Category: Legion of Christ

Vatican Enroll Legion’s Help to Conquer The Media

English translation of French article in Le Canard Enchaine? on Feb. 23, 2011 with explanations from Xavier Leger.

Our friend Xavier Leger has sent us an article that appeared in Le Canard Enchaine,on Feb. 23, 2011.

For those who are unfamiliar with French media, Xavier has vouched for the credibility of this source. He has told us that the Canard Enchaine is not a tabloid type newspaper. He advises that usually, it is the official channel to bring some problematic information to light, that it is considered a good source of political information and that even some bishops read it. Even if their sources are sure, we should consider that the tone of its articles are usually caustic and a bit caricatural.

Following is the best translation we have available from French to English. We felt that some of the clarity of meaning had been lost in translation and asked Xavier to clarify this for us.

The Vatican?s Inner Circle

Almost 80 wealthy businessmen, captains of industry, or directors of multi-national corporations, met on January 22 and 23 at the Vatican. This international religious souvenir conference was the result of an invitation from the foul smelling Legionaries of Christ. Housed in the Domus Santa Maria, a six-story building located so close to St. Peter?s Basilica you can smell the incense, the participants did not travel all that way only to say two Our Father?s and three Hail Mary?s.

The purpose of this conclave: to squeeze millions of Euros out of them in order to help the church meet the challenge of a renewed presence in the media landscape. Among them were several French patrons, including Claude Bebear (honorary president of AXA), Michel-Yves Bollore (older brother of Vincent), Jean-Francois Henin (former director of Credit Lyonnais), and Gonzague de Blignieres (CEO of Barclays Private Equity).

Sex and the Internet
These spiritual heirs of Fr. Marcial Maciel were given the responsibility of bringing together this papal inner circle, and of organizing the event. The Mexican priest, who founded the Legionaries of Christ in 1941 and passed away quietly in 2008, succumbed to evil temptations throughout his life. Enthusiastically so, since he was involved with at least two women and three children. As though possessed by the devil, this odd cleric was equal parts drug addict, plagiarist and pedophile.

It took the church more than sixty years to realize all this and to condemn his serious and immoral conduct. All the while, the establishment of a vast system of corruption festering in the Vatican allowed Fr. Maciel to obtain favors from the Roman curia. For charitable purposes, no doubt.

Quickly coming off smelling like a holy rose after the condemnation of their spiritual leader, the Legionaries of Christ are being entrusted by the Vatican with a sacred mission. They must evangelize the masses through modern and reliable media. That is why they need the money.

Small Donors or Employers
It was his hagiographer, the aptly named Jesus Colina, director of the Catholic news agency Zenit, who welcomed the pious employers. At this first Catholic Davos, the wealthy attendees are being invited to contribute, by means of foundation grants, to the creation of large Catholic media enterprises.

Bebear has written a check for one million euros. In turn Henin has shelled out 1.2 million to obtain God?s grace. These initial checks will be used to launch and operate an internet platform. There is some urgency. A document sent to participants states, The foundation of our civilization is at risk. Heavens!

As a final effort to persuade them, these Catholic sponsors sensitive to the cause are entitled to one private evening (visit) to the Sistine Chapel, a dinner in the prestigious surroundings of the Vatican Museum, a religious talk with Fr. Lombardi, spokesmanfor the pope, and to top it all off, an angelus with the Holy Father, Benedict XVI.

But there is always a kill-joy. Not unexpectedly, the slick and holy are unhappy. It?s a mafia, confesses a cardinal. Maciel may be gone, but his methods have survived him.

A Roman prelate, as always under the secrecy of the confessional, believes that the Legionaries are taking advantage of the current weakness of the pope to reclaim their small business interests. And yet, that was why Cardinal Ratzinger (later Benedict XVI) chased them out of Rome.

While undoubtedly breaking with a certain Mafia tradition, they have donned a third philosophical cassock: An octopus, like the Phoenix, will always rise again. After all, it is for the greater glory of God.

Didier Hassoux.

ReGAIN Comments:
Overall, we would be concerned that the Legion, which has been under investigation and reform for some time now being entrusted to take a major role in raising enormous amounts of money from wealthy and powerful business people and in so doing they enter into a more intimate financial relationship with the most powerful people in the hierarchy. Xavier agreed that this is so and adds that the Legion would be buying the Church in some way.

