Five years ago, the ReGAIN was contacted by a former member of this organization who expressed his concern after a female friend had just taken her perpetual vows. The former Herald was surprised that this controversial group was approved by the Vatican. He alleged that a cultist association, TFP (Tradition, Family and Property), after the death of its founder, Plinio Correa de Oliveira, had transformed itself into the Church-approved Heralds of the Gospel.
Not long ago, a small group of Heralds, in full regalia, were spotted at the Guatemalan Immigration Center in Guatemala City getting their papers in order. Looks like they have spread to this Central American country too.
The author sought some general information in Wikipedia:
“The Heralds of the
Gospel (Portuguese: Arautos do Evangelho;
Latin: Evangelii Praecones, abbreviated
to EP)[1] is a Roman Catholic International Association of Pontifical Right
based in Brazil.[2] Founded by Msgr. João Scognamiglio Clá Dias, the organization
is active in 78 countries.[3]
ANA LUCÍA SALAZAR ACCUSES LEGION OF CHRIST PRIEST, FR. FERNANDO MARTINEZ, OF SEXUALLY ABUSING HER AND OTHERS.
ANA LUCÍA SALAZAR ACUSA AL PADRE FERNANDO MARTÍNEZ, LC, DE ABUSO SEXUAL DE NINAS.
Ana Lucía is the girl that is not blocked out. It shows her at the age she was sexually abused
2 mayo, 2019
Legioleaks, Facebook
(Translated by ReGAIN )
Hello, my name is Ana Lucía Salazar and I am seeking information about Father Fernando Martinez, LC. I am one of his victims. He abused me when I was eight years old. I am searching for him and gathering data. I would much appreciate your help because during his life this person has abused many girls like me, most of whom are unable or unwilling to speak out. I decided to speak out because he has absconded and sheltered himself after destroying our childhoods.
Hola, mi nombre es Ana Lucía Salazar y estoy
buscando información sobre el Padre Fernando Martínez, yo soy una víctima del
señor, el me abusó cuando yo tenía 8 años, estoy en su búsqueda y reuniendo información.
Les agradecería me apoyaran con todo lo que saben porque este señor ha abusado
a lo largo de su vida de muchas niñas que hoy permanecen en el anonimato, yo
decidí dar la cara porque al señor se le ha resguardado y protegido por años
después de destruir nuestras infancias.
The photo shows me as I was when I had the misfortune to meet Pedophile Fernando Martinez in Cancun, 1991-1992 in the Instituto Cumbres Elementary school owned by the Legionaries of Christ. Although they knew about these abuses, the school directors opted for silence; the parents of the other victims chose not to believe their daughters. But I was supported by my parents who always trusted me and validated me from the first moment. I am documenting my case, but we need more information.
Esta era yo cuando tuve la desgracia de toparme con
el pederasta Fernando Martínez en Cancún en 1991- 1992 en el Instituto Cumbres.
El colegio, conociendo los casos, decidió callar, los padres de familias de las
demás víctimas decidieron no creerle a sus hijas pero yo conté con mis padres
que siempre confiaron en mí y me validaron desde el primer momento, mi caso se
está documentando pero necesitamos más información.
People who are aware of Fr. Martinez’ previous abuses at the Mexico City Instituto Cumbres in the 1980s and later, know what I am talking about: how the Legion covered up that abuse and moved him to Cancun where he abused us. Later, they moved him from Cancun to Salamanca, Spain. We lost track of him after that and do not know exactly where he is presently living.
Thank
you all for your help.
La gente que sabe de su historia conoce sobre los
abusos que cometió en los 80tas en el Cumbres de México y después de eso, lo
encubrió la legión y lo reubicaron a Cancún en donde abusó de nosotras y de ahí
lo dirigieron a Salamanca, de ahí le hemos perdido la pista a sus acciones en
Salamanca y en donde esté exactamente.
Sacred Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
Sacred Congregation for the Clergy
For the past couple of weeks ReGAIN has been following the latest revelation regarding an UNDETERRED PEDOPHILE in the Legion of Christ. I attach original accusation in Spanish with my translation.
