Category: Critique of LC/RC

Legion Response to Free Thinking Legionary Typical Thought Reform Using Loaded Language

The Legion was not long in coming up with a response to the recent plea written by current Legionary Andres Beltramo to his Legionary brothers entitled 10 Reasons Not to Believe In The Legionary Hierarchy. Sacred and Profane were given permission to publicize this letter on their blog.

Click Here for Legion Response to Ten Reasons

The Legion response written by Jorge Enrique Mugica, L.C. does not respond to any of the claims made in the 10 Reasons document. There seems to be no attempt to deny the statements made by Andres Beltramo, such as the continuing devotion to the founder, (who has been identified as a false prophet), the lack of community discernment, the culture of control, the lack of transparency, ignoring the May 1 commuiqué and inability to implement positive changes.

 

The Legion response seems to be one of their typical flowery, empty, meaningless, nauseating series of statements devoid of any real spirituality. A recovering ex Legionary, who had been exposed to the Legion ways for years has identified that beneath the surface there is some loaded language that for the Legion and Regnum Christi members conveys a powerful message to discourage them from daring to question their leadership. The wording of the response is not intended to convince outsiders that any of the statements claimed in the 10 Reasons document are in error. The Legion leaders’ message is directed at the rank and file to prevent them from any critical thinking.

 

The Legion members and 3gf’s have been conditioned to believe strongly that when a superior speaks it is to be accepted as if Christ Himself were speaking to them. Fr. Mugica asserts the authority of Legionary and RC superiors in a parent to child communication style, first assuring them that he loves Christ, he loves the Church and that it was the Church who provided a delegate (not a commissioner) to provide guidance for the Legion. He goes on to say that the Pope has placed his trust in the delegate and his four counselors. There is an unspoken message that because everything the Legion leaders do or say is supported by Jesus, His Church, the Pope and because the leaders love Jesus, His Church and the Pope that there is no possibility of error in their decisions. The obvious conclusion (but only for those who live in this climate of thought reform) is that the leaders are infallible and never to be questioned.

 

The loaded language to those in submission is that if you question superiors in the Legion or Regnum Christi you not only are risking losing your special vocation that God has called you to from all eternity, you are risking your relationship with Christ, with the Church and with the Legion which has support from the Pope through his delegate and counselors.

 

Rather than share any facts that he has with rank and file members, he makes it clear that in order to make an informed opinion about any criticism, you must humbly enter into dialogue with all the Legionary members involved in an atmosphere of love. Father knows best.

Instead of dealing with specific issues, the response brushes off valid criticism asopinions of the moment and says that religious and consecrated people should instead listen to the Holy Spirit. It is difficult to listen to the Holy Spirit when you live in a tightly controlled climate of secrecy and deception where all access to outside information is screened. It is obvious that a person could be more in tune with the Holy Spirit if he or she were provided with the truth about things related to their personal mission in life.

 

Legion and RC members are assured that perhaps there has been fear, but Christ said not to fear, that He is with us. Therefore anyone who feels any (normal) fear about the future considering all that has happened simply has a lack of trust in Christ.

 

And using a Macielistic tactic to support his approach to finding the optimum solution he emphasizes that he spends lots of time in front of the Tabernacle before finalizing decisions. The implication here is that whatever final decisions he and the other Legion leaders come up with, they have a seal of approval from Christ Himself (and therefore there is no room for further discussion).

 

He fails to mention that Fr. Maciel made similar claims regarding making decisions in front of the Blessed Sacrament (and it would be a stretch to believe that his decisions were divinely inspired). The decisions made by the Legion since the departure and death of Fr Maciel so far have not shown much improvement considering the 10 reasons provided by Andres Beltramo. In fact the only few positive changes so far have not resulted because of Legion leadership desire to improve. They have shown a desire to continue the old ways until the Vatican forces them to make positive changes.

 

When repeated mention of Christ is made in Legion language, it raises a question about whether there is a hidden meaning that relates to the founder, who wrote a book entitledChrist is My Life. Is there some sort of subliminal relationship between Christ and Marcial Maciel Is Christ Fr. Maciel’s life? Fr. Maciel was idolized by his followers during most of his life and this continues among his more devoted followers. When he was sentenced by the Vatican he made an association with Christ by saying that he would accept his cross in the same way. The term Christ is a title, meaning Messiah. Wikipedia explains that this is so and goes on to say that the term Christ usually refers explicitly to Jesus of Nazareth. Is there confusion in the minds and hearts of any of Fr. Maciel’s followers today, who for decades by their statutes were bound to integrate his mind and spirit deep into their own? Jesus is the Name of Our Saviour. Christ is His title. Could this be an explanation why many of Fr Maciel’s followers including Legionary leaders stubbornly refuse to accept obvious facts about his true character?

 

Finally, in the response there is a statement that to improve the world, he seeks to convert himself and to become holy. The implied directive here is for the rank and file members to do the same. Forget about any criticisms or doubts. Just immerse yourselves in your prayer life and concentrate on spiritual things. Don’t think!

 

For those on the outside who are not bound by vows of obedience to the Legion leadership, the response makes no attempt to refute or even to recognize the unhealthy conditions inside the Legion.

 

ReGAIN editors agree with current Legionary Andres Beltramo that the Legion major superiors have shown that they are unable to think for themselves and / or to change except where they are forced to by the media or by the Vatican. There has been a defensive wall of steel to maintain the status quo. The situation warrants a major change in leadership. There should be a renunciation of the founder and all of his teachings instead of continuing any idolization of this false prophet. There needs to be free access to accurate information for all those whose lives are affected.

 

But as long as the leadership is able to maintain control of rank and file members by enslavement through mind control methods (well documented on this website) and as long as the Vatican and its delegate allow these practices to continue there will not likely be any progress in the situation. In the meantime, some improvement is being made by attrition as Legionary activities fold, donations decrease and an increasing number have been able to wake up and smell the coffee.

 

Prophetic Analysis Of The Legionaries Of Christ By Toronto Archbishop Collins In 2009 – If They Can’t Fix Themselves Then You Go To A Higher Level

Recent news regarding Toronto Archbishop Thomas Collins brought to mind the presentation he gave two years ago regarding the Legionaries of Christ after the double life of the founder had become public.

