Breaking News on the “Legionaires”
Roman Catholic Blog has a well researched report on the upcoming lawsuit by the Legion of Christ against ReGAIN network, a site critical of the Legion and its penitent founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel. It’s getting messy.
Several years ago Archbishop Harry Flynn forbade the Legion of Christ’s associate group, Regnum Christi any presence in the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis, citing that their modus operandi suggested attempts at forming a parallel Church of sorts.
I have heard many dark tales concerning both the Legion and the founder, although the priests I’ve met from the Order have impressed me by their piety and devotion, as well as their liturgical fidelity and theology. Aside from my experience in meeting a few priests, former aspirants to the Legion, as well as former members, often speak of their formation as ‘cultish‘. The religious order is known to have a great deal of wealthy contributors, which many have said is by design.
(Note: As of this writing not all links to ReGain network are operational, which may be due to the pending litigation. So, is the Legion of Christ really some sort of a Catholic Scientology sect? Or is Fr. Macial a saint under persecution, simply being defended by his Legion?)
Photo: Fr. Macial Marciel, founder of the Legion. Also, the title of this post is meant to be as dumb as it sounds - I laugh everytime a local news agency breaks in with “breaking news” when it’s usually not.
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:01 pm
We had some Legionaries come to our parish twice for missions and retreats and they are WONDERFUL when you go to Confession. Good listeners and excellent penances.The ones we had here also celebrated Mass beautifully.
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:57 am
I haven’t looked at the Roman Catholic blog yet.
There have been many of these new movements created since Vatican II.
Communion and Liberation, the Neocatechumenate Way, and even Opus Dei, are three of them in addition to the Legionaries of Christ (which includes Regnum Christi and they own the National Catholic Register, I believe).
And all seem to be somewhat controversial. Although Opus Dei’s founder, Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, has been canonized by the Church.
But millions, mostly in Europe, I believe, are devoted followers of these movements.
I’m not much of an authority on Church history, but I seem to recall that many of the Church’s strongest religious orders today were quite controverial during their early years.
The Church is led by humans. When huge groups such as these four movements are created, the participation of huge numbers of people and contributions are shifted away from traditional Church missions towards the activities of these new movments.
Might some of the criticism of the post Vatican II movements be based in frustration and jealousy by leaders of Church orders and missions that finding themselves to be on the losing end of the zero sum equation?
Or might some of the new movements possess some of the problems that we see in the evolution of the liturgy during that time?
I’m going to do some research on this.
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:50 am
“So, is the Legion of Christ really some sort of a Catholic Scientology sect? Or is Fr. Macial a saint under persecution, simply being defended by his Legion?)”
I do not think that is the issue at all. After years of investigations, by then Cardinal’s Ratzinger’s office, it was decided that the charges against the founder were credible enough for the founder to step down and no longer be involved with his order. This was one of the very first decrees that Pope Benedict approved. Since he was in charge of the investigations as a Cardinal, one can assume he was confidant in the findings and was not out to persecute anyone. if anything it was out of respect for the order that the decree of separation was made to help them resolve this crisis. one does not have to be a rocket scienctist to know the unhealthy dynamics that come from years of sexual abuse and the denial patterns and other unhealhy toxic dynamics that come with this type of behavior…..and it should not be that hard to have some empathy and understanding for the former members who may not have been abused, but suffered from these dynamics while in the order?
August 23rd, 2007 at 6:20 am
Angela - that has been my experience too.
August 23rd, 2007 at 8:33 am
When I read the accounts against the Legionairies, it makes me think that many of these (non-sexual-abuse) criticisms such as those against the penances, obedience, poverty, structure, etc, could probably be directed at ANY religious community or order, and certainly have been made against most of the oldest and well-known orders by many anti-Catholic protestants, atheists, etc. throughout the Church’s history. These LC-criticizers come off sounding no different than they (at least to my layperson’s ears) — although I do understand they are not anti-Catholic as much as they are anti-LC.
I don’t know. I just think the whole thing is very, very sad, particularly the sexual abuses, as I once had great hopes that this apostolate could be a great force in helping to bring about the new evangelization and a new Christian hope for the world. Maybe many of these attacks are demonic in origin (attacks coming from within the ranks of the organization itself in the form of perverted sexual abusers, as well as those coming from outsiders who may or may not have valid reasons), but the sexual abuse charges, against the founder himself as well as against several of the seminarian directors particularly, are very disturbing and disheartening, and I imagine that for those truly holy and sincere priests in the order, some of whom I have had the pleasure of meeting, celebrating Mass and going to Confession with, that this must be so much more painful — or rather, for them, absolutely agonizing.
