Followers of the Legionaries of Christ take part in a memorial service to honor their founder Father Marcial Maciel Degollado at the Irish Institute in the suburb of San Pedro Garza in the northern city of Monterrey, Mexico on Jan. 31, 2008. (Tomas Bravo/Reuters)
New questions about Legionaries of Christ
A woman claiming to be the mother of Fr. Maciel's daughter speaks.
NEW ORLEANS — On Dec. 5, 1994, seven daily newspapers in Mexico City ran half-page ads with a photograph of the Legionaries of Christ founder, Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, kissing the ring of Pope John Paul II. An open letter from the pope, celebrating Maciel's 50th anniversary as a priest, called him "an efficacious guide to youth."
On Tuesday in Mexico City, an attorney named Jose Bonilla announced that Maciel had six children. Two daily papers, La Jornada and Milenio reported that Bonilla was taking legal action against Maciel's estate on behalf of three of them, who are now adults. Bonilla is seeking legal recognition for his clients as heirs to Maciel. Only one has been identified.
Norma Hilda Rivas, 23, reportedly born in Mexico, now lives in Madrid "and enjoys a level of affluence such that she does not work [and] lives in a luxury apartment ... acquired by Marcial Maciel with money from the congregation's benefactors," according to La Jornada.
Bonilla's announcement is just the latest action against Maciel, who died in 2008 at the age of 87. In 1941, Maciel founded the religious order the Legionaries of Christ and became the greatest fundraiser of the modern church.
John Paul never wavered in his support of Maciel, even after a 1998 canon law case filed in a Vatican tribunal by eight former Legionaries accused him of abusing them as seminarians.
The case gathered dust until 2004, when Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in the final months of John Paul's life ordered an investigation of Maciel. A few months later Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI. In 2006, Benedict dismissed Maciel from active ministry, though without specifying why.In February, the Legion shocked its followers by disclosing that Maciel had fathered a daughter out of wedlock. The Vatican announced a new investigation, this time of the Legion itself. Catholic blogs have raised questions about the daughter, her mother, whether they have financial support from the Legion, how much — and how long — Legion officials knew about them.
In June the Holy See named six bishops from as many countries as "visitators" to gather information from Legion schools, seminaries and colleges in Latin America, North America and Europe.
As the investigation progresses, it seems that one of Maciel's hidden connections has gone public. Rivas's mother was interviewed in an Aug. 9 report in the Madrid webmagazine PeriodistaDigital. "When I met this man I was under aged," Norma Hilda Banos, identified as 48 and a native of Acapulco, said of Maciel. "Neither my daughter nor I knew who this man really was until the very end."
The daughter "was abused by her father, Maciel," PeriodistaDigital quoted Hilda Banos as saying. "She suffers from severe trauma from her childhood and I don't believe she is ever going to get over it."
The site further reports that Maciel left Hilda Banos "two homes in her name in the exclusive Madrid building where she lives and three [other] places, all valued at about 2 million euros."
It is disgraceful that the adult victim/surviviors who came forward years ago with their testimony of being sexually abused as children were defamed and vilified by church officials as in documented in Jason Berry's book.
These latest revelations only show the levels of corruption that are at the heart of the Legionaries of Christ and its founder, Marcial Maciel Degollado.
The investigations by Archbishop Chaput and company should not take all that long if he and the rest of the investigating team can get the truth out of the LC officials now in charge.
However the institutional RCC probably already has much of the truth if they care to act on it. As I have said elsewhere, the LC should be suppressed and the good men given the choice to join another established religious order in the church or seek incardination in a particular diocese.
Sister Maureen Paul Turlish
Victims' Advocate
New Castle, Delaware
maureenpaulturlish@yahoo.com
Recent on Italy:
Italy fights bad press
Eric J. Lyman - Italy - August 13, 2009 22:17 ET
Government launches programs to convince tourists they aren't being ripped off.
New questions about Legionaries of Christ
Jason Berry - Italy - August 13, 2009 20:50 ET
A woman claiming to be the mother of Fr. Maciel's daughter speaks.
Vatican investigates Legionaries of Christ
Jason Berry - Italy - August 13, 2009 18:48 ET
The Catholic Church looks into cult allegations — and $1,000 hams.
Bringing opera to the masses
Fulvio Paolocci and Angelica Marin - Italy - August 12, 2009 10:03 ET
Locals and visitors can catch "Carmen" at the Spanish Steps.
Where the buffalo moan (with pleasure)
Angelica Marin - Italy - August 9, 2009 14:15 ET
At Vannulo Farm in Campania, they believe happier buffalos make better mozzarella.
Cuban beats live on
Angelica Marin and Fulvio Paolocci - The Americas - August 9, 2009 14:14 ET
The evolution of Cuban music from Buena Vista Social Club to today.
Naples hires ex-cons as tour guides
Angelica Marin - Italy - August 5, 2009 06:52 ET
The program keeps the ex-cons away from crime, while they help tourists do the same.
Happy buffalos, better business
Fulvio Paolocci - Italy - August 3, 2009 18:54 ET
Rome's Clericus Cup
Fulvio Paolocci/Angelica Marin - Italy - August 3, 2009 18:53 ET
Meet Italy's Al Franken
Eric J. Lyman - Italy - July 23, 2009 08:19 ET
Beppe Grillo, a comedian and blogger, wants to lead Italy's opposition.
Local food, to the extreme
Conor O'Clery - Italy - July 19, 2009 10:39 ET
Is Lucca, Italy's ban on "ethnic" restaurants gastronomic racism?
Italian bloggers strike
Fulvio Paolocci - Italy - July 17, 2009 12:35 ET
Proposed law would fine web sites denounced for defamation.
Greece plans to lock up illegal migrants
Nicole Itano - Europe - July 13, 2009 10:32 ET
A new Greek law increases the amount of time illegal immigrants can be detained.
On climate, it's Washington v. Beijing
Eric J. Lyman - Environment - July 11, 2009 12:35 ET
The Major Economies Forum ends without achieving its goal for an agreement on global warming.
Pope gives a nod to Obama
Jason Berry - Italy - July 9, 2009 14:07 ET
Benedict XVI leans to his left to greet the visiting president
In L'Aquila, little enthusiasm for G8 talks
Eric J. Lyman - Italy - July 8, 2009 11:53 ET
Fears that once G8 summit concludes, site of earthquake will be left in a void.
Summits, who needs them?
Michael Goldfarb - Commerce - July 7, 2009 22:25 ET
Analysis: It will be difficult to accomplish anything significant at this week's G8. So why hold summits at all?
A real-life Wall-E
Fulvio Paolocci and Angelica Marin - Italy - July 7, 2009 10:20 ET
Italian scientists develop DustCart, an on-demand robot trash collector.
I'm here for your trash
Fulvio Paolocci - Italy - July 7, 2009 09:58 ET
Chatter:
- Featured
GlobalPost News Desk
What we're hearing, including calls for a new approach to Myanmar, Havana's lively market and a homeless Italian man wants to live with Silvio Berlusconi.
Comments:
2 Comments.
Login or Register to post comments