 

Last year, Pope Benedict XVI called for an apostolic visitation of Ireland in response to the sexual abuse crisis. The process has begun very recently.
Four top English-speaking visitors are leading the review.

Details were recently reported in the National Catholic Reporter Click Here -Vatican Visitation to Ireland
One of the team involved in the visitation is Archbishop Thomas Collins of Toronto. ReGAIN editors remember the prophetic analysis that Archbishop Collins provided in his comments in March, 2009 and felt that it was worthwhile to share his insightful comments from two years ago.
Following is a summary of Archbishop Collins’ presentation:
When asked about Legion Founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel’s double life Archbishop Collins said there have been real concerns for years about him. He said that he had had extreme reservations about Maciel for other reasons. There seemed to be something wrong there. He said that Cardinal Ratzinger was the main one responsible for rooting this out and getting his officials (of the Church) to deal with these issues before he became Pope to his great credit and for the good of the Church. The Archbishop said that the whole culture seemed to be very strange, very controlled and there were some policy issues about who could hear whose confession and about criticism of the founder and these were very problematic in this group. He said some positive things about the good young priests who were attracted into it and about good Regnum Christi members. But the structure set up by Maciel provided some opportunities to do things. He said as you get in towards the centre there with the founder there were massive problems with him and now things have come out after his death that clearly indicate he had led a double life. Archbishop Collins said he felt sorry for the wonderful people who have been betrayed.

When asked if he knew of any precedent in the history of the Church for a leader who founded a religious order or who was given a charism who led this kind of a sinful life, the Archbishop said he could not think of any. The great founders of orders are often canonized because of the integrity of their lives. He said that God is able to write straight with crooked lines. If someone who is disreputable in his own personal life can tell people to love Jesus and serve the Lord they may respond to it but truth be told there is a lie there in terms of the person’s integrity. He said he would be concerned not just about the problem with the founder but about the structure a person leading a double life could set up that would make it possible to live such a life. That whole thing has to be totally reviewed and cleaned up. He said he would wonder how a person could lead such a double life without anyone within the organization being aware. He said he thought there should be certainly as a minimum a massive reorder (re-organization) of the Legionaries of Christ for the sake of those within the organization and with Regnum Christi who have been betrayed.

When asked what message he might have for disillusioned people still in Regnum Christi and Legion of Christ who are questioning their involvement he said that they might consider leaving and getting a fresh start in an order or in the priesthood somewhere where these real questions do not hang over them. He said he was sure many would consider leaving. He added that they should be proud of the work that they have done. But there is something not just personal in Maciel but this whole thing needs to be looked at and brought into the light.

The interviewer quoted George Weigel (Feb 9 article in First Things) and his discomfort regarding excessive veneration of the founder. He asked if there is too much emphasis on the founder. Archbishop Collins said that this is a major problem. When you get a cult of personality that is over the top. It is not a healthy thing. There is something wrong there. Even in legitimate groups where it turns out the founder is a perfectly good person, the group should tone down the cult of personality. Only Jesus walked on the water. We already have a Messiah.

Many of those founders who were canonized see themselves as humble servants serving the Lord.
He said it is always dangerous in the Church when any leader in the Church is treated with that kind of approach. It is not healthy. It turned out this man was a fraud. We should honor great people but we need limits. We should be servants of Jesus (and not of any human person). These people must be transparent.
When asked about the structural problems he had referred to and what options he sees, the Archbishop said he was not sure but off the top of his head there are several options he can see.

  1. Send in somebody to take over the order to the point of appointing a Papal representative to go in and take over the order and clean it up.
  1. Another possibility would be to shut it down and start anew. He said that has been suggested.

He added that sometimes in such cases as this it is good to have the Pope and the Holy See on board. Sometimes a group may be able to fix itself and that is always the first step. You should always start with the local level first. But if they can’t fix themselves then you go to a higher level. Some way of doing that needs to be done. He said that he did not know what is being planned.

ReGAIN Comment:

Archbishop Collins demonstrated both wisdom and knowledge in his comments in 2009. He showed good understanding of the problematic structure that was set up by a founder who Archbishop Collins had been aware of real concerns for years about him and he referred to a lie in the person’s integrity.

The Archbishop went on to say that you should always provide an opportunity for a group to fix itself first as a first step?.

This appears to be exactly what Cardinal DePaolis has been doing as many outsiders and loved ones of those directly affected eagerly (and sometimes impatiently) await a big hammer to come down. For those who think that Rome is acting too slowly, the above message provides hope that the big hammer is available if needed but not to be used as the first step in the overhaul process. The Legion leaders are most definitely being given a lot of opportunity to acknowledge what is wrong with the structure that was established and developed by Fr. Marcial Maciel and to make whatever corrections they feel are appropriate.

To date, apart from blaming things on the founder the Legion hierarchy does not seem to have demonstrated a good understanding of the structural issues, some of which were clearly identified by Archbishop Collins in his statements. Instead the Legion has shown merely a willingness to accept whatever measures the Vatican imposes on them, like a child forcing down some horrible tasting medicine.

A key issue in reformation of the religious order and movement established by Fr. Maciel is that there is no clear unique charism along with saintly example at the root to return to. Not only does the Legion have to recognize and correct their own defects; they must somehow miraculously come up with a purpose for being. To make matter worse, some of the Legionary priests who had good leadership qualities and who had maintained some measure of independent thinking ability have seen the writing on the wall and have left.

We can’t help but wonder what the higher level? that Archbishop Collins referred to will be in this case, because so far the Legion is not doing an effective job of fixing itself.

The Legion of Christ, Trojan horse in the City of God USA: What’s going on inside The Legion of Christ?