Xavier explained the title: le premier cercle fricard du Vatican. The premier cercledoes not translate exactly to mean inner circle in English. It simply means the people who are physically around someone. Fricard is a slang word meaning very rich.

The translation refers to a renewed presence in the media landscape and the stated reason for this is to evangelize the masses by effectively using the media.

It seemed to us that the intention of this powerful group will not be so much to spread the good news about Jesus (that would be a good thing). It is more likely that they would be using the power of the media to influence the masses to counteract the bad image from all the sexual abuse scandals. This gets into a very gray area.

Xavier offered his opinion that the Legion is fueled by a persecution complex toward the outside world and the media and that their approach (rather than making real change) is to give the outward appearance that they are super achievers when they are not. With this new initiative the Legion may be attempting to progressively transmit its persecution complex and (deceptive) policies to the Vatican officials. As this happens, it could reduce the need for positive change in the Church and instead serve to bring about improvement only in the efficiency of covering up scandals.

Is the Legion being put into a position where they can remake the Church over into its (Maciel?s) own image? That is a scary thought.

Xavier advises that the Legion is taking over more control of the Vatican information services. The general manager of telecommunications for the Vatican is a Legionary (Father Fernando Vergez Alzaga: Click here.

Zenit, which is Legion owned and controlled has become a semi official news agency of the Vatican (they would tell you that it is not true, because they are independent, and work with other communities (which may be true)… But Jesus Colina is an ex LC, still under the influence of the Legion. Look at how Zenit treated the Maciel issue and how much the teachers of the CES of Rome are frequently interviewed about bioethics for instance). The Spanish version of L?Osservatore Romano is directed by a Legionary (Arturo Gutierrez:Click here. The most important web portal of the Catholic Church in Spanish (catholic.net) is directed by Legionaries.

We noted that the author of the French article used some colorful wording to describe Fr Maciel and he mentioned that his Legion established a vast system of corruption festering in the Vatican. Xavier explained that some of these people are known to be sharks who find in this kind of sponsorship an opportunity to obtain the blessing of the Church without having to make any serious examination of conscience. They are able to purchase an outward appearance of goodness.

The hook that is being used in the media campaign is that the foundation of our civilization is at risk. We wonder if there is more risk from the media trying to make the Church look bad or from this group of fricards working together with the Legion (with full support from the Holy See) to achieve whatever agenda they might have.

The article mentions that one of the cardinals made a statement: It?s a mafia. We asked Xavier if he thought this applied to the group of benefactors or to the Legion. Xavier said the comment referred to the Legion.

The French article refers to the current weakness of the Pope. There is no explanation for this worrisome item of information. Is there some issue we are unaware of that is allowing the Legion to overcome any resistance from the Holy Father, who has bravely taken on the Legion and their founder for several years?

The article ends with a second comparison of the Legion to the Mafia and to the Phoenix rising from the ashes.

For those who believed that the Legion ship was slowly sinking, this article raises new concerns that the Legion may be getting a strangle hold on Vatican power to lead the church in a wrong direction. Fortunately we know that the good guys win in the end but the road ahead may be bumpy for a while.

 

Ex Legionary Testimonies “Mind Control Techniques And An Escape From A Locked Room”

On the 2nd anniversary date of the death of Fr. Marcial Maciel, there were two different postings in the comments on Life-After-RC Click Here to See Posts ,

one by “Jose” an ex-Legionary priest who “decided” to join the Legionaries of Christ at the age of 13 and one by “This Little Light”, another ex Legionary priest.

“Jose” tells of his experience with the Legion, including the difficulties he went through 11 years later when he decided that he no longer wished to belong to the Legion. He had advised his spiritual director of his decision and was made to wait for a period of two years to get the permission that he needed from the General Director, Fr. Marcial Maciel. During this waiting period, he was made to feel that he was abandoning his vocation that he had been called to from all Eternity and he was urged to be “more generous” and “to be more patient and pray”.
Jose says that he was coerced through his vow of obedience into reluctantly renewing his vows for another two years, even though he had clearly stated he wanted out.