Fr. Fernando Martínez, now aged 79, was a victim of serial pedophile Fr. Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legionaries, as stated in letter J.J. Vaca wrote to said Fr. Marcial Maciel, October 20, 1976. (Gonzalez, F. (2006, 2nd edition), Marcial Maciel, Los Legionarios de Cristo: testimonios y documentos inéditos, page 469. Mexico City: Tusquets.
Fr. Martínez’ early assignment was to the foundation of the Instituto Cumbres in Saltillo, Mexico, in 1969.
He has functioned consistently as rector or director of LC elementary schools.
Accusations
against Fr. Martinez first surfaced at the Instituto Cumbres in Mexico City in
the 1980s where he was accused of abusing little girls . I believe civil legal action may have taken
place or started.
Fr.
Martinez was transferred by Legion superiors to the Instituto Cumbres in
Cancún.
This
recent accusation refers to 1990s at the Instituto Cumbres in Cancun City.
The
accuser is a fairly prominent Mexican TV personality now aged 35 who alleges
she was abused aged 8, in 1991-92. Ms. Salazar says four other victims are
willing to come forward
After
the Cancun scandal in the early 1990s, Fr. Martinez was transferred, it seems,
to the Novitiate in Salamanca, Spain.
He is
presently living at the Legion mother-house in Rome, where the other formerly
Chilean-based abuser, Fr. John O’Reilly,
is staying.
The Legion is trying to control the damage with
communiques recommending victims trust the Legion to take action and provide
help.
ReGAIN finds very ambiguous how the bishop ordaining the seminarians is Secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life, a Vatican Department that not long ago investigated the Legion of Christ because of sexual abuse and sect-like practices. Certainly a coup for Legion of Christ public image and propaganda machine, thanks to the complicity of Archbishop Carballo, OFM. What blundering naivete!
ReGAIN has recommended the alleged victim approach
the appropriate Church authorities as outlined in Pope Francisco’s motu propio, May 7, 2019.
Archive photo a LC junior seminarians, Apostólicos. Priest featured is not accused, nor are any of the boys featured necessarily victims.
The Legion of Christ, through its Press Office, Oficina de Prensa, is beginning to reveal more recent cases of priest members suspected or found to be child sex abusers.
1- ReGAIN has found the following statement in English regarding a relatively recent case in the USA: Fr. Benjamin Cieply, LC
ReGAIN is discovering how the Legion is revealing these cases (mandated by the Vatican or local bishops?) piecemeal, some in English, some in Spanish. So it is hard to see the extent of the abuse.
2- The Fr. John O’Reilly, LC, case in Chile is now common knowledge. Irish-born, Fr. O’Reilly joined the Legion in the late 1960s and found his way into the privileged position of being one of Fr. (The Saint) Maciel’s favorite waiters at the mother-house in Rome… Because of his good manners, smiling disposition and assimilation of the Legion system he ended up in Chile, promoting the Legion and Regnum Christi among the political (Pinochet & Co.), business and conservative church upper classes. Together with Fr. Raymond Cosgrave he was the main LC/RC mover and shaker in Chile. During the last decades he was also chaplain at one of the Legion’s elementary school. His demise began with accusations he had sexually abused two little sisters who were students. The parents’ civil case went on and on in Chilean courts until he was convicted and sentenced to four years supervised house arrest. Fr JOR lost his Chilean citizenship and was expelled from the country. The case was later referred to the Vatican where the conviction was upheld and the Vatican imposed its own sanctions. . He is now residing at the LC mother house in Rome.
In and effort to clean up its image, The Legion has been emitting communiques about Fr. JOR for the past year or more. The most recent . communique was found by ReGAIN in Spanish
With further research an English version might be found
3- A more recent conviction we posted was the case of Vladimir Reséndiz who abused two boys at the Legion’s minor seminary in Gozzano, Northern Italy.