1. The Legion’s Appeal to Traditional Catholics.

 

The Legion gets members, money and support mostly from very Traditional Catholics because: it aligns itself unequivocally with the Pope, or Catholic Orthodox Doctrine as reflected in Papal Documents (in contrast to the questionable Vatican II!) Legionary clergy are seen as exemplary priests in their teaching, in the their appearance and in their activities. The Legion also presents itself as very Conservative on all moral questions such as birth-control, abortion, euthanasia, female priesthood, gay marriage, and homosexuality. Nevertheless, an ex-member of the Ladies Regnum Christi explains that LC priests can flex Papal teaching on birth control if a member is sufficiently rich or important. In a subtle way – and the LC/RC is usually subtle, and/or sly – it projects the image, attractive to Conservative Catholics, that it does not tolerate gays in its seminaries or in its ranks; though stories of pedophilia and sexual abuse in minor and major seminaries continue to dog the Legion. Their handsome, young and clean cut priests, chastely sacrificing heterosexual(?) love for Christ and the Church, are admired, adored by and very attractive to conservative Catholic females. Legionaries also follow the official Roman rubrics in an almost obsessive-compulsive way when administering the Sacraments, hearing confessions, and saying Mass holding the Host up for nerve-wracking extra seconds while they stare at it intently-. Thus they appear very devout? to the faithful. The Legion/Regnum also flaunts its devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, just like Pope John Paul II?, and promotes praying the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, etc. This also appeals to Traditional Catholics who are hungry for these devotions of which they feel they were deprived by liberal post Vatican II priests, parishes and orders.

 

2. Essence of problem with Legion and its practices:

 

A number of ex-members, dissenters and/or critics, believe that the Legion of Christ is cult-like, not in its doctrine but in it modus operandi: in the way it recruits, isolates, retains, and lets members go -see ex-member testimonies and relevant critique on Regain website regarding cult-like characteristics exhibited by the LC/RC; that it uses coercive mind control in a subtle way under the appearances of great Catholic orthodoxy; that, despite these appearances, it is at variance with several essential aspects of true Catholicism and Canon Law. Question in point is how the Legion blurs the distinction between Superior, Confessor and Spiritual Director. This distinction, fundamental to safeguard a trainee/seminarian’s freedom of conscience and ensure the discernment process, is ignored by the Legion and Regnum Christi formation practice.

 

3. Stories from Cleveland, Houston, Detroit, Sacramento, Los Angeles:

 

We hear about young men and women being forcefully recruited by the Legion for the seminary and the RC consecrated life, against their parents’ wishes; the LC/RC recruiters quickly committing these young men and winning them over to the cause?, in such a way that the young people disregard their parents’ wishes and values; we believe that these young people go through a hurried and flawed discernment process which favors their premature recruitment to the Legion. Once they are in it is very hard for them to leave; again because of the coercive indoctrination of the Legion/Regnum formation? system which quickly convinces them they have a God-given vocation to the Legion they must be faithful to at all costs. As Legionaries or Regnum Christi consecrated members, who during formation have very little access to the outside world, they are likely to continue in their vocation until ordination or taking promises of perpetual consecration. Even so, many young men and women leave the Legion/Regnum Christi Movement. They are often afraid or reluctant to speak out about their negative experiences because of shame of failure or because they are still under the influence of their previous indoctrination. After ordination, members have more freedom and exposure to the outside world?. We believe that then they may question their allegiance to the Legion/Regnum. Hundred of members leave during their training and dozens after ordination.

 

4. What about defections from the Legion priesthood?

 

Here again the principle of discretion?, or secrecy, rules whereby the Legion controls all outgoing and incoming information, preventing outsiders from access to any objective data. We believe the Legion under-reports the numbers of priests exiting and also employs other strategies to keep defections under covers. Some newly ordained menunsupervised for the first time in over ten years- leave the Legion and the priesthood, while others seek to prolong their ministry in the diocesan ministry. Even then they are often afraid to criticize the Legion lest they be perceived as disgruntled ex-members this might jeopardize their incardination into a diocese and/or their new Church careers; others fear the Legion might take reprisals against them, perhaps revealing some peccadilloes known to the superiors /confessor /spiritual directors if they criticize the Legion or do not do what they are told during their exiting. This fear will usually keep priest ex-members effectively muzzled. Family members of Legionaries or Consecrated lay members, young men and women, will abstain from criticizing the Legion for fear of retaliation against their family member in the ranks: s/he could be reassigned or sent away as a result of such criticism. The above reasons answer in part the question about why so few people want to go on record criticizing the Legion.

 

5. A story we hear is how some people from the Legion owned-schools have sued the Legion

 

For deceiving them after they signed up: the parents had committed money to tuition before they realized that the school was run by the Legion, or the Legion changed the bylaws after it took over, without consulting with parents. They sued the Legion and won; but the stress and expenses of the trial, where the Legion was defended by a lawyer from their Regnum Christi organization, was so severe it left the family in financial ruin. The Legion often makes a gag order a part of the settlement.

 

6. Another type of story is where one of the spouses is gung-ho Regnum Christi and the other not.

 

They begin to disagree about the intensity and style of their children’s Catholic upbringing?, or, rather, fanaticism?. The Legionary or Regnum Christi spiritual director supports the RC gung ho member. The spouses become estranged, may even go to court over custody, and some end up splitting, i.e. divorcing, in the name of Christ.

 

7. His Holiness the Pope supports the Legion and the Founder, Fr Maciel?

 

Yes, but maybe not to the extent the Legion/Regnum Christi would have us believe. The LC propaganda machine has exploited every single contact with JPII. They have an excellent web page, a news agency in Rome, Zenit, and a Catholic paper in the USA, the Register…So they milk all contacts to the maximum, exploiting photos of Fr Maciel with the Pope…embracing or kissing his Holiness. An article on Regain, Not the Pope’s Favorites?, explains how the John Paul II did not mention either Fr Maciel, or the Legion, or the Regnum Christi in his recent memoir, Rise, Let us be on our Way, when discussing his relationship with current Catholic Lay Movements. Naturally, JPII was impressed by the Legion’s numbers of recruits, ordinations, institutions and financial strength. To further impress the Pope, the Legion for the most part ordains its priests in Rome, in some prominent Basilica, instead of in the priests’ home countries. That way the propaganda value is increased.

 

8. Maciel exonerated?

 

Hardly. In May 2005 the Legion very cleverly delivered a pre-emptive strike not to the investigation but to reporting on the investigation, by stating Maciel had been exonerated. The audacity and timing of their press release -a kind of bare-faced lie- caught many reporters and agencies off guard. At that time Regain discerned and held firmly to the truth amidst a storm of misleading reports: It is simply not true that Maciel has been exonerated. The investigation is still underway by the corresponding Vatican body, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which does not make statements until its investigation is over and the case is founded or unfounded; similar to the way Child Protective Services operate in most jurisdictions in the USA.?

