The Legion of Christ Continues to Avoid Compensating Victims of Sexual Abuse by its Founder, Father Marcial Maciel, LC.
One year ago, the Legion of Christ/Regnum Christi Federation proudly published its chapter documents “Conversion and Repair”, “Protect and Heal” and the “Report of Abuse…” [i] in which it formally promised to compensate the victims for the damages of sexual abuse suffered at the hands of founder, Father Marcial Maciel, LC.
Today we want to inform the public what has become of such words, documents and promises: that in fact the Legion of Christ, as represented by Father Robles Gil and Regnum Christi Federation, Fr. John Connor, have once again de facto answered: “NO”, “NO, WE WILL NOT” to the historical victims. Another year has gone by WITHOUT EFFECTIVE REPARATION.
WHAT DID THE HISTORICAL VICTIMS DEMAND OF DIRECTOR GENERAL (Father John Connor) AT THE MEETING THEY HAD A YEAR AGO?
- That the LC/RC publish an apology in the same media in which victims were falsely accused and unjustly libeled in 1997, so as to repair their good name, reputation and that of the relatives inheriting their name. That it be declared unambiguously that they were not conspirators, that they were telling the truth; that the Legion’s false accusation had caused them to lose their jobs, and/or effected their careers, income, relationships, friendships and even families for decades after.
HOW DID THE LEGION OF CHRIST RESPOND? IN THE NEGATIVE:
“We will not publish anything in major newspapers or with international reach, and less in the Hartford Courant.” (newspaper in which the Legion published the false accusations and documents against Maciel’s accusers in 1997.)
- That a team of six be chosen -three by the LC and three by the victims- to determine together the extent of damage the LC had caused them, and reach an agreement on just
HOW DID THE LEGION OF CHRIST RESPOND? IN THE NEGATIVE
At said meeting, a Legion priest representative pulled out his pocket calculator in front of them, maid calculation re Mexican minimum wages, and offered 450,000 pesos approx. ($22,500 UScy) to each victim to repair decades of international abuse, harm, and defamation. The Legion of Christ/Regnum Christi Federation demanded they sign a Confidentiality Agreement (mug order) as a requirement to continue deliberations.
- José Barba, PhD, who had legal representation, requested in writing from the Director General that any communication or communication relevant to deliberations go through him, Barba, their representative.
HOW DID THE LEGION OF CHRIST RESPOND?
Saying “OF COURSE,”, BUT PROCEDING TO DO THE OPPOSITE!
The present Director (Superior) General of the institution, Father John Connor, personally and directly, approached several victims, going over the head of legal representative, José Barba, and secretly offering them $5,000 UScy individually – “not as compensation but as an Easter Egg Gift” (sic). With this treacherous strategy, Fr. Connor effectively split the group of plaintiffs and weakened their position.
Where in the Name of God is the honest good will of this apparently bone fide Catholic religious order? One cannot help wondering now:
IS THE LEGION/REGNUM WAITING FOR VICTIMS TO DIE OFF AND THE PROBLEM TO GO AWAY?
The Legion of Christ/Regnum Christi waiting game continues. The eighty-year-old victims are dying: Fernando Pérez Olvera Esq in 2020 and Father Félix Alarcón Hoyos in 2021. To protect its public image, the institution helped to defray costs of their terminal illness and funeral expenses. BUT IT HAS NOT COMPENSATED THEM in the proper and agreed manner. The group’s de facto consistent priority is, as in other questionable groups, recruitment of the young and vulnerable together with fund-raising to train recruits, expand its projects, and promote its image.
If things go on like this, will the LC/RC ever honor its obligations to the remaining victims and to the deceased’s dependents?
Hopefully, they will not answer the same as always: “What can be done after such a long time. But don’t worry. We will pray for you.”
Support Network of Victims of Sexual Abuse by Founder of the Legion of Christ/Regnum Christi Federation, Fr. Marcial Maciel, LC
February 26, 2021
[i] https://legionariosdecristo.org/
[i] https://legionariosdecristo.org/tag/conversion-y-reparacion/