From the UK Telegraph:
Fortunately, not all Legionary priests are in denial. Yesterday, we learned the following from Spero News:
Following the recognition of the misdeeds of Legionaries of Christ Founder Fr. Marcial Maciel, Fr. Thomas Berg, LC, has written a letter to Regnum Christi members acknowledging their the feelings of confusion and betrayal and lamenting the "disastrous response" to the crisis provided by the Legionaries’ leadership. He also apologized directly to Maciel’s victims, appealed for help in reforming the Legion and demanded an independent third party investigation to discover any Legionaries who may have been "accomplices" to Fr. Maciel’s misconduct.
Fortunately, not all Legionary priests are in denial. Yesterday, we learned the following from Spero News:
Following the recognition of the misdeeds of Legionaries of Christ Founder Fr. Marcial Maciel, Fr. Thomas Berg, LC, has written a letter to Regnum Christi members acknowledging their the feelings of confusion and betrayal and lamenting the "disastrous response" to the crisis provided by the Legionaries’ leadership. He also apologized directly to Maciel’s victims, appealed for help in reforming the Legion and demanded an independent third party investigation to discover any Legionaries who may have been "accomplices" to Fr. Maciel’s misconduct.
Fr Berg is absolutely right. And perhaps now the time has come for Pope Benedict - who acted wisely in the case of Fr Maciel at a time when Cardinal Sodano and other curial prelates were lauding him - to make a statement on the subject. The lifting of the SSPX excommunications was justifiable, though very badly handled. A cover-up by a powerful and wealthy new movement of a long history of sexual abuse by a potential "saint" is a very different matter. If there were "accomplices", as a senior Legionary priest implies, who were they?
9 comments:
Which priests served as "Monitor of the General Director" ?
Chapter XII: The Monitor of the Director General
573. The responsibilities of the monitor of the director general include all things related to the spiritual perfection and personal obligations of the director general, dialoguing with him about these things. Avoid, however, immersing oneself in all manner of affairs related to the administration of the Congregation. He should instead concern himself with external aspects of the life of the director general, such as his dress, his diet, and his expenditures.
574. The monitor of the director general must be chosen in the general chapter ordinary, for a period of twelve years, by secret ballot, with the results announced to the participants of the general chapter not by the inspectors, but rather only by the director general. The name of the person chosen is announced only after the director general has given his approval to that person. In the event the director general does not give his approval, the vote shall be repeated up to three times.
575. For the post of monitor of the director general choose a very spiritual man, with at least ten years of profession in the Congregation, who is at least forty years old, of balanced temperament, gentle and understanding of spirit, faithful and loving of the superiors, with a practical sense, and whose capacity of reserve, discretion, prudence and sensitivity are well-proven and recognized.
576. If the person chosen for this post exposes or criticizes aspects of the life of the director general, he should be removed from his post. In such a case, the council general, at the request of the director general, shall proceed to appoint, by deliberative vote, another to take his place, from a group of three proposed by the director general.
577. If the monitor of the director general must advise the director general about something, he shall proceed with great veneration and charity, remembering that the purpose of his office is to help the director general reach his own perfection in the self-sacrificing and faithful fulfillment of the mission entrusted to him by God for the extension of the Kingdom of Christ, and the preservation and development of the Congregation.
Ooopss... Sorry.
Which priests served as "Monitor of the General Director" ?
To the superiors of the Legion, I say
"Cuando las barbas de tu vecino veas pelar, pon las tuyas a remojar."
I am a former Legionary priest now making a living as an international management consultant. I spent more time than most with Fr. Maciel and I am as surprised as anyone else with the heinous revelations about his double life. I understand the hurt of all those who believed in and cared for Fr. Maciel and the challenge of overcoming self-protective denial. My heart goes out to the victims and to my Legionary brothers the vast majority of whom must be totally devastated. In my business I use the work of social scientists who have qualified and measured cultural differences empirically. Here are some elementary cross-cultural gerneralizations that do not justify anything but may be helpful to consider in the current discussions.
Latin American societies place a major emphasis on strong leadership, authority and
hierarchies. This explains the concentration of power in executive decision. It also helps understand the extent of bureaucracies and LC reliance on Vatican approval.
Latins often see North Americans as lacking respect or too informal. North Americans value quick results. What can seem efficient to a North American may be perceived as rude and insensitive to Mexicans.
Interpersonal communication patterns in Latin America are much more sophisticated
than in the USA. North Americans are very direct, specific and blunt in the way they
communicate. In short, they are clear and transparent. In Mexico and Latin America, it is important to be tactful, respectful and understated, particularly when something difficult has to be communicated. This is part of the reason why North Americans have trouble getting “straight answers.” Mexicans are uncomfortable answering tough questions directly. A direct, pointed answer is too offensive, and no Mexican wants to offend. In Latin America, volumes are spoken through body language, tone, inflection, nuance and subtlety. Communication is essentially coded, and most North Americans do not know the deencryption code. Navigating coded communications is one of the most difficult challenges for outsiders, even those who speak the language.
North Americans are highly individualistic. In contrast, Mexican people are family, group and relationship-oriented. Family and, in this case, the Congregation, come first.
In the USA, time is a commodity that is not wasted on “unimportant” or ‘inefficient” things. Mexicans, by contrast, do not subjugate themselves or their schedules to the clock. Time is flexible, stretching and bending as needed according to the event and particularly to people and relationships. For Mexicans, people and events are more important than the arbitrary measurement of a calendar or the demands of the blogosphere.
That's absolutely wonderful news to my ears because if you what say is pretty much the way things are, well all we have to do is put away any guns we may have hidden and break- out the "cold ones" and "Lets P P. A A R R T T Y Y." In my lifetime most life problems have been solved with good-will toward all, moderate beer consumption and the help of the Holy Spirit. Amen
To Anonymous that posted the except from the constitutions. would you mind contacting me? Im exlc, ellisblack@gmail.com
Post a Comment