 

9. The investigation into Fr. Maciel and the Legion of Christ in Rome

 

As we were initially drafting this article in May 2005, one more Regain member was called to Rome to present a statement to the Vatican investigator. No doubts, maybes, or ifs?. We know. We bear witness and hope in the Church that things that were hidden will come to light. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never mastered it.[John 1, 5] The widely reported Vatican statement one year later bore us out. Because decisions are hermetically sealed it has been impossible to learn officially whether the Vatican has imposed other private – sanctions on Legion Founder, Fr. Maciel, and on the superiors and institution. It can be held that the Vatican invited? Fr. Maciel not to continue as Superior General in December 2004. Regain, however, is very skeptical about internally motivated changes in the Legion and Regnum Christ. The new Superior General, Alvaro Corcuera, was personally parented from early adolescence by Fr. Maciel. He has publicly expressed his total filial adhesion to his father. Fr Maciel groomed Alvaro in Ireland during his adolescence and through his entrance into the male consecrated life. The real Legion power-holder appears to be the Rev. Luis Garza, L.C., who has worked closely with Fr. Maciel for decades. So, in this sense, there is no changing of the guard?.

 

10. Some speculate that the Vatican may carry out an internal audit? of the Legion

 

An Apostolic Visitation, similar to that in 1956-8, which was foiled by the Founder’s mind control of his subjects. Insider information reveals that Legion superiors have in fact been required by the Vatican to abolish the private Vows?, specifically the rule about not criticizing the superior and squealing on whoever does. But our experience as former Legionaries, confirmed by inside the insider information, tells us that Legionaries will – in keeping with the founder’s intention – continue to follow the spirit of the vows?. Even more, Legionaries believe in their heart of hearts that Ratzinger was wrong and that another pope will re-establish the good name of their Beloved Founder.

 

PAPAL ENVY: Going for the Gold of the Petrine Office

It is impossible to ignore the escalating propaganda, the highly visible conventions, and the massive internet proliferation of activities and links, all interlaced but, ultimately leading back to the lay-run Regnum Christi Movement and the Legionaries of Christ. Even as Vatican restrictions have increased against the Legion (the member composition of which has decreased significantly over the past few years) and complaints against Regnum Christi and the Legion have accumulated, their unabashed self-promotion in every conceivable area has intensified.

 

And what unusual activities they are promoting these days! Aside from hosting win-them-over galas for bishops and wealthy celebrities, holding conferences sponsored by Regnum Christi members (that spotlight their own speakers), and acquiring multi-million dollar retreat houses in strategic locations, the Legion’s recent public activities are out of the usual range of the Church’s concerns (i.e., faith, morals, sacraments). Yet, ecclesial or not, the most of the enterprises paraded on the internet and promoted in brochures benefit from their tax-exempt status and the authority bestowed on them by inclusion in the Official Catholic Directory.

 

There are so many eclectic and secular affiliates of the Legion – including the Lumen Institute, the Integer Group, Sportsleader, Natural Family Planning through the new (but not improved) Couple to Couple League, National Educational Consultants (made up of one man and his 5 support secretaries), toddler and youth groups (i.e., K4J, YTM, Conquest and Challenge), art sales and shows, private schools, home school organizations, media, movie-productions, and fashion shows.

 

It is truly amazing how many projects can be launched simultaneously. But who, in reality, runs them? The same Legionary names appear on boards, brochures and tax forms of unrelated activities. The same priests move about from event to event. Their double-breasted black suits are universally visible at events related to fields in which they have a vested interest. Similarly the same names of leaders among Regnum Christi lay-events are as common as the words Made in China are upon everyday goods of the USA. The words solidarity and integral are echoed throughout their myriad enterprises as if they were code words. But are these projects really as good and Catholic as they are touted to be, or are they just painted pigs and ponies for its benefactors and associates to ride on the Legion’s merry-go-round?

 

How can anyone keep current with so many organizations being repackaged renamed? It is a marketing circus featuring a three-ring show constantly before the public eye, and more than a few ringmasters and magicians perform simultaneously. The Legion makes its own news and reports itself in its many publications and media connections, including Zenit and National Catholic Register. It constantly moves along the necessary stories about itself, whether true or untrue, to keep the spotlight on itself.

 

Indeed, the Legion, with all its works and pomps, looks very impressive on the internet, in the brochures, and by its advertising. It looks good at the extravagant gala-and-religion events the Legion holds in Rome and elsewhere to impress the bishops, clergy, and wealthy lay leaders. Most appealing of all, the Legion looks very good through the grateful eyes of its targeted benefactors who in turn may find themselves the recipients of extravagant gifts: townhouses, luxury cars, banks, VIP trips, and tours.

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Those who know the reality from the inside are aware that, despite their well-educated smiles, Legionary brothers have nothing, not even health insurance or dental care, and they have nothing when they are dismissed or choose to leave. There are few who have the mind or will to leave on their own initiative; most are told that they have no vocation and should go get married. The Legionary priests as well as the seminarians leave in large numbers, even though this is officially kept quiet. If some health issue does not hasten their earlier departure, the seminarians vanish after about nine and a half years, since ten years marks the amount of time, canonically, that the Legion can avoid having to take financial responsibility for the seminarians’ well-being. Once outside, life is very bleak. Gone are previous friends, familiar family circles, life anchors, and landmarks. The men have no money, no purpose and no place to be; their faith is frequently shredded and their health damaged. They have no degree, no job training and no recommendations. Nor do they receive financial assistance from the Legion when they leave, even though they may have gleaned scores of new recruits and gained millions of dollars for the organization. The door is shut on these men and their history is rewritten, as if they had never existed.

