Friday, March 22, 2024

Legionaries of Christ present annual report on abuse

The Community of the Legionaries of Christ is continuing its investigation into sexual abuse

In 2023, the order was aware of around 170 people worldwide who had been abused by priests from its own ranks. 

Contact was made with more than 60 of those affected, according to a report published in Rome on Thursday.

According to the report, 17 people received help through the order's "reparation and support programme" last year. 

That was six more than in the previous year. 

Among other things, the programme provides assistance in arranging therapy and financial compensation.

In addition, an independent organisation is supporting dozens of victims on behalf of the community. 

They report various forms of abuse, mostly as children and in some cases as adults. 

There has also been spiritual abuse and abuse of power.

Three new canonical proceedings

According to the report, three new canonical proceedings were opened in 2023. 

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in the Vatican is therefore currently investigating five priests of the Legionaries of Christ. 

The order has imposed restrictions on the public exercise of their ministry against these priests.

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith also concluded eight proceedings last year. 

Two of the order's priests were dismissed from the clergy and one is no longer allowed to exercise his priestly ministry in public. 

In the remaining five cases, the dicastery came to the conclusion that the allegations were not true or not relevant under canon law. 

There is also a further case involving a possible cover-up of abuse. 

The investigation is not yet complete.

According to the Legionaries of Christ, they have around 1,400 members in 21 countries. 

In the early 2000s, serious cases of sexual and spiritual abuse by the founder, the Mexican priest Marcial Maciel (1920-2008), came to light. 

This resulted in a serious crisis for the order and a renewal process lasting several years. 

The report that has now been presented is the community's fourth annual report on sexual abuse.