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:55 am
Georgette, I find the entire matter distressing as well. The priests I have met from the Legion have been so incredible - absolute model priests, men of integrity. Indeed they must be suffering. Perhaps it is the humiliating purification the Order needs however to strengthen them?
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:52 am
I was a member and loved so many of the priests. Unfortunately, they don’t seem to be serving the Church at large, but simply fund-raising and recruiting for in-house apostolates only. They mean well, but cannot let go of the founder, who is problemmatic. Background information here:
http://www.life-after-rc.com/2007/08/one-vow-to-rule.html
August 23rd, 2007 at 3:23 pm
you can read the summons and complaint here:
http://www.regainnetwork.org/lcc/lcc.pdf
August 23rd, 2007 at 4:33 pm
As a former LC and one of many very vocal critics of the Legion and her lay apostolate, the Regnum Christi, I invite everyone to read the discussion board of Regain. We are trying to help other young people to approach the Legion with eyes wide open. So many of us were so deceived and are still suffering from the years we spent in this cult-like organization. Most of the current lawsuit is about some former LCs publishing parts of the LC’s constitution on line in the discussion board. What is the LC afraid of? Why is there so much secrecy? Why are they so cruel to former members? Does all this smell like a cult to you?
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Glenn, thank you for making the Summons available.
Keith, thanks for your comments, I had a friend who had been told (by the Legion) that he would lose his soul if he left the novitiate. After nearly undergoing a nervous breakdown, he finally did leave; this fellow had to go through psychiatric counselling because of the trauma. So I know what you are saying.
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!
Terry: perhaps that man really was called to the priesthood (we don’t know) and he gave the Legion the first choice in his formation. Instead, they managed to shred him so that he would have a tough time even functioning, not to mention ministering to anyone else. That’s the darkness that worries me. Not only are they not serving the Church, but they divide and conquer those who want to…
August 23rd, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Giselle - your insights make my hair stand on end. Yes, I believe he had a vocation - he has tried a couple of orders since, but he is so messed up from his formation experience with the Legion and all of the secrecy and warnings that he would lose his soul and cause the ruin of innumerable others if he left, he doesn’t fit in any other place. Others may say it is just him - his own mental instability, but I sincerely doubt it. He was incredibly happy, well balanced, and generous before entering; he came out a broken man. He is not diagnosed with any mental disorder at all - but he has great troubles spiritually. Strangely, he is reluctant to speak of what went on in the Legion - almost like a veteran of war, who refuses to talk about what he witnessed. I assure you I’m not exaggerating his story at all.
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:17 pm
The lack of charity and the gossip on these boards is simply amazing. You shall know them by their fruits! Why don’t you guys post links like this one on here… http://www.zenit.org/article-20290?l=english
If more people would spend more time in Adoration, at Mass, doing Apostalate, Missions and giving of Charity the world would be a much much better place and if even 10% of the Catholics were what they should be it would transform the world over night!
Why don’t you guys stop bashing the Legion and Regnum Christi and start following Christ’s example to us???
The Legion of Christ is an amazing Ecclesial Movement approved by the Church and is a Movement of the Holy Spirit. The Legion and Regnum Christi are at the service of the Church and loyal to the Pope. I’ve had nothing but incredible experiences in and through Spritual Direction, Confessions, Retreats, Meditations, Conferences, Missions and what not with Legionaries. If you haven’t truly gotten to know any personally you are truly missing something special. These men are some of the most pious and well formed men I’ve ever known and I’ve been very blessed in my life to know a whole lot of humanly well formed men, but not many who were so well formed in the areas of human, intellectual, spiritual and apostolic formation. Again, you shall know them by their frutis! If you care to know the fruits or the souls being saved or how the Kingdom is being built by thousands of Regnum Christi members and Legionary Priests why don’t you ask Pope Benedict or Cardinal Rode!?! The only way I know to assess someone’s genuineness is by the way they live their life, by their example, by their personal holiness and by the fruits generated by their efforts of trying to glorify God each and every day. Every Legionary Priest that I’ve ever met is so well formed, well versed on the Gospels, and is absolute model of piousness when it comes to celebrating Mass, adoring the Eucharist and Blessed Sacrament, letting the Holy Spirit truly guide them in Spiritual Direction and in Confession and in the way they treat people and give of themselves.
It’s truly sad how many people don’t know first hand and in person the fruits being generated. If you were the kind of Catholic that the Church and Christ calls us to be and if you truly practiced imitating Christ than 99.9% of the negative garbage spewed on these types of sites would not exist! It is truly unfortunate that people in general lack so much formation, but on the other hand is why there is so much opportunity to re-evangelize the world!
After reading several of the posts on this site I just couldn’t help myself and I’m the kind of person who NEVER write on these things.