 

In the face of such wide-spread betrayal and disappointment among former members and supporters, why cannot this travesty be exposed? How can this pirate ship stay afloat legally as well as ecclesiastically? The answer is simple: because they do not look like a pirate ship. Instead, their vessels are painted up and the hands decked out to look like the ships sailing with fleet of St. Peter. The Legion’s true ruse de guerre is to appear legitimate and avoid detection of their predatory intent. The Legion controls a large part of the secular and religious media. They can always find a new poster face – beautiful, young and winsome – to feature in the brochures. Prior to the founder, Marciel Maciel, being exposed for pedophilia, he was the living saint who was always in the spotlight. Since his death in January, 2008, the focus has shifted to a spectacular showcasing of the myriad works and countless apostolates of the Legion and Regnum Christi. It does not matter that many are mere storefronts; the perception of the public eye is that the Legion dominates the Catholic world. Behind everything that is done, however seemingly disconnected, there is a single strategic plan: to control Catholic education, media and public opinion. In doing so, the Legion and Regnum Christi can arrogate to themselves the voice of the legitimate authority of the Church.

 

This unholy ambition is little known to the rank-and-file Legionaries, less to the Regnum Christi members, and not at all to the Church hierarchy or the laity. Fr. Luis Garza, L.C., Fr. Evarista Sada, L.C., Fr. JosE Ortega, L.C., Fr. Anthony Bailleres, L.C. – these are thering-masters who govern the whole show. The other Territorial Directors, including Fr. Alvero Corcuera, are only their puppets. Joined by the wealthiest man in the world, Carlos Slim, who has promised to build fifty universities for the Legion, the real bosses of the Legion have their business origins and financial interests with other interconnected families that are concentrated in and around Monterrey, Mexico. However, Monterrey is not the only source; there is a network of global centers. Moscow has more billionaires than any city in the world, and the Legion is building its network there. In the seminaries, Chinese is being taught, which will help with the establishment of a Far East market. The Jerusalem Center is strategically situated in the oil-rich Middle East.

 

The boast of the Legion has always been, We’re going to take over the Church. It is well on its way to accomplishing this goal. The Legion has taken over good ideas, good will, and good people – and we must not forget good money – and turned them all to serve its own ends. One thing is certain: the Legion’s mission is to serve itself. Its constant purpose is to make money, to recruit, to spread influence, to take over existing organizations, and to polish up its public image.

 

There is a towering arrogance behind the Legion’s concerted efforts to identify with the Church and to become its leading authority, or perhaps to fool people into believing that this is so. Another word for legionary is mercenary or soldier of fortune. The concept of soldiers of fortune fits the Legionaries very accurately. The army of the Legion and its lay organization, Regnum Christi, are always seeking fortunes. Their apostolates are required (by Legionary central command) to show a profit; those which fail to do so are dropped.

 

The apostolic enterprises have a triple purpose: to recruit, to improve their overall public image, and to fill the Legion’s coffers with hundreds of millions of dollars in tax-exempt donations, which get passed around in circular giving in order to benefit a whole string of otherwise incongruous LC/RC enterprises. This amazingly effective propaganda machine takes any subject matter or fad of the moment, reworks it to their satisfaction, renames it and sets it spinning on the internet as a new apostolate. The whole new enterprise can be run by one or two people, or possibly none, since many of the apostolates are merely storefront operations. It is a vast web, reaching the ends of the globe and successfully shaping public perception. Furthered by massive advertising and appearances on the internet, the false illusion is being created that the Legion is the highest authority on every aspect of modern life in the Church and in the World.

 

If the Grand Prize for the Legion is control of the Papacy, then these seemingly unrelated activities make sense, like bells swinging together in a single tower. If the Legion and their affiliates intends to set itself up in public opinion as the New Vatican, it must undermine, out-shout, or spin to their advantage Pope Benedict XVI’s every message, even while toadying up to him, even as it did to Pope John Paul II. This is exactly what has been done, and a constant whisper campaign goes around to this effect: Pope Benedict just does not understand the Legion as well as the saintly Pope John Paul, but that can be corrected with a future pope. We’ll be patient.

 

The Legion has extensive secret files on its priests and seminarians, including their families. Files are kept on Regnum Christi members, both the consecrated women and lay members as well. The rival North American College in Rome trains top academic seminarians sent there from dioceses all over the USA; the Legion keeps secret files on these seminarians, too. Sometimes, NAC men are persuaded to join the Legion, but more often they are simply tagged for the future. These impressive young men who are studying for the priesthood and are the same age as the Legionary brothers will one day have parishes of their own. If these future diocesan priests can be won-over while they are in Rome, they will become useful to the Legion in a few years. The parish to which a diocesan priest is assigned will provide a portal through which the Legionaries can enter a diocese without the bishop’s official permission. A Regnum Christi program such as K4J, Challenge, Pure Fashion, or Familia needs only the approval of the parish pastor; such programs then begin to take away support and money that would otherwise go to the parish. Incidentally, diocesan priests can also be members of Regnum Christi, and the Legion is fishing for their talent and support. (Sacrados is a magazine for priests published by the Legion and epriest is a website for parish priests, but both present the Legion in the best possible PR spotlight).

 

It is the intention that is corrupt, not the Catholic message or setting that is wrong. The treachery lies in using good for self-serving ends. It is wrong to hold a hidden agenda of recruiting to the Legion or Regnum Christi through the publication, retreat, or institute. It is fraudulent to reach out to diocesan priests, who are too often isolated, in order to use their parishioners for recruiting. Most alarming, however, are the Legion’s secret global files on the Catholic hierarchy, leading politicians, cultural leaders, top businessmen, and wealthy philanthropists. Totalitarian governments and the mafia are known keep similar files stored to be exploited as needed. Throughout history, blackmail and bribery have ever been effective tools of manipulation. It is not unreasonable to assume that men of the hierarchy who are compromised would make easy targets for such despicable practices. Those who cannot be persuaded to support the Legion by bribery will knuckle before the threat of blackmail.