4- Very recently the Legion’s Spanish language Press Office released a long statement regarding Fr. José Luis Díaz Atilano, a drawn-out case of this Mexican priest in Chile which was tried in civil and ecclesiastical court. The Legion wants to show it is doing the right thing…
One may wonder why these convictions occur so long after the offense was reported. This happens for a variety of reasons:
the victims are young, innocent, vulnerable and don’t know how to defend themselves or speak up
they may be very ashamed, thinking they are the guilty party (this is part of the art of pedophilia)
it may take a long time for people to believe them after they do summon up the courage. They may be dissuaded from talking, for a variety of reasons.
The Legion may try to bribe them (see Gozzano case) to keep silence.
Cases can be difficult to prove because of time elapsed (statute of limitations)
Cases may cost the victim/family money they don’s have.
Courts are exceedingly slow.
Separation of Church and State in some countries make judges leery of getting involved against Catholic Church or Catholic institutions and religious orders.
Church courts and tribunals are usually slower than civil courts….
Legion may try to defend the accused member and have the financial resources to protract the case for months or years, “interrogatories” etc., until the e victim runs out of money… Many cases never reach trial….
In another recent move the Legion has stressed its “safe environment” guidelines; however, a careful scrutiny reveals that the Legion still prefers to handle its cases in-house, i.e. that victims contact the Legion outreach staff. Besides, their American guidelines may not be applicable to other countries. In the USA the Legion vaunts its participation in the safe environments system Presidium, but this may be limited to the USA or English-speaking world.
WITH THE LEGION AND REGNUM CHRISTI, YOUTH AND PARENTS NEED TO READ THE SMALL PRINT BEFORE COMMITTING. Remember, they were founded by a conman!
This is what set this morning by Judge Guerrerio, the Court of Novara, against Father Vladimir Resendiz Gutierrez, former rector of child seminary of the Legionaries of Christ of Novara.
The prosecution represented by Dr. Silvia Baglivo had asked for 11 years, later reduced to 7 in the summary procedure.
A
complex case, left from Milan, with a further charge, that of
extortion, then separate the two charges, the second (pedophilia) was
transferred to competence at the Prosecutor of Novara.
For
the three victims, defense lawyer Daniela Cultrera, the judge has
established a provisional award of € 80,000, in addition to being
welcomed to a civil association Network ABUSE instead represented by
Alessandro Maneffa.
On
1 May 2010, the Vatican named a delegate and appointed a commission to
review the Legionaries of Christ. In a statement, the Vatican denounced
Marcial Maciel for creating a “system of power” that enabled him to lead
an “immoral” double life “devoid of scruples and authentic religious
sentiment” and allowed him to abuse young boys for decades unchecked.[23]
The “very serious and objectively immoral acts” of Marcial
Maciel, which were “confirmed by incontrovertible testimonies,”
represent “true crimes and manifest a life without scruples or authentic
religious sentiment,” the Vatican said.[23]
The Vatican said the Legion created a “mechanism of defense” around
Maciel to shield him from accusations and suppress damaging witnesses
from reporting abuse. “It made him untouchable,” the Vatican said. The
statement decried “the lamentable disgracing and expulsion of those who
doubted” Maciel’s virtue. The Vatican statement did not address whether
the Legion’s current leadership will face any sanctions.[23]
Actions taken by the current Legion leadership will be scrutinized; but
no specific sanctions were mentioned. The Vatican acknowledged the
“hardships” faced by Maciel’s accusers through the years when they were
ostracized or ridiculed, and commended their “courage and perseverance
to demand the truth.”[23]
“The Legion is reorganizing and registering itself under a different entity — probably in anticipation of the Vatican’s giving the present organization a negative response. A federation can be as easy a way to hide the money as any. I pray that there is no recognition of the LC/RC as a federation (as requested 5 Dec 2018) – it will only provide ecclesial cover for the evil that continues to vitiate the Church’s mission and message – they will turn everything to money.”
O blog Ex Arautos do Evangelho reúne os relatos sobre as vivencias de ex membros dos Arautos do Evangelho e suas famílias. EXAE é o ponto de encontro e um canal de ajuda para as vítimas dos abusos nessa instituição, mostrando uma realidade que só as pessoas que vivem lá dentro e os que conseguiram sair conhecem.