In Christ,
CST
The Catholics in America and all throughout the world need to walk the walk and stop judging and being so quick to gossip! When I read some of the things being said and the way they are said it makes me extremely sad and disappointed!
August 23rd, 2007 at 9:25 pm
CST, Thank you for adding your observations to this discussion, which can be helpful for us to find some balance in this controversy. God reward you.
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:34 pm
I am sorry but i do not see how a post likes CST adds any balance. to accuse and judge everyone else of gossip, lack of charity and spewing gossip only seems to inflame the situation.
I would think CST if you had a specific problem with a post you would address the issue with the person and not make personal attacks?
the only group that i would worry about is one that feels no one can challenge it or criticise it.
i do not read anything on this thread that comes from gossip or a desire to spew garbage. rather i think people are trying to discuss and share experiences on a complicated topic to find some understanding. there is no group in the church that is not a mixture of light and shadows, and every group that is really following Christ is humble enough to listen when others try to help them face their shadow.
August 24th, 2007 at 6:37 am
Yes, when I share my experiences and first hand knowledge of my life in the Legion of Christ, may accuse me of gossip and bashing. I do not understand the logical connection. Is anything at all that is negative considered gossip and slander, the famous “maledicencia”? Then I cannot criticise the president, the mayor, Islamic extreemists…..a bishop who some may think is not in communion with the Pope?
Maybe it is only the Legion of Christ that should be held above all reproach no matter what?
August 25th, 2007 at 11:52 am
Terry Nelson,
This is an excerpt from Envoy II, by Marcial Maciel (copyright 1992, Legionnaries of Christ). It doesn’t appear to be studied any more, but it concerns me that this was considered important enough to be included in one of their books. This was one of the ideas that your friend was exposed to:
Letter 80, p. 186
“(I)t is possible and we owe it to God to be filled with enthusiasm for the Movement which He has gifted to you in order to give meaning to your life and to channel your apostolic aspirations. Consider that much of your perseverance rests on the identification with your vocation to Regnum Christi. If Regnum Christi becomes an intimate part of what you are, if it is no longer something extra stuck on but becomes your very flesh and bone, you will never be able to turn your back on it without a thought, because you would feel a terrible wrenching, as if part of your body was torn away.”
August 25th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Or this:
Letter 95, p. 288
“Do not live outside the spirit of the Movement because then you will open up a chasm between God and yourselves. Never underrate it, because that would mean you undervalue God’s love which in it has given your an easy and fast road to holiness. Do not leave it because sooner or later you will find that it was your egotism, pride, vanity or sensuality you were feeding your lives on rather than God’s holy will.”
These excerpts and others can also be found on exlegionaries, but they are not part of the lawsuit.
One might try to argue that I have taken the quotes out of context, but they are edited excerpts, so it was the LC who might have taken the excerpts out of context, not me
August 25th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Jeanette - Thanks. Your citations seem to support what former members are telling the public.
August 25th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Zenit is of course an LC run news agency.
Angela Messenger, LC priests are often asked to abuse the confessional and to disclose personal information learnt in the confessional to their superiors.
Canon law forbids those who have an influence in the vocational devlopment of seminarians to hear the same seminarians confessions yet in the Legion it was obligatory for superiors to hear their subordinates habitual confession, “breaking” canon law.
In the very rules that the Legion wants removed from the internet it states clearly that a legionary’s face “belongs to others” so that face should NEVER show anger, disappointment, tiredness, confusion etc etc: ALWAYS SMILE no matter what is going on inside.
Also legionaries are not allowed by conscience to share with anyone except their superior their true emotional state.
This especially includes your own family members - your mother and father for example.
And this rule is applied to 16 year olds, possibly to younger than that.
August 28th, 2007 at 7:42 am
I was a member of this movement Regnum Christi for 6 years. I can only say that they ARE the wolves in sheep’s clothing of our Holy church, and a stain and a blight to her more than any other religious movement in the CC. In one “discernment” weekend they almost managed to destroy my daughter, by convincing her that unless she joined the consecrated branch, she was being “mean” with God. She is tormented to this day with irrrational fear and guilt from being subjected to that brainwashing over a period of a few months. They create clones of each other, and subject their members to immense psychological guilt. But those that are in it can not see it. They paint such a wholesome orthodox picture to outsiders, but within they are empty, carbon copies of one another. They are whitened sepulchres, and their wickedness is that of the pharisees, but worse because they are truly destroying young and innocent souls in the effort to create a “kingdom” that is all about appearances , power and money. It is NOT about saving souls. I have spoken to many priests in confession because of the guilt I feel, because a s a faithful orthodox catholic, I have to confront this horror and shock people with this truth. It IS a cult. May God in His mercy purge His church of this plague.
