Legionaries of Christ in denial [Addendum]

A recent letter from Legionaries of Christ fathers Julio Martí and Scott Reilly to the lay organization Regnum Christi is in denial that the founder, Marcial Maciel, was disciplined by the Holy See amid charges which included sexually molesting minors.

In a paragraph about measures taken to preclude further abuse, the letter says:

One of the questions that come to mind refers to the “safe environment and child protection” measures in our communities and apostolates. Our Constitutions, other norms and many elements of our discipline have always helped us to be particularly careful in the dealing with minors.

More recently, it has become clear that Maciel fathered several children and Legion of Christ superiors knew about the children at least 15 years ago.

Cassandra has developed an enlightening timeline [scroll down the left-hand column] of events from the beginning.

Instead of dealing with events, however, the letter moves right along to focus on pursuit of new credentials that are intended to be reassuring:

More recently we are in the process of accreditation by Praesidium, a risk management organization now helping a great number of religious institutions in North America. Praesidium is conducting a full review of our internal rules and policies, as well as our training of all those who deal with minors. They will shortly be conducting on-site visitation of several of our institutions to verify that what is on paper is being applied. There are twenty-five accreditation standards to meet, covering the areas of prevention, response and supervision.

What are the standards?

They don’t say, so we turned to the recently published Congregation of St. Basil Praesidium Accreditation Final Report, which documents their meeting the same standards.

That’s so nice that it seems reasonable to wonder if the good fathers are trying to damp action by the apostolic visitation currently under way by appearing to have already done part of its work for it. This is, remember, a visitation with which it is rumored they are not being altogether cooperative.

Indeed, the good fathers report they have set up a review board whose membership and governance are not disclosed:

Here in the U.S. we have also set up an external review board so that in the event of allegations of sexual abuse, we have the advantage of “outside eyes” to weigh the evidence, issues and provide us with recommendations. Praesidium accreditation is being promoted by the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, which links all the male religious orders in this country.

It is also true that the letter extended “a special apology on behalf of the Legion” to victims of their founder’s sexual misconduct.”

While, as you see, tending to deny the scope of the order’s problems.

Addendum:

Members of Legionaries of Christ/Regnum Christi wishing to contact the apostolic visitor for the United States and Canada — Archbishop Charles Chaput — can do so via email. American Papist recommends:

To contact Abp. Chaput, send an email with the subject line “PRIVATE” to “shepherd [at] archden.org” (without the brackets and spaces). Emails ought to be VERY SHORT and to the point. Every email will be read eventually.

Mourn, yes, but inflame, no [Update: 'Grudge' killings]

Let us mourn the untimely death of anti-abortion activist James Pouillon, without creating the illusion of a war where there isn’t one.

The man arrested for Pouillon’s murder reportedly told Owosso, Mich., police he was also involved in the death that day of Mike Fouss, a gravel pit owner.

As of this writing, nothing actually explaining the motive for the killings available.

Randall Terry’s rush to declare Pouillon a martyr is heat without light.

Update:

AP reports Harlan James Drake, 33, has been charged with first-degree murder in association with a grudge-killing spree. Pouillon and Fouss were killed and there would apparently have been a third death had police not apprehended Drake after the second killing.

Drake “didn’t like the activist [Pouillon] holding a sign with graphic images of a fetus in front of students,” AP reported. The story goes on to say:

The gunman drove next to a gravel pit business and shot and killed the owner, who apparently also upset him, police said. Authorities believe they stopped a third slaying by catching up with the gunman before he could kill again.

”The defendant had ill will toward these three individuals — not for the same reason necessarily, but had a grudge,” said Shiawassee County Prosecutor Randy Colbry.

Read the entire story here.