UPDATE: On second thought, there is something to be added to Giselle’s comments. Something addressed to LC superiors only, and not to rank-and-file LC/RC:
The scandal is not about you or your feelings; it’s about Fr. Maciel’s victims. They are the ones most deserving of an apology from you. The longer you wait, the angrier Catholics become. This includes a growing number of your members, in my experience, some of who blind carbon copied me their letters and emails to the apostolic visitators. And they’re asking why, seven months later, the victims still have not received a public apology from you.
So you need to apologize to Fr. Maciel’s victims for the abuse they suffered. Then you need to apologize to them again for the harm they suffered to their reputation. Then you need to apologize for not apologizing sooner.
Initial Post
With Fr. Alvaro visiting the RC’s Atlanta section this Thursday, a Legion priest has apologized, kinda…
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Regnum Christi brothers and sisters in Christ,
I want to thank you for all your prayers during these difficult times. I would like to reach every one of you to ask for forgiveness for all the hurt you are going through, especially this year dedicated to the priest who ministers God´s mercy. I know that time will heal and the grace of Christ, who is always with us as a good Friend, will never abandon us. This is his work and we are only his instruments.
With this in mind I am pleased to announce that Fr. Alvaro, our general director of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi, will be in Atlanta on Thursday, August 27th and celebrate mass for us. The mass will be at Pinecrest at 7pm and an informal reception will follow at the Upper School Dining Hall.
I am very grateful to Father Alvaro for his visit. Thank you for all your hard work and support. Keep praying for us!
Yours in Christ and the Movement,
Fr. Emilio Diaz-Torre, LC
Local Coordinator of Apostolate, Atlanta
There’s little I can add to Giselle’s commentary.
I have been contemplating what will the future of the Legionaire priests be if they are disbanded as a congregation. I know a priest who resides at a former parish of mine who cannot get a diocese to take him in because of a bad report that a former pastor had given him. If these priests remain connected to this scandal, they may not have a future as priests, because they will be branded with this reputation and no diocese will be willing to harbor such contraversial priests, with the exception of the most desperate of mission dioceses. The lack of courage being shown by the Legion is definitely going to be a black mark against any future as religious. I don’t know what historically has happened with priests in their situation, but it doesn’t seem to be a positive one. Does anyone know what has happened historically to disbanded congregations?
“Where God closes a door, He opens a window.”
Fear shouldn’t be the foundation of making this decision. If the Vatican uses God’s wisdom about the right response to this cancer in the Church, then we must trust that inherent to it will be a fitting path for these priests. They will always be priests (no matter what) and God will find a place for them. They are a variety of ages and temperaments and talents, so one size will not fit all. Let authentic discernment lead them — which is very different than the “universal shoe horn” that put them where they are right now.