When he finally did receive Fr Maciel’s permission to leave he was pressured to keep it a secret from everyone. He was whisked away without notice to the airport in the middle of the night without an opportunity to say goodbye to any of those he had lived in community with for eleven years.

“Jose” shares how during his years with the Legion, he was forbidden to share his sufferings and true feelings with any family members or friends.

“This Little Light” provides a disturbing account of how frequently there were mental breakdowns among candidates, some of whom he believes had to deal with terror and extreme stress. He gives an account of how the Legion dealt with one such case. Instead of taking the person to get medical or psychiatric treatment, the person was relocated from Connecticut to another Legion facility in New York State (Rye), where he was locked in his third floor room and left alone to deal with his own problems. When they finally checked the next morning to see how he was doing, the person had “escaped” and taken a bus to his home.

<b>ReGAIN Comment</b>:

Without such testimonies courageously offered from those who have lived on the inside it would be difficult for those on the outside to understand the true cult structure of the Legion and Regnum Christi. When people know some of the current members, who are wholesome, attractive, well spoken, sincere devout Catholics they are unable to believe that there is anything wrong with the religious order or movement that these good people are part of. ReGAIN and similar websites do not exist because the members are not good people. It is the spiritually and emotionally toxic environment they exist in and the true motives of the Legion and Regnum Christi that we believe need to be challenged.

The details of life as a Legionary or “consecrated” 3gf Regnum Christi member are kept extremely secretive and the members are isolated and alienated from outside influences including their own beloved family members. The rules for the “kingdom” were established and tightly controlled for decades by the disgraced founder Fr. Maciel (who was found by the Vatican to be “devoid of religious sentiment”). Tales of anguish and difficulty in leaving the Legion and restricted availability to medical care recur in several former testimonies on this site and elsewhere.

It requires discernment to evaluate the type of testimony given by ex members because it is usually only available anonymously on the Internet. So each person needs to discern the truth. One factor that lends credibility to the many hundreds of stories similar to the two that are outlined above and to others that are found here on ReGAIN, on Life-After-RC blog and on other similar websites is the consistency from one testimony to another. Each one reinforces the next ones and previous ones that provide a similar message that comes from a variety of different sources. Another litmus test is to compare the details of each story with any details that the reader already knows to be true.

It is a helpless feeling when you have someone living on the inside to gradually discover that the person you love is gradually losing his or her precious free will and being manipulated by deceitful and inhuman practices into a life of mind numbing subservience, naively believing that they are an elite group of superior Christians.

Legion Empire Crumbling?

According to a recent report from Patrick Madrid (to see article – Click Here the Legion is falling on hard times since the exposure of the disgraced founder?s fraudulent lifestyle. American Legionary priests are abandoning the order, and “thousands of disheartened and disillusioned lay members of Regnum Christi have likewise bolted” as vocations and donations are “way, way down”.

According to the article “waves of layoffs have hit the lay employees of the order’s many lay apostolates and business ventures”.

Circle Media, the Legion’s U.S. publishing entity has disappeared along with other Legionary owned and operated ventures. Significantly, the Legion is expected to soon announce the sale of the National Catholic Register as well as Catholic Faith and Family, both of which they have owned since 1995.

Enrolments in apostolic schools have been dwindling and some of Legion’s American holdings are being sold off.

ReGAIN Comment:
Will the Legion leaders eventually realize that if they want to rebuild, they need to change their policies and attitudes? Now, two years after the exposure of the fraudulent and criminal lifestyle of their founder, the Legion has not shown a will to change. They seem to have accepted that their founder generally did some bad things but they have been loathe to identify specific acts, other than the obvious things that were exposed when his mistresses and children became publicly known. They have not publicly acknowledged the faults in their present structure that are an embarrassment to the Church.

The Legion leaders have outwardly expressed a willingness to do whatever the Vatican orders them to do (but not necessarily anything beyond what is forced on them). Otherwise, they have failed to demonstrate a willingness to make corrections to the structure and policies of the Legion and Regnum Christi to overcome the shortcomings identified in the May 1, 2010 Vatican communique. Their actions over the last two years have shown that they wish to cling to their old ways and simply blame all current woes on their founder.