August 28th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Aaron, you state:
“And this rule is applied to 16 year olds, possibly to younger than that.”
Actually when I entered the LC minor seminary, or Apostolic School as the LC calls them, there were children 11 years old, maybe even younger, that had to live by these rules and were expected to “forget” about their families. We had to make up our mind then and there that we would become LC Priests and that there was nothing to ever go back to, and if we ever left the LC our souls would be damned to hell . . .
One of the priests, during our daily meditation, told us that the Legion of Christ and our superiors were our new family. He even said that he and the other superior taking care of us were our new mother and father . . .
I’m not making this post as gossip, just noting the facts that I lived during my ten years in the LC.
September 1st, 2007 at 3:08 pm
Maria,
I am a member of RC. If anyone tried to convince your daughter to become consecrated than it is wrong. Our vocation can be met only in total freedom of our will. If you joined RC sometime ago than you should remember it - nobody can force you to make a decision about consecrating your life. This about the most intimate relationship between a soul and God himself. If somebody tried to do this than it was wrong and complaining about it here, on the blog, won’t make it any better. You obviously have a right to do it but perhaps an attempt to fix it in the source could be a better solution, perhaps talking to persons who were so pushy or their superiors would create a way to overcome this crisis.
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:15 am
John,
The reason why people like Maria post on the internet is usually because they have followed the proper chains of control and to no avail or, worse, they met with psychological abuse as a result of criticizing the “methodology.” Rarely does a problem get solved by following the “chain of control.” The feedback from the concerned member is used to find a way of more subtly following the sacred methodology. Not much changes in reality. There is so much more set in stone than you realize. From your comment it seems clear that you have only had a positive experience so far(which is because of the truly good people that are involved)and as long as you don’t make any waves that is how it will continue to stay. But if you do happen to catch a glimpse of the evil that is going on right under your nose don’t make too much fuss; just “watch and pray.” In time, as you can handle more,you will see and experience things that will make your conscience scream. You will see one of the most clever tricks of Satan unfolding before your eyes. The Holy Spirit is very gentle and will only reveal what we can handle. “I have much more to tell you but you cannot bear it now. When he comes he will guide you to all truth…”(John 16:12-13) Many faithful Catholics are being herded into a movement that many believe is not ultimately going to support the Church(for the time being it appears to be). The testimonies that you read on Regain and sites like this are real and are written by the prompting of the Holy Spirit to guide us to truth. Speaking for myself, Regain was instrumental in seeing that I was not alone in my experiences and that the problem was so much bigger than the weaknesses of individual fallen humans. That was my “coping mechanism” for many years.
God Bless you as you journey through RC.
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:16 am
I meant to address that last comment to Greg, not John.
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:42 am
Greg,
The reason why people like Maria post on the internet is usually because they have followed the proper chains of control and to no avail or, worse, they met with psychological abuse as a result of criticizing the “methodology.” Rarely does a problem get solved by following the “chain of control.” The feedback from the concerned member is used to find a way of more subtly following the sacred methodology. Not much changes in reality. There is so much more set in stone than you realize. From your comment it seems clear that you have only had a positive experience so far(which is because of the truly good people that are involved)and as long as you don’t make any waves that is how it will continue to stay. But if you do happen to catch a glimpse of the evil that is going on right under your nose don’t make too much fuss; just “watch and pray.” In time, as you can handle more,you will see and experience things that will make your conscience scream. You will see one of the most clever tricks of Satan unfolding before your eyes. The Holy Spirit is very gentle and will only reveal what we can handle. “I have much more to tell you but you cannot bear it now. When he comes he will guide you to all truth…”(John 16:12-13) Many faithful Catholics are being herded into a movement that many believe is not ultimately going to support the Church(for the time being it appears to be). The testimonies that you read on Regain and sites like this are real and are written by the prompting of the Holy Spirit to guide us to truth. Speaking for myself, Regain was instrumental in seeing that I was not alone in my experiences and that the problem was so much bigger than the weaknesses of individual fallen humans. That was my “coping mechanism” for many years.
God Bless you as you journey through RC.
September 2nd, 2007 at 9:52 am
?
September 11th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Compare 3 published statements by reading each very carefully:
1)May 19, 2006 Vatican statement
2)May 28, 2006 Nat’l Catholic Register, Owen Kearns’ Editorial
3) John Pail II’s April 30, 2001
Motu Proprio Sacrementorum Sanctitatis Tutela:
Read it all!
You will conclude that all memnbers of Regnum Christi and the Legion do not have full possession of their own free wills.
May God help us all!