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Wow - how sad. I had heard the rumors before. Evidently, there was some reason for concern. otherwise Pope Benedict would not have taken such a public action. http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/5/19/110334.shtml?s=ic Pope Disciplines Legionaries' Founder
The Vatican said Friday it had asked the Mexican founder of the conservative order Legionaries of Christ to renounce celebrating public Masses and live a life of "prayer and repentance" following its investigation into allegations he sexually abused seminarians.
The Legionaries said in a statement that the Rev. Marcial Maciel, while declaring himself innocent of charges spanning several decades, accepted the Vatican decision "with faith, complete serenity and tranquility of conscience."
Pope Benedict XVI approved the sanctions against Maciel - making it the first major sexual abuse disciplinary case he has handled since taking office last year. The move was first reported Thursday by the U.S. newspaper National Catholic Reporter.
Victims of clerical sex abuse hailed the decision.
"Maciel is the most powerful Catholic official to ever face Vatican sanctions for child sexual abuse," said David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, a U.S. victims' support group.
However, the group said it hoped the Vatican would go further by defrocking Maciel.
"It's hard to imagine a single act that would more strongly show that child sex crimes within the church will not be tolerated," Clohessy said. "Voluntary restrictions on Maciel will, to some, seem too little, too late."
The case is significant because Maciel is one of the most prominent Roman Catholic Church officials disciplined by the Vatican for alleged involvement in child sexual abuse. It is also noteworthy because Maciel was so warmly regarded by Pope John Paul II.
Benedict's approval of the sanctions showed that he is not beholden to John Paul's legacy when it comes to dealing with what he once called the "filth" in the Catholic Church _ a widely understood criticism of clerical sex abuse.
Since 1998, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which Benedict headed before he became pope, has been investigating allegations by former seminarians that Maciel sexually abused them decades ago.
Nine former seminarians first accused Maciel in 1996 of having abused them when they were boys or teenagers during the 1940s to 1960s. Later, other alleged victims came forward.
The Vatican did not say specifically whether it found the abuse allegations against Maciel to be true. And it said that because of Maciel's age and ill health - he is 86 - it decided against a full-fledged church trial, or "canonical process."
Instead, it said the congregation had "invited the priest to a reserved life of prayer and repentance, renouncing every public ministry."
But such a serious sanction against as prominent a churchman as Maciel - which would prohibit him from celebrating Mass and other sacraments in public - is a clear indication, some say, that the Vatican found at least some validity to the charges.
The Legionaries said Maciel considered the Vatican decision "a new cross that God, the Father of Mercy, has allowed him to suffer and that will obtain many graces for the Legion of Christ."
Maciel and the Orange, Conn.-based Legionaries strongly denied the allegations in the past.
"Before God and with total clarity of conscience, I can categorically state that the accusations brought against me are false," Maciel said in a 2002 statement. "I never engaged in the sort of repulsive behavior these men accuse me of."
The order, which shares John Paul's conservative views, is one of the fastest-growing religious orders in the church, with some 600 priests and 2,500 seminarians in 20 countries in North and South America, Europe and Australia.
It was well-regarded by John Paul in particular because of its loyalty to church teaching and its success in recruiting priesthood candidates.
In January 2005, John Paul hailed Maciel for his "paternal affection and his experience." A few months earlier, the late pope praised Maciel on the 60th anniversary of his ordination, citing his "intense, generous and fruitful" priestly ministry.
The Vatican statement expressed gratitude for the work of the Legionaries, which Maciel founded in Mexico City in 1941.
The Rev. Jim Martin, associate editor of the Jesuit magazine America, said it was hard to overestimate the impact that the sanctions would have on the Legionaries.
"The distinctive (spirit) of the order comes from the founder," Martin said. "His life is studied, his words are quoted, his picture and statues are everywhere. Any critique of the founder, especially one that's so serious, is a huge mark against the order."
The Vatican investigated Maciel in the 1950s for alleged drug use, trafficking and misuse of funds but not for sexual misconduct. He was suspended from his duties as head of the order then reinstated after being cleared of all allegations.
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Gordo, Christ is Risen!
I was just reading this story on a secular website. If you can please provide the source of the story for us. Thanks.
In the Risen Christ, Father Anthony+
Everyone baptized into Christ should pass progressively through all the stages of Christ's own life, for in baptism he receives the power so to progress, and through the commandments he can discover and learn how to accomplish such progression. - Saint Gregory of Sinai
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Gordo, Christ is Risen!
THANKS!
In the Risen Christ, Father Anthony+
Everyone baptized into Christ should pass progressively through all the stages of Christ's own life, for in baptism he receives the power so to progress, and through the commandments he can discover and learn how to accomplish such progression. - Saint Gregory of Sinai
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Is this really "CHurch News"? I thought this forum was a discussion of Eastern Churches.
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Miller,
My understanding is that this section is for news regarding the Church universal (East and West, Orthodox and Catholic).
Gordon
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Miller, Christ is Risen!
Just for your information, the banner on the Forum Summary for this section reads, Discuss current news about the Church . No distinguishment is made to Eatern or Western Churches. I hope this clears the matter up.