The Vatican identified a “need to review the exercise of authority, which must be linked to truth, in order to respect conscience and develop in the light of the Gospel as authentic ecclesial service”.
It may be possible that these issues are being addressed behind the scenes but if so we would expect that it would only happen if they are squeezed hard enough by the Vatican. In the meantime, there are signs that the Legion empire is crumbling.”

Gambling With History – Part I of Jason Berry’s December 2010 Article

Jason Berry points out the risk involved for the Vatican in taking control of the Legion. He poses questions about the Church’s handling of the larger related issue of sexual abuse by the highest Catholic Authorities and why the Vatican ignored credible cases of sexual abuse by Fr. Marcial Maciel the founder of the Legion. Jason Berry points out the challenges that the Vatican now faces in bringing justice as the Legion continues their old tactics of schmoozing and influencing Vatican officials.

There seems to be favorable intentions to provide compensation for some of Fr. Maciel’s victims. Although this would be an unprecedented step, the action seems to fall short, considering that some senior Church authorities are making positive statements about the Legion (the congregation is strong) and even about Fr. Maciel (praising the strength and dynamism by which he built up the Legion).

Jason Berry provides a rather dismal image of the foxes (old guard Legionary priests who defended Fr. Maciel) who have now been entrusted by the Vatican to guard the proverbial hen house (reform and rebuild the Legion).

To see Part 1 of Jason Berry’s Article in the NCR article Gambling With History

ReGAIN Editorial Comment:

ReGAIN shares Jason Berry’s doubts whether or not staunch supporters of Fr. Maciel and the structures he created can be considered to be top choices for such a challenging project. Generally, based on past performance we have noticed that most of the Legionary leaders (excluding those who have left the Legion) have shown a total lack of desire to accept any form of criticism and to even consider changing course to bring about a healthier and more just environment. We have noticed strong tendencies to deny and obfuscate and in some cases to use deception until they are forced by pressure from the Vatican to make changes.
One of ReGAIN’s greatest concerns is in the area regarding freedom of conscience that was recognized in the May 1 Vatican communique. Is anyone who has spent the greater part of their adult lives inside the Legion environment capable of recognizing that it is abnormal to have every aspect of your behavior information thoughts and emotions tightly controlled to the point where you have no personal freedom of thought or conscience?

“Whitewashing History” Part II of Jason Berry’s December 2010 Article

Jason Berry continues with his constructive criticism of the Vatican’s handling of the Legionary scandal and singles out one of Fr Maciel’s former defenders, George Weigel, who together with other of the disgraced founder’s defenders failed to interview the men who had come forth regarding their sexual abuse by Fr Maciel. Jason Berry points out that although George Weigel has recently become a critic of the Legion and one of the leading conservative voices to call for Legion reform. However, Jason Berry claims that George Weigel continues to sanitize the past by being overprotective of the role played by Pope John Paul II, former Secretary of State Angelo Sodano and others in their support of Fr Maciel.

Jason Berry goes on to explain some details of Vatican politics and how they relate to the current situation in bringing reform to the Legion.

To see Part I1 of Jason Berry’s Article in the NCR article <a href=http://ncronline.org/news/accountability/george-weigel-whitewashing-history>Whitewashing History</a>

<b>ReGAIN Editorial Comment</b>:

Jason Berry avers that the overall situation with the Legion and Regnum Christi is about far more than just Maciel. ReGAIN wishes to see reform and justice served regarding the Legion and Regnum Christi and all of those persons who have been negatively affected. Although we do not necessarily agree with every one of Jason Berry’s comments, we agree with him that Vatican politics has complicated the overall situation.

However, the Catholic Church has finally made progress in finally opening up such a horrendous Pandora’s Box and we have become increasingly concerned that the Church seems to be wavering now that they have a perfect opportunity to do the right thing.

We offer kudos to Jason Berry, who has shown courage, integrity and honesty by making statements that are uncomfortable and that have been mostly left unsaid by other writers and leaders. We hope that others will be inspired to follow his example to seek out and report the truth no matter how uncomfortable it may be in the interests of bringing a just resolution for all those who have been and continue to be harmed by past and current self serving members of the Legion.

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