Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Documentary: Foundation in Ireland

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The Legionaries of Christ have just published a video documentary (embedded below) on the foundation of the Congregation in Ireland. It's a nice trip down memory lane for anyone involved with them especially during the period from 1959 through 1969. It starts with Bundrowes House in County Donegal, then Hazelbrook House in Malahide, Co. Dublin, Belgard Castle in Clondalkin, Co. Dublin, and, finally, the purpose-built Novitiate in Leopardstown, Co. Dublin.

The video documents a trip to the different sites by Legionary priests Fintan Lawless, Jude Furlong, John Devlin, Donal Corry, Thomas Moylan, Anthony Bannon, and Michael Ryan. Michael and I joined in 1962 at Hazlebrook House.

It was nice to see an "In Memoriam" credit at the end for three deceased Legionaries who were involved in the early days in Ireland: Frs. John Coady, Manus McIlhargey, and Francisco Yepez.

In my book, "Driving Straight on Crooked Lines," I've commented on Fr. Bannon, his tough "right-wing" spirituality and and his role in the foundations on the USA side. He's totally true to form in the video. Still driven.

Fr.. Michael Ryan became a professor in the Legionary college in Rome and is quite true to form.

Fr. John Devlin became Maciel's long time companion and secretary. He must have stories to tell beyond the history of the foundation in Ireland. He has health issues.

Frs. Jude Furlong, Thomas Moylan John Walsh, Fintan Lawless, and Donal Corry haven't changed much over the years, in the sense that they still see the world as they did back in the days of the Irish foundation: always positive, always very "spiritual" in a "pious" sort of a way. Fintan, as I recall, was the least overtly "spiritual," forever ready for a heated argument. Interesting that he's now working in Brazil.

It was nice to make their acquaintance again via the video: I have good memories of all of these men.

Astute observers will note the presence in the video of several Mexican priests and brothers including Juan Jose Vaca one of MM's victims. I have no doubt that several of them (I'll refrain from naming them) were well aware, at the time of the Irish foundation, of Marcial Maciel's perversions. They came to Ireland to help start the foundation.... and to pass on a myth that many of them had to know was a total whitewash of the truth. The rest of us, somewhat in the spirit of the sixties, swallowed the dream hook, line and sinker whether we stayed on for many years or we left early on.

There is much to think about based on the characters who appear in the video. To dismiss the documentary as "rewriting the history" of the Legion, as some commenters claim is ingenuous. The story of the Irish foundation is an important chapter in the history of the Congregation. The commentary provides myriad telling insights that provide a good amount of context for those who have "ears to hear and eyes to see."

In my book,"Driving Straight on Crooked Lines: How an Irishman found his heart and nearly lost his mind," I documented my experiences at Hazelbrook House and Belgard Castle. I've commented on Fr. Bannon, his very conservative and tough approach, and the consequences of his understanding of the Legion's methodology in his role during the foundations of the Legionaries in the United States. He's totally true to form in the video. Still driven.

Fr. Michael Ryan became a professor in Rome and is also true to form in the documentary.

Fr. John Devlin became Maciel's long time companion and secretary. He must have stories to tell beyond the history of the foundation in Ireland. He has health issues.

Frs. Jude Furlong, Thomas Moylan John Walsh, Fintan Lawless, and Donal Corry haven't changed much over the years, in the sense that they still see the world as they did then: always positive, always very "spiritual" in a "pious" sort of a way. Fintan, as I recall, was the least overtly "spiritual," forever ready for a heated argument. Interesting that he's no stationed in Brazil.

I enjoyed becoming reacquainted with these men via the video. For the most part, I have good memories of our time together.

Astute observers will note the presence in the video of several Mexican priests and brothers including Juan José Vaca one of MM's victims. I have no doubt that several of these men who appear in the documentary (I'll refrain from naming them) were well aware, at the time, of MM's perversions. They came to Ireland to help start the foundation.... and to pass on a myth that many of them had to know was a total whitewash of the truth. The rest of us, somewhat in the spirit of the sixties, swallowed the "dream" hook, line and sinker whether we stayed on for many years or we left early on.

There is much to think about based on the characters who appear in the video. To dismiss it as "rewriting the history" as some critics do is ingenuous. The foundation in Ireland is an important chapter in the history of the Congregation. The documentary provides telling insights and context for those who have "ears to hear and eyes to see."




1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Video begins with sand beach (house built on sand) and ends with garbage truck in the background to pick up the refuse. I think it is a wonderful production. Should have been called pick & choose. In the end it is a propaganda piece. Not rewriting history - just looking for whatever supports the original argument. What is missing - interviews with those who did not profess or those who left early. Why didn´t they continue? What is the fear of voicing other opinions. Only one or two mentions of founder. No mention of Fr. Guillermo Izquierdo - central piece of Legion history in Ireland. Was he cruel, angry, was he nice to some and mean to others? What about the inhumane winter conditions at Belgard castle. All I see are old, washed up Legionaries who have been selected for ulterior motives and moved their memories into lala land.

What I hope to see in a documentary - the truth, the good, the bad, the ugly. Not the doctored up, not the angelic band aid. So many lives were built on Maciel´s "charism". No way to cut it - these were in part wasted lives, building wasted futures since much of who they became rested on a false prophet. All for Christ? Not so... sorry to disagree. I think in the interest of the truth, now that the cat is out of the bag about maciel and his true life, a real effort could be made to get to the bottom of it all and reflect back without pretensions, without propaganda, as it was...

Thanks for listening.