 

The Legion’s vast enterprise is like a maniac with a microphone standing before the façade of Jesus and His apostles atop St. Peter’s and shouting to the crowds below: All this belongs to ME! All of it is MINE! Like a carnival barker who invites all to step right up, the Legionary’s PR voice incessantly proclaims that the Legion is:

 

  • The voice of Catholic parenting, surpassing legitimate parents

 

  • The voice of Catholic psychology

 

  • The voice of Catholic tradition and conservatism

 

  • The voice of Catholic media

 

  • The voice of Catholic education, at all levels

 

  • The voice of Catholic radio

 

  • The voice of Catholic women

 

  • The voice of Children’s programs and youth activities

 

  • The voice of Catholic sexual ethics and bioethics

 

  • The voice of Catholic married couple’s support in NFP

 

  • The voice of Catholic pro-life

 

  • The voice of Catholic TV and media

 

  • The voice of Catholic exorcist training

 

  • The voice of Catholic environmentalism

 

  • The voice of Catholic home schooling

 

  • The voice of Catholic scientific endeavor

 

  • The voice of Catholic culture

 

  • The voice of Catholic taste and fashion

 

Above all others, We’re number one! We’re the BEST! And so the self-serving madman shouts down to the people below that the Legion is:

 

  • The global formator of priests, including reformation of diocesan priests

 

  • The international formator of lay men and women

 

  • The wise adviser to other religious orders and to Church leaders

 

  • The Pope’s most trusted advisor on all matters

 

  • The foremost provider of support and retreat centers for priests

 

  • The leader in world culture and art

 

  • The leading consultant of educators

 

  • The founder of the best schools, worldwide

 

  • The standard for good manners and etiquette in public events

 

  • The main provider of Roman hospitality for bishops and cardinals

 

  • The leading outreach to global initiatives in many countries

 

  • The most influential Catholic publisher

 

  • The leader of Catholic writing

 

  • The most ecumenically-minded on the world stage

 

  • The most athletic and confident of manly men

 

  • The intellectual authority on scientific developments

 

  • The supernatural authority on Marian apparitions

 

  • The most effective of exorcists

 

  • The best giver of advice on childrearing

 

  • The dominant presence in missionary ventures

 

  • The creator of teen-age fashion and manners

 

  • The creator of the most popular movies

 

  • The developer of educational curricula

 

This is neither a whimsical nor casual list. Astounding as it may seem, all have detectible ties to the Legion and their affiliates. The Legion seeks to co-opt not only leadership in religious life but also most areas of secular life as well. The resulting conglomerate gives the powerful and rich Regnum Christi businessmen a competitive edge through networking and tax-shelters, as their various apostolates grow into monopolies, eliminating all rivals in their concentrated areas of activity and enterprise:

 

  • Banks, micro-lending, stocks, and investments

 

  • Real estate and mortgage industry

 

  • Political events and elections

 

  • Credit cards

 

  • Internet companies

 

  • Sports at all levels

 

  • Media and filmmaking

 

  • Global communications, internet, data, and cyber-business

 

The Legion does not showcase its many connections, and faithful Catholics do not see the Legion’s increasing coups in high and low places. With the help of their business affiliates and Regnum Christi connections, the Legion appropriates any good idea, initiative or thing, repackages it and sells it under their own name-brand label.? Hundreds of millions of dollars are pumped into this vast marketing, advertising, and PR effort. In this noisy and vulgar shell-game, few can follow the slight-of-hand.

 

How many of those who have invested in the Legion have also risen financially by the LC/RC network of tax-exempt circular giving? It is impossible to say, but more than a few score of the NYC-DC-Naples-Dallas-Houston-Atlanta set must be laughing at how their membership among the elite in the Movement has become an opportunity for them to do splendidly for themselves and to gain all kinds of profit while supporting the Legion – simultaneously kindling candles for God and for the Devil.

 

Everyone wants to back what looks like a winning and successful endeavor, and the Legion certainly portrays itself in this golden light. Many have been and continue to be dazzled by the glow of Legionary fool’s gold. The reality, however, translates into something quite different – disappointment, sadness, anger, betrayal, and regret. These are the real fruits of the Legion and Regnum Christi: loss of legitimate Church authority, loss of family, and loss of community. The list of losses is long: lost children, trust, faith, fortunes, purpose, lives, opportunities, vocations, and time – all lost. Massive confusion reigns where once a clear-eyed, young Legionary novice stood, proud to be in training for the priesthood and eager to serve God. It is no wonder that so many who leave have a crisis of faith; some become permanently disaffected from the Church.

 

What knowing Catholic can in good conscience endorse the new slavery that makes this empire possible? The slaves are not just the diminishing ranks of Legionary priests who trustingly obey those in higher command. There is a much larger and highly mobile army of athletic, handsome, well-mannered, young LC seminarians who dress exactly like priests, and sometimes are instructed to call themselves Padre, when priests are scarce. The grunt-work of their operations run in large part because of mandatory volunteer service (i.e., co-workers and giving a year…or ten). These co-workers are always very young, college-age youths – old enough to be considered legal adults, however – who are sent to South America, Central America, Europe, or the Middle East. Once out of the USA with its protective laws, these young people can unwittingly further business connections, even as they give a living promotion of the LC/RC kingdom. In this way, the Regnum Christi has a self-perpetuating pool made up of very low-wage, dedicated workers who become dependent on the Movement for their livelihood and future, but who are poor enough that they can be removed with prejudice and without repercussions.

 

The Legion has been called a parallel church, and so it is. But it is more accurately a fifth column, a group of people which clandestinely undermines a larger group to which loyalty is expected. What is the solution for all this? Simply: the fifth column that the Legion has erected within the Church and in the Free World needs to come down. No free republic, no Christian community needs this kind of exploitation and misery masquerading as good. How can the Church remain faithful or the republic remain free if both are controlled by a tax-exempt monopoly that has billions of dollars at the disposal of a multi-faceted and enormous financial empire which is both corrupt and dangerous?

 

What a nightmare for the courts lies ahead! Will the faithful-in-the-pews be required to pay, as happens in the corporate world, as with the demise of companies such as Enron? Or will the Church be held responsible for the Legion’s illicit practices, as it has been for the predatory practices of pedophile priests? Will the Church be seen as complicit, since the Legion’s priests are now receiving official diocesan assignments and are running retreats for diocesan priests? Their organizations are listed on numerous parish websites and bulletins, as well as in national directories, including the Official Catholic Directory. All endorse the LC/RC apostolates and schools as reliably Catholic. What happens when the entire outfit is exposed for the lie that it is and people start asking, as they will: Why didn’t the bishop protect my son/daughter from getting sucked into this? Will the USCCB continue to state, as it has in the past, that bishops have no authority over the Legion?

