St. John Paul II, Pray for Us! Legionaries of Christ Report Shows Maciel Abused at Least 60 Boys, Abuse Was Rife in the Order

Sexual abuse of minors was rife among superiors of the Legionaires of Christ, with at least 60 boys abused by its founder Father Marcial Maciel, report shows. https://t.co/2LUelQ4U6i pic.twitter.com/AhJm3HTihy

— Philip Pullella (@PhilipPullella) December 22, 2019

Philip Pullela reports, 

Sexual abuse of minors was rife among superiors of the Legionaires of Christ Catholic religious order, with at least 60 boys abused by its founder Father Marcial Maciel, a report by the group showed. 

The report is important because for decades until 2006, including during all of the pontificate of Pope John Paul, the Vatican dismissed accusations by seminarians that Maciel had abused them sexually, some when they were as young as 12…. 

The new report says that between 1941 and 2019, 175 minors were victims of abuse by 33 priests in the order. At least 60, or about one-third, were abused by Maciel himself, it said. 

Most victims were boys between 11 and 16, it said…. 

After Maciel’s death, Vatican investigations found that he had also fathered several children with at least two women, visited them regularly and sent them money. He also used drugs. 

Former members have said the order was run like a cult, with rules forbidding any criticism of the founder or questioning of his motives. 

They said Maciel gave huge contributions to the Vatican during the papacy of John Paul, who admired the Legionaires’ orthodoxy and ability to produce vocations.

St. John Paul II, pray for us!