Young man claims: "Father Marcial Maciel, was my dad, and he sexually abused me"

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Young man claims: "Father Marcial Maciel, was my dad, and he sexually abused me"

Father Marcial Maciel , the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, had secrets, which included illegitimate children and sexual abuse, according to a lawsuit filed in Connecticut on Monday.

30-year-old Raul Gonzalez Lara, of Mexico, says he is the secret son of Father Marcial Maciel. Raul is now speaking out publicly about his father’s abuse and the double life he led. He claims the Vatican protected the man he knew as his father for decades. In the lawsuit, Gonzalez claims he, and other children, were sexually abused by Father Maciel during his time as director of the Legionaries of Christ, a congregation he founded in 1941.

Gonzalez is represented by Jeffery Anderson and Joel Faxon. According to the Washington Post:

"Over the years, Anderson has earned millions from his lawsuits against the church and other institutions, collecting 25 to 40 percent of each payout. He estimated in 2002 that his victories had totaled $60 million, but refuses to update the figure." The Post adds, "Anderson says he has filed more than 1,500 lawsuits against the Catholic Church, plus 2,000 to 3,000 against other individuals and entities, including other denominations. He estimates that 75 percent yield no money for himself or his clients, often due to a statute of limitations."

There does not seem to be anything new revealed in the Gonzalez lawsuit. The young man's claims have been widely publicized in Mexico and the Spanish language media. The story fizzled in Mexico when it was revealed the young man allegedly sought a large financial payout from the Legionaries in exchange for his silence. That was when his Mexican attorney dropped him as a client although he claimed to continue to believe the young man's story. However, news of the Connecticut lawsuit has caused a media stir in the US. Gonzalez was featured on ABC's "Nightline" and on at least one Connecticut TV station.

I wonder about the tactics behind this lawsuit. Obviously I am not an attorney, but I would think there have to be major jurisdictional issues. The Legion is headquartered in Rome and the young man is apparently a resident of Mexico. I suppose it could be a ploy to pressure for out-of-court settlements.

Whatever the outcome, the behavior of the now deceased Fr. Marcial Maciel, continues to cause great suffering to his victims, to the Vatican, to the legionaries of Christ and to the faithful at large. On May 1st. the Vatican announced it would shorty appoint a representative to oversee the reform of the Legion. Rumor has it that the leading candidate for the job is Archbishop Velasio DePaolis, 74. He would have full powers to lead the reconstitution of the controversial congregation. De Paolis has served as head of the prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See since 2008; prior to that, he spent five years as the number two person of the Apostolic Signatura, the church's highest court. He is allegedly a close friend of the Vatican's influenential Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone SDB.

The sooner the Vatican makes its move the better for all concerned. This is a case where it seems to me no good is gained by political and bureaucratic foot-dragging.

No comments:

Post a Comment

The story that inspired "Driving Straight on Crooked Lines"

“A long time ago, a Monk set out on his travels accompanied by his assistant, a Brother. Night was falling when the Monk told the Brother to go on ahead to find lodging. The Brother searched the deserted landscape until he found a humble shack, in the middle of nowhere. A poor family lived in the hovel. The mother, father and children were dressed in rags. The Brother asked if he and the Monk could spend the night in their dwelling. “You are most welcome to spend the night,” said the father of the family. They prepared a simple meal consisting of fresh milk, cheese and cream for the Brother and the Monk. The Brother felt moved by their poverty and even more by their simple generosity.

When they finished eating, the Monk asked them how they managed to survive in such a poor place, so far away from the nearest neighbors and town. The wife looked to her husband to answer. In a resigned tone of voice he told them how they managed to survive. ‘We have one cow. We sell her milk to our neighbors who do not live too far away. We hold back enough for our needs and to make some cheese and cream-that is what we eat.”

The next morning, the Brother and the Monk said their good-byes and set out to continue their journey. After the Monk and the Brother had walked a few miles, the Monk turned to the Brother and said, “Go back and push the cow off the cliff!” “Father,” the Brother replied, “they live off the cow. Without her, they will have nothing.” The Monk repeated his order “go back and kill the cow.”

With a heavy heart, the Brother returned to the hovel. He worried about the future of the family because he knew they depended on the cow to survive. His vow of obedience bound him to follow the orders of the wise Monk. He pushed the cow off the cliff.

Years later, the young Brother became a Monk. One day he found himself on the same road where he found lodging so many years ago. Driven by a sense of remorse he decided to visit the family. He rounded the curve in the road and to his surprise, he saw a splendid mansion, surrounded by landscaped gardens, in the place where the hovel used to be. The new house exuded a sense of prosperity and happiness. The Monk knocked on the door.

A well-dressed man answered. The Monk asked, “what ever became of the family who used to live here? Did they sell the property to you?” The man looked surprised and said he and his family had always lived on the property. The Monk told him how he had stayed in a hovel on the same spot, with his master the old Monk. ‘What happened to the family that lived here?” he asked.

The man invited the Monk to stay with him as his guest. While they ate, the host explained how the family’s fortune changed. “You know Father, we used to have a cow. She kept us alive. We didn't own anything else. One day she fell down the cliff and died. To survive, we had to start doing other things, develop skills we did not even know we had. We were forced to come up with new ways of doing things. It was the best thing that ever happened to us! We are now much better off than before.”

This is a blog of the memoirs of an Irishman - from Dublin - who is a former member of the Legion of Christ.

"Driving Straight on Crooked Lines: How an Irishman found his heart and nearly lost his mind" is available on Amazon.com and other outlets.

I look back at the events in the Legion that made me who I am today. It's a fun read with a serious message: positive change can come from adversity.

When I first heard the story of the Monk and the cow, my job - a job I truly loved - was eliminated at the multinational corporation which employed me. My cow was taken away from me, through no fault of my own. The person who told me the story was suggesting I could find new peace, happiness and financial well-being in my adversity, just as the family did when the Monk stole the cow.

A few years later, revelations about the double life of Fr. Marcial Maciel the Founder of the Legionaries of Christ, killed another cow in my life and in the lives of tens of thousands of people.

There is a Spanish saying: "God writes straight on crooked lines". "My Legionary Life" is about trying to not get lost in the crooked lines of our own - or others - making. It is about discovering the straight lines that reveal the true purpose for which we exist.

It is the the story of the first Irish Legionary of Christ to set foot in Mexico. It begins in Dublin, Ireland, passes through Spain, then Mexico, Italy, the U.S.A and Gabon, in Central West Africa.

When I am not writing, I make a living as an international managment consultant.

The Monk who Stole the Cow

Tuesday, June 22, 2010