‘Legionaries of Christ’- Several cases of sexual abuse were perpetrated at minor seminary
Since its founding in 1941, 33 priests of the 'Legionaries of Christ' have been found to have committed sexual abuse of minors, victimizing 175 children, according to the 2019 report. Fr. Marcial Maciel, who founded the order, abused at least 60 minors, according to the order. However, no reform possible without new leaders in Legionaries of Christ, advocates and survivors say.
The ‘Legionaries of Christ’ acknowledged that sexual abuse took place at the religious order’s El Ajusco minor seminary in Mexico City between 1985 and 1992.
The group issued two separate statements Jan. 24, during its general chapter in Rome. The statements were in response to allegations of sexual abuse on the part of Fr. Antonio Rodríguez Sánchez, 65, and laicized priests José María Sabín, 61.
The Legion of Christ, founded in 1941 by Marcial Macial, was the subject of controversy in the Church long before it was rocked by the Vatican’s acknowledgment that its charismatic founder lived a double life, sexually abused seminarians, and fathered children.
In 2006 the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith removed Maciel from public ministry and ordered him to spend the rest of his life in prayer and penance. The congregation decided not to subject him to a canonical process because of his advanced age.
In 2010, Pope Benedict appointed then-Archbishop Velasio de Paolis as the papal delegate to the Legion of Christ to oversee its reform. De Paolis, who died in 2017, has been accused of refusing to punish or even investigate Martinez or the superiors who covered up his crimes, according to reporting from the Associated Press.
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