Barely a week into the month, and already April is turning into a horrible month for Regnum Christi (RC) members. First, Jason Berry reports that Maciel and LC allegedly made several questionable donations to high-ranking Vatican officials. The silver lining is that Pope Benedict - at the time Cardinal Ratzinger - reportedly refused such donations. He did so firmly. Thus RC members can feel reassured that the Holy Father will get to the bottom of the Legion scandal, that the Holy Father's integrity in doing so is beyond question, and that any medicine he prescribes - while potentially bitter - will be for the spiritual welfare of his flock.
Other bad news includes the closure, mid-semester, of Southern Catholic College - which had been taken over by the Legion last year shortly after the Holy See announced its apostolic visitation of the order. And then an anonymous reader on Damien Thompson's blog, claiming to be a former LC/RC associate, alleges that Maciel was not alone in his travels to Thailand. As commonly known to anyone involved in investigating or prosecuting pedophiles, Thailand is a euphemism for child prostitution - particularly, young pre-pubescent boys. Granted, this last allegation is only unconfirmed rumor by an anonymous blog reader. But given everything else we have learned about Maciel and the Legion over the past year...
That being said, I have some good news for shell-shocked Regnum Christi members struggling with this Tsunami of spiritual sewage. It's the words of Our Lord to St. Faustina, which those of us who are praying the Divine Mercy Novena reflect upon today (Day 7):
"Today bring to Me the Souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death."
You are sickened and horrified, but you are not alone. If you cast yourselves - sincerely - upon Christ's mercy, if you show mercy and compassion to victims of Maciel and the Legion, Christ will comfort you in this life and in the next. The devil may yet claim the Legion and Regnum Christi, but you need not allow him to claim the souls of individual members - including you and your loved ones.
So cast yourself on Christ's mercy. Show mercy and compassion to those who were victimized by Maciel and the movement. Take a few minutes today to pray a Rosary or Divine Mercy chaplet for all who suffered sexual, physical, mental, emotional or spiritual abuse at the hands of Maciel and other accomplices within the movement he founded.
Many of these victims were hurt so deeply by the abuse that they no longer practice their Christian faith. They have ceased to pray, and there is nobody else to pray for them. Take up their cause in prayer. Pray for victims who have ceased praying because of the scandal and hurt caused by your founder and your movement.
Beg God to grace these victims with His divine mercy, to not judge them harshly for the anger they feel toward Him and toward the Church, but to soften their hearts and to heal them. Pray specifically for those who you, personally, have hurt or scandalized as a member of the movement, even if it was done in good faith. For this is the good news of Christ's resurrection, which we now celebrate: God is merciful to those who reflect His mercy.
As an RC member, let me tell you that any true news is good news. If the Pope were to suppress LC/RC because it is doubtful that there was an authentic charism, then that is good news because it means that there are other better ways to serve God. If the Pope does other work to restructure and reform things then that is also good news because it points us to a better way to serve God.
All true news is good news, even if it is bitter, and even if it means having to face the lies of the past. THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE!
I think freedom will only come with dissolution because the greatest chain for those still in is the fear and guilt over making some horrific mistake by leaving. If the Pope just puts a stop to the whole thing, well now, that would be a relief beyond my wildest dreams......
I, for one, hope to seen an end to whitened sepulchres, and all of the evil things that come forth from the hearts of men.
The weeds grow with the wheat, and will be dealt with on the threshing floor.
Only God is God, and he measures out to us as we have measured out to others.
It is hard to understand the decision of the administration of Southern Catholic College to associate itself with the Legion when that community was already in a crisis.
Despite whatever good intentions were on both sides, they should have known that the Legion couldn't support the school financially, and that being associated with the Legion would drive away some students and parents.
Now there is the odd situation in which the college president wasn't even able to announce the closure in person.
I hope that any assets left over after the College's dissolution go to other Catholic colleges in the South and not to the Legion or its other institutions.
"And then an anonymous reader on Damien Thompson's blog, claiming to be a former LC/RC associate, alleges that Maciel was not alone in his travels to Thailand. As commonly known to anyone involved in investigating or prosecuting pedophiles, Thailand is a euphemism for child prostitution - particularly, young pre-pubescent boys. Granted, this last allegation is only unconfirmed rumor by an anonymous blog reader."
A friend of mine heard this same "rumor" about Thailand last Feb from a source in Mexico along with all the other "rumors" of more children/mistresses, drugs etc. All the other "rumors" have come to fruition over the year. Someone should check this out.
Prayerful symathy , for the pain and anger of those who have been victimised !
Read about this book on generational healing , by Rev.Fr.Stefan Starzynski ( who was born in Thailand !) got deliverance from what is called generational darkness , brougt about of all things , by curses of his family , in the past , against a defrocked priest who had murdered a child , in his ancestry !( Spirtit daily and other internet sites give more info. on his ministry, including his home for unwed mothers ) and his book the #1 selling Catholic book within 4 days of release !
It is good thing that this site is ardently promoting Divine Mercy Devotion !
And today is the day to esp. pray for all departed souls !
Books like above , in His Providence, possibly to give us a glimpse of what we are dealing with - deep and dark, yet very small, compared to His Infinite mercy and those who deal with same , even esp. precious , as most deserving of His mercy !
And how priests too need lots of prayers ,as well as all our family lineages !
On one of Fr.Stefan's videos on Precious Blood ( could be a term also for mercy!), he talks about the benefits of Holy Mass being offered for intentions of the Holy Spirit !
Yes, The Person of The Holy Spirit !
May His intentions be richly fulfilled , in all our lives and in The Church so that we become a people who find comfort , strenght and joy even in the midst of struggles !