The Legion Comes Unglued

The myth of the "saintly" founder of the Legionaries of Christ has completely unravelled with the revelation that Marcial Maciel Degollado fathered one or more children in his latter years. Since his priestly faculties were suspended by Pope Benedict a few years ago, the Legion hasn't been quite as loud in their defense of Maciel, but still released an imprudent statement when he died about the "departure of its dear Father Founder... to the heavenly homeland." He died, they said in a letter to affiliates, "with the peace that always filled his soul." It would have been more to the point to beg for prayers for his salvation instead of this near canonization.

I've never trusted the Legionaries of Christ. Call it a woman's instinct, but I just couldn't stand the worship fest and rule that made "the founder" the center of the universe and shrouded him in secrecy and forbade any criticism. (Pope Benedict nullified those two private vows a few years ago.) Only one man belongs at the center of our faith and he's depicted, not as a man of honor, but humiliated and despised. "There was in him no stately bearing to make us look at him, nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering, accustomed to infirmity, one of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned, and we held him in no esteem." (Isaiah 53) That is certainly not the picture of Maciel who always appeared to relish his place of honor and fostered his image of living saint.

What should happen now with the Legionaries? Canon Lawyer Edward Peters says what "must not happen" is "Any more language whatsoever from Legion leadership that tries to spin this disaster." He decried their initial reaction which he felt treated people as "idiot children." He's also made some sensible suggestions that include the possibility of disbanding the Legion and reestablishing it as a new order releasing those who wish to go into the diocesan priesthood or elsewhere. A serious examination and a fresh start may be exactly what's needed, but not with the leadership that circled the wagons and fostered the myth of the saintly persecuted founder for so long. Some of them had to know the truth. And we've seen enough of secrecy and dissembling among churchmen in the past decade to last a lifetime. Those who helped cover up Maciel's secrets belong repenting in a monastery. With all the U.S. bishps who covered up sex abuse there are enough to start an entire order - how about the Order of Atonement. Part of their rule can be two hours a day scrubbing floors and cleaning toilets at a local jail reflecting on where they deserve to be.

For other reactions to the breaking scandal see Phil Lawler of Catholic World News, Rocco Palmo, of Whispers in the Loggia, and Damian Thompson of the UK.