Wednesday, October 13, 2010

A Roman rumor no longer roams

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Vatican City: October 13, 2010: The congregation of the Legionaries of Christ denies that Fr. Luis Garza Medina, their vicar general, has submitted his resignation. Persistent rumors in Rome, repeated on several blogs, suggested he had resigned or had been forced to resign.

Notimex, a semi-official Mexican news agency says sources close to the Legion affirm "nothing has been decided and an immediate decision about Garza’s withdrawal from senior leadership is not expected.  They also affirm that Garza does not expect to be in his position forever."

Fr. Garza has been accused of knowing about the double life led by the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, Marcial Maciel Degollado, which allegedly included the sexual abuse of children and fathering children with different women.

The Legionary priest has stated that he only became aware of these immoral acts after Maciel unexpectedly stepped down as Director General and after his death in January 2008.

The Legion of Christ is currently being supervised by an Apostolic Delegate Mons. Velasio De Paolis, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI. His primary mandates is to lead the reform of the religious institute.

Fr. Garza holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, as well as a Master's degree in Philosophy and Theology and a Doctorate degree in Canon Law, both from the Gregorian Pontifical University in Rome, Italy. He has been serving as Vicar General of the Legionaries of Christ since 1992, and has focused for many years on development and organizational issues.

4 comments:

irishmexguate said...

Will he, won't he, maybe yes, maybe not....
I think the fact that the Legion denies he will resign is probably a sign that he will resign....it's that Legion logic, not unlike Vatican denial which is really an affirmation....
IMHO the Apostolic Delegate will find the way to let him down gently, maybe even promoted...."Promovetur ut removeatur" "Promote him to get rid of him"
But the AD may just wait for the next General Chapter...so that everything happens through regular channels and that old "scandal" is avoided.

Ash said...

Unfortunately, I have seen enough Clinton-esque Legion communications, it would not surprise me if there was at least grain of truth from which this rumor sprouted.

This is not a shot at the average well-meaing LC but at a leadership which has a track record of obfuscation. Has that changed?

The Monk said...

Irishmex - we concur. Sooner or later there will have to be a major shakeup. The Vatican way is a promotion in order to move someone out of a controversial position while "saving face."

Anonymous said...

According to Sandro Magister:

“In mid-September, De Paolis asked Garza to give up the main offices that he holds, at least those of territorial director for Italy, supervisor of consecrated virgins of the movement Regnum Christi, general prefect of studies and head of the financial holding company Integer. But Garza said no. A chill has fallen between the two.”

http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1345274?eng=y

This gives "legs" to that "Roamin', Roman Rumor", at least it was on the right track. The Legion (very carefully) denied he had resigned, but did not address the second part of the rumor, that Garza had been asked to resign. The rumors just didn't go far enough to say he'd been asked to resign from certain roles.

Gotta love Sandro Magister!