In the Risen Christ, Father Anthony+ Administrator/Moderator
Everyone baptized into Christ should pass progressively through all the stages of Christ's own life, for in baptism he receives the power so to progress, and through the commandments he can discover and learn how to accomplish such progression. - Saint Gregory of Sinai
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Dear Gordon, Very shocking and very disturbing. Not about the priest, but that Pope John Paul II would commend a priest while Pope Benedict XVI would dismiss him.  Now either one or the other is lacking in discernment...which really means nothing other than God has decided to give one Pope the insight, and not the other. But then again, Pope John Paul II reached such a high level of spirituality, that he could only express love to everyone. I recall when the founder, (a Franciscan), of Covenant House was found guilty of sexual misconduct concerning a young boy. I, (who has always been a supporter of Covenant House from the time I saw young kids walking the streets on the West side of Manhattan), was quite shocked. I even stopped contributing for a while. You know the truth is, how can an organization be founded by someone that is sinful, and yet continue to be fruitful in it's acts? Well Covenant House is, but it might not be considered a Church institution. Frankly I don't know. :rolleyes: Zenovia
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With regard to this I am reminded of the story of the Abbot and the Harlot by St. John the Almsgiver:
"For we have often seen the sin of the fornicator, but his repentance, which he made in secret, we did not see, and we may have seen somebody steal, but we know nothing of the groanings and tears which he has offered to God. We still think of him as we saw him, a thief, a fornicator or a perjuror, but in the sight of God his secret repentance and confession have been accepted, and in His eyes he is honourable."
https://www.byzcath.org/bboard/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=003808
Let's not judge, there may be a little wiggle room in this case. He may not be guilty, but there may be plenty of trumped up charges against him so to avoid more scandal he could have been sent to a monastery. Or he could very well be guilty. Let God judge him.
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Our biggest problem is that Churches tend to be full of sinners (not being flippant here) and as I see it Christianity is a process of falling down and getting back up.
Pope Benedict has possibly got access to information that Pope John Paul may not have known of, in regard to this man and his offences.
As for the organisation he started off. At a certain point it would have been run by others for some considerable time. We dont know when this man lost his way either. Just because he offended against God and others does not mean that his original idea was defective.
For me the good thing is he has been identified and has been prevented from causing further harm.
Sadly the damamge these people do is enormous.
ICXC NIKA
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Originally posted by Dr. Eric: Let's not judge, there may be a little wiggle room in this case. He may not be guilty, but there may be plenty of trumped up charges against him so to avoid more scandal he could have been sent to a monastery. Or he could very well be guilty. Let God judge him. It is doubtful that Pope Benedict would have taken action were there nothing of substance to the charges. The Legionaires are and have been very clear papal supporters and their world-wide apostolate is highly regarded in many places. The pope would not relieve the founder of an order of his public faculties and consign him to a life of private prayer and penance unless he had cause. It will definitely take some time for the Legion to work this out. Would that the accusations against him were that of sleeping with a prostitute or stealing! The charges against him are far more pernicious, and he is adamant in his denials. God help him if he goes to his death in denial and publicly unrepentant if he is guilty, and God vindicate him if he goes to his deathbed inncocent while bearing the cross of false accusations as a faithful servant of Christ. Gordo
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I agree with you Gordo that the Holy Father wouldn't take action if there wasn't something to the charges. But there are an even amount of pro and con reports about Father Marcial.
Remember that Sts. Pio, Vincent De Paul, John of the Cross and a whole bunch of other Saints, Catholic and Orthodox have been falsely accused in the past. Let's give him the benefit of the doubt. The priests who I personally knew who were molesters actually confessed and went to prison. Maybe Fr. Marcial is really innocent, we don't really know do we?
I'm not pro or con for the Legionnaries. I don't even know one. The only thing I know is that they spiritually supported Mel Gibson during The Passion of the Christ and I contributed to their University before the scandals hit. After that, I stopped until the truth could be found out.
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No I dont agree Dr. Eric. The Holy See does not take action and issue instructions based on rumours. There has been a investigation and the result written up and given to those who have responsiblity to advise the Pope. You can be assured that those who undertook the investigation have been gathering information from many sources, including the alleged victims. They will have done their work well. He needs prayers more I suppose because he does not acknowledge his sins.
ICXC NIKA
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I also support the Zoghby Initiative
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I also support the Zoghby Initiative
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"The distinctive (spirit) of the order comes from the founder, His life is studied, his words are quoted, his picture and statues are everywhere. Any critique of the founder, especially one that's so serious, is a huge mark against the order."
Well...we're all sinners
Paedophilia is a disease. Either way I'm not going to hold any leader to too high a standard. But it's not easy for some people to understand how strong the urges are for sexually deviant behavior. I knew a man who I still believe is very loved by God and loves God, and was an orthodox christian father of 6 children. And now he's in jail for many years for being tape recorded giving a young man alcohol and molesting him. Two lives are nearly ruined. Abuse seems to go in cycles from one generation to another, waiting to be stopped. They're both victims of tragedy. We're all victims of tragedy in some way. This is why we must be humble as perhaps Fr. Maciel was. I do not know him well at all. So we say a prayer for Fr. Maciel and all sexual deviants and for all churches, support groups, psychiatriststs to spread the word about abusive cycles and how to heal them. Including even homosexuality which treatment is being helped so much by Dr. Nicolosi.
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