 

Maciel is dead. His underling bosses who run the Legion should not have authority over the faithful; they should be put in jail. And all those bewildered, faithful LC/RC supporters, who do not have a clue about the real nature of the outfit they have been supporting, should be led back into the True Church – not away from it by the Legionary imposter. They can continue their good works, but their support for Regnum Christi, by any name, must cease and desist. Many captive hearts need to be ransomed.

 

The only thing that should be in the heart or on the roof of St. Peter’s is the figure of Christ and His apostles, not a rapacious pirate hiding behind the Savior’s banner or attempting to raise that standard, as if it were of the Legion’s own making.

 

The Lying Legionary

By Glenn Favreau

For Christians, no treatise is necessary to show that lying is sinful. The notion is engrained in us, as a type of expression of the natural law. It is sinful to lie, but it is also inhuman, in other words, to lie makes a person less of a human being.

Lying by Example
The Legionary of Christ is trained to lie from the very onset of his vocation. There are no classes in lying taught immediately after Gregorian Chant class on Friday nights, because the approach is more “subtle” given by example as well as by command. Within the Legion, a variety of subterfuges justify the lying, and amazingly, even many of those who have left the Legion years ago still engage in the practice. Along with the lies, many former members wish to advance the “Kingdom” by sending ReGAIN letters in support of the Legion, which are laced with profanity and obscenities. The ability to distinguish between what is appropriate and objective sin is obviously lost, as such letters usually end with a curiously contradictory “In Christ” or “I will pray for you.”

Self Importance and the Rule of Discretion
Legionaries often keep secrets, under the guise of what they call “discretion,” with the excuse of protecting the Legion from the scheming of its “enemies.” We were told countless times that if a certain fact got out, the enemies of the Legion (Jesuits, Masons, Communists, and Zionists) would sabotage the work of God for the Kingdom. What sort of organization, admittedly small and of limited influence, would be so willing to do so much in the name of a false sense of self-importance? Do these groups really even know who the Legionaries of Christ are, let alone even care if they take over yet another struggling Catholic School?

It’s the Mexican Way!?
Another flimsy excuse for abusing the truth is the dubious statement, “The Legion is Mexican in origin, and it is the Mexican way.” I know many Mexicans who would take issue with such a bigoted statement. And, even if the argument were to be entertained as true, then evangelizing such a society about integrity and the importance of telling the truth would be an obvious mandate of the Church. Using this purported defect to advance the project of evangelization should be unconscionable and indefensible. Good things are never to be pursued by bad means.
The Legionary is trained in a variety of instances to lie. The examples below, together with corresponding excuses are compiled and attested to by various ex-members. These instances are not isolated. They are the norm and they are habitual.

On Leaving the Legion
Superiors often lie to their subjects regarding those brothers and priests who leave the Legion. “He was mentally ill” or “He was sent on a special secret mission for the pope by Nuestro Padre” are just a couple of the ridiculous examples we witnessed, used by worried superiors wanting to keep hold of the men under their watch. There must be a better way to protect the remaining vocations than to lie about the discernment process of exiting members.
Parents are routinely lied to about the spiritual well-being of their sons, and by their own sons themselves. Legion rules dictate this. The religious may never reveal the true nature of his spiritual life to his parents. Parents are not only left out of vocational discernment, but are deceived as to its progress. A parent is often the last person to know when his or her son leaves the Legion, and that phone call is often to ask for money for the plane ticket home.

Render onto Caesar!
To avoid undesirable consequences for the Legion and to advance the Kingdom of Christ, Legionaries often lie to legitimate legal authorities. The Legionary seems to think that he will be held to a different standard than any other person because of his “divine mission.”
With the excuse that “everyone does it” (usually in Italy and Mexico), Legionaries constantly lie to civil authorities. This is done in matters of construction permits, vehicle registration, tax exemptions, fiscal reporting, and so on. Once again, the Kingdom is more important than the truth, the end more compelling than the illicit means to achieve it.
Legionaries even lie to immigration officials as if the Legion were more important then this vital regulation of public welfare. Young Latin Americans are brought to different countries, including the United States, and are granted student visas when in fact these young people are being used as cheap labor in Legion houses. Without any educational process in place, not even a local language class, the Legion attests under oath that they are students.
Young workers from other countries are often lied to when they are told how much they will make, and assured that the Legion will provide for their high school education. That is simply a fallacy. Future “apostles” -even entire families – who actually move from one country to another to be missionaries, are told of the wonderful work they will do for the Kingdom. At times, they are suddenly told that their participation is not needed and they have to return to their home at their own expense.

Un-Intellectual Misinformation
The Legion is expert in falsifying educational records. Seminarians who fall behind or fail in their studies have their grades adjusted by their superiors so that they can graduate or get degrees. The Legion has no qualms about lying to the state with regard to educational requisites for high school degrees. (Certain high-ranking superiors in the United States have benefited from this. The existence of high-ranking superiors without the ability to pass high school subjects speaks volumes of the intellectual formation in the Legion of Christ). Seminarians who have not yet finished their required studies will have falsified educational records sent to the Vicariate of Rome for ordination. (Certainly, in the secular world, even so-called “best selling authors” would find their resumes in question if the truth was told about their real qualifications. But if the excuse that everyone pads resumes is valid, then the Legionary priest is not setting a very high example.)

The Almighty (Buck)
The Legion of Christ is notorious for not paying its creditors on time and for often defaulting on bill payment. The Legionary brother who fields creditor calls is an expert in lying to people who are legitimately owed money that the Legion has used in the form of goods and services.
Anyone asking for money from the Legion of Christ for any purpose has heard the same lie for decades now: “Given the economic crisis that the Legion is passing through due to the devaluation of the Mexican peso!.” Many readers will laugh at this as they have seen it so many times. I personally had a macro for it on the computer that I used to write letters for the General Directorate and for Marcial Maciel in the early 1990s.
Benefactors of the Legion are constantly lied to as to the destination of their donations. Whether their gifts were solicited for the missions, the welfare of the Candidates, the building of a particular seminary, or the altar of a new chapel, funds are simply not earmarked that way in the Legion’s “centralized” economy. Additionally, the same altar will be “bought” over and over again by many benefactors who have been led to believe that their hard-earned money will be the crowning touch of the wonderful chapel.
On a subject that certainly crosses the line of impropriety, Legionaries who work in the financial offices are told to throw Mass intentions into the garbage without keeping track of names, with the excuse that “There are just too many, we will just lump them all together.” The money, of course, is not returned to the donor. Mass intentions are sacrosanct, and lying to the faithful in this regard is particularly evil, especially when these Mass intentions are specifically solicited by the Legion.

