreasonable) to the Legion of Christ and who do not trust the Vatican's attempt to reform the congregation. I believe the author is not motivated by "venom," but when one reads the Prologues, endorsements and the context of many reviews it seems quite clear that the author and her intentions have been "used" by those with an anti-Vatican agenda.
   
   Like Fr. James, I too was a legionary of Christ for some 20 years. (I documented my experience in an autobiography "Driving Straight on Crooked Lines: How an Irishman found his heart and almost lost his mind.") Unlike Fr.James and Nelly, I knew Maciel well. I also got to know the Garza family. Hence my bias that this book contributes little to understanding how Maciel managed to deceive and manipulate so many good people, including Fr. James and three Popes. That is the real issue with the Legion of Christ at least for those of us who want to ensure that such deceit does not easily happen again in the Church.
   
   "El Reino de Maciel" is not available in English. It is quite a "technical" read with detailed analysis of the Legion's approach to religioius discipline and the practice of the evangelical counsels. It doucments that perhaps the essential flaw is a dysfuntional understanding of Obedience. Granted the author was a consecrated member of "Regnum Christi" I hoped for a first hand descripton of the daily life and challenges experienced by consecrated women in the movement - an area that is shrouded in mystery even to most Legionary priests. Instead, Nelly focuses mostly on the Legionaries. I have the abiding sensation that much of the Legion related material was written by a Legionary ghost writer. Names and places are well documented although there is not much substantial new information. An analysis of the Legionary consititutions by a canon lawyer contributes little to the discussion. Personally, I was most impacted and moved by some of the personal letters written by Maciel and presented in the Appendices. Reading them again, in the light of what we now know, chilled my bones. Otherwise, the book is a tedious read and of interest mostly to those who have a somewhat obsessive interest in the Legionary rules and regulations. Grupo Integer and Fr. Garza's involvement as an intelligent adminsitrator who sought to organize the Legion's business assets is mostly a red herring which plays nicely into the hands of conspiracy theorists.
   
   Fr. James asks: "who is in really in charge of the Legionaries of Christ? The answer is Pope Benedict who, after an exhaustive investigation, sent his Delgate to the Legionaries and explicitley says that he wants them to succeed. The process is not yet completed. But we know who is in charge.

10. Aaron

    1 year ago

    This book is well anticipated, I am sure she speaks honestly and from the heart. Fr. James, I take a little exception to your description of Maciel's rapes and abuses as "homosexual escapades" - this implies that the victims were willing or consenting. This is not the case - children, adolescents and young men were raped, sexually abused and sexually assaulted by this man. I am sure you know that and have sympathy for the many victims, I think it is simply an misplaced choice of words.
    

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