Father Told Me So
Another source of lies in the Legion is the superiors themselves. Often, individual Legionaries are specifically instructed to lie ! both to individuals outside the Movement and to each other. One common example would be the dispatch of a religious on an unannounced assignment; he would often be told to tell his fellow religious something other than the truth. Again, this is a perfect example of the obsession with secrecy and self-importance of the Legion itself.
Entire communities, and the entire Legion itself are at times told to lie by major superiors. Usually the mandate comes in the form of a letter indicating what to say to “outsiders”when asked certain questions. Half-truths are to be told about apostolates, rather than revealing some all-important project that is going to “lock Satan in Hell forever.”Unfortunately, the motivation is often pride or actual fear that ulterior motives may be revealed.
Legionaries routinely lie about the true nature of many apostolates, especially those designed by superiors for recruiting for the Regnum Christi. Too often, people are told the truth about recruitment and incorporation into the Regnum Christi only after many high-pressure tactics and love-bombing have firmly planted the hook in them.
Stories abound of Legionaries lying to people whom they visit when on road trips to recruit or look for funds. The motivation is to get more money, better meals, or better lodging. So the unsuspecting hosts will offer one or more of these things, being led to believe that the poor priest and brother have nowhere to stay the night, when in fact, they have already secured more humble lodgings elsewhere.
Legion superiors have for many years manipulated reports of the numbers of religious and priests in the Legion. Self-reporting to the United States Catholic Directory or the Pontifical Directory (Annuario Pontificio) is notoriously inaccurate with regard to the Legion of Christ. This manipulation is perfectly calculated to give false impressions about growth and presence in a given place. Ironically, these statistics are falsified in both directions: either to give the impression that the Legion is much greater than in reality, or to minimize a large presence in a city or country, depending on the needs and whims of major superiors.

If Only the Bishop Knew
Bishops and diocesan officials are the targets of many lies by the Legion of Christ. Without mentioning the many specific examples which have been documented in dioceses and by the press, there is a certain trend that is worth delineating: bishops are told only a part of the truth of the activities of the Legion and the Regnum Christi, when they are told at all. Leaving out important points such as the planned foundation and take over of Catholic schools (using the excuse that the school is private and will later seek diocesan approval) is a typical approach. Recruitment of vocations for the Legion is a secret not to be shared with bishop who simply will not understand or who is not getting any vocations for his own diocese at present anyway.

Wouldn’t it be Nice! – if it Were True
Young men who are targeted for recruitment by the Legion of Christ have been told a whole series of lies regarding life in the Legion in order to hook them and reel them in. One of the most vicious of these lies concerns the promise of education. For decades, the Legion has promised young men that they will study for a civil career in the Legion. I was told that only twenty years ago. The Legion has never delivered on that promise. On the other hand, if a Legionary leaves under difficult circumstances, the congregation will occasionally “lose” critical transcripts, forcing the man to retake years of classes. Lies, in this case, go hand-in-hand with personal retribution.

Weak Vocations of the Miracle Congregation
The strong and revolutionary vocational training program of the Legion of Chris -?that promises the Church such robust and faithful young men -is the same training program that treats its own members as if they cannot handle the slightest challenge to their vocation. The brothers are lied to constantly about any detail that a superior might thing will cause the infamous “vocational crisis” in them. It seems such a contradiction that the well-formed Legionaries cannot know about important news events, church dissenters, any questions or criticisms of the Legion, or family difficulties. From the youngest member to the oldest, from the novice to the new priest, the Legionaries are “protected” from these“vicious,” potentially “crisis-causing” events. Superior either simply omit such things from the subjects’ world of knowledge, or lies outright about the details.
If, for example, a brother is never told of the marital problems through which his parents are passing, even to the point of separation, then those who deprive him of letters from home which outline that situation are lying to him (not to mention depriving the family of essential prayer support). What good is his vocation if he “saves” the world and yet denies his own family the honest communication it deserves?

Hat in Hand Humility Hype
Legionaries are trained to be very humble with outsiders (although some arrogance does seep through) in order to gain confidence and sympathy. “Here are these nice young men, so poor and humble coming to ask me to give them my house and my life savings for the Kingdom. How can I resist?” Those who are best at this type of scam are sent out to represent a multi-million dollar corporation – run by a priest who is a member of the richest family in the world, the Garza Medina family and founded by a man who taught his spiritual sons to lie to cover up his sexual abuse of them – indeed, a man who could not fly in less than first class or stay in anything less than a five star hotel himself.

The Whisper Campaign
One of the most insidious and evil forms of outright lying in the Legion by individual Legionaries is employed to deal with “dissenters” who leave the Regnum Christi. They deftly combine ostracizing with backhanded whispers about these traitorous souls. Many ex-members of the Regnum Christi find themselves subtly but effectively blackballed, losing a considerable number of their friends and associates. If individuals opt out of the Regnum Christi, then they are totally out – and lies about them, their motivation, and their spiritual and moral life will guarantee that they be treated like lepers among the “chosen ones” who are still under the thrall of the Legion and Marcial Maciel.
God help any diocesan priest or bishop who does not see eye to eye with the Legion. He will be targeted by a campaign of innuendo and tarred as not faithful to the Pope. Whispers and innuendo are the tools used to carry falsehoods to the point of destroying individual reputations.

Oh yeah: and all for the good of the Kingdom.
The fact that the Legion covers this behavior with so-called fidelity to the Pope, then wraps it up in a cassock and tops it off with perfectly-gelled hair makes the reality no more pretty or acceptable. A lie is a lie is a lie. And a liar is in league with the powers of evil. The sooner that members see what this “inspired” methodology masks, the better’ and an honest evaluation of real integrity would find that their “Kingdom” is built on very shaky ground indeed.

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