Off the Record

Marcial Maciel Degollado By Diogenes | February 03, 2009 5:12 AM

An OTR reader sends us a  message concerning the founder of the Legion of Christ:

The last few days a little editing war has been going on on Maciel's wikipedia page.  A paragraph was added early on the morning of the Jan. 28, by an IP address from Hartford, CT.  It was removed by someone using a registered account (so you can't trace where he's from), then restored by an IP address from the law firm of Wilmer Hale in Washington DC.  As of right now, it's been removed again. 

The last part of the contested paragraph reads as follows: 

Maciel's name and history are being purged from the Congregation's internal literature, his pictures are being removed from the walls of the schools and seminaries of the Legion and his writings are no longer being quoted in homilies and preaching of Legionary priests. 

If the page currently dedicated to Maciel at the LC's English website reflects the superiors' thinking, the claim above is an overstatement.  Yet it's of secondary interest who will win the Wiki-wars.  What's dismaying is that, still today, among the FAQs the Legion goes out of its way to answer about its founder, the most Frequently Asked Question of all does not rate a mention.  

If you found this helpful, our bi-weekly Insights emails can notify you of key commentary items. Also, please support this apostolic work. Progress toward our February expenses ($12,051 to go): $17,000.00 $4,949.15 71% 29% Add Insights to your account. | Make a pledge or one-time donation.

It's Your Turn to Sound Off!

» To ensure well-meaning comments, only donors are allowed to Sound Off.
  If you're a donor, log in; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!

Sound Off! Comments

• Posted by: extremeCatholic - Feb. 10, 2009 8:37 PM ET USA

  As someone with 3400 edits on Wikipedia, let me explain what goes on on articles in the news such as 9/11, Terri Schiavo, and Sarah Palin. The editing becomes tendentious because it becomes impossible to have an objective distance from the material and, of course, advocates have the greatest interest in their contributions remaining in the article. The winners typically are the ones with the most idle time on their hands rather than the most objective point of view.

• Posted by: wvcatholic - Feb. 04, 2009 11:55 AM ET USA

  If you look at a traditional depiction of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she is always pointing to Christ. That is a very profound message for all of us. Christ must always be the center. If another individual places himself as the focus of attention that should sound alarm bells. If an organization places too much focus on an individual other than Christ, serious questions must be raised about the Charism of that organization. This is an immutable law of the spiritual life.

• Posted by: James - Feb. 03, 2009 9:59 PM ET USA

  Consider the source. Wikipedia is not a reliable source and many universities bans it from use as an official source due to its lack of reliability. A friend of mine once used all his references for a term paper from wikipedia entries he wrote himself (yes, his instructor knew--a real paper was turned in and graded). Let's see what Legion puts out on their official site as a result of this situation.

• Posted by: hUMPTY dUMPTY - Feb. 03, 2009 6:20 PM ET USA

  Small surprize: Scandal is considered the most dangerous threat to the Church Institution, including its subsets such as Legions of Christ and Opus Dei. Avoiding Scandal was the motivation for the Heirarchy's coverup of the clerical sex abuse scandals here and abroad. Transparency would let the sunshine of Truth prevail over this infectous mindset. "You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you Free." [Gospel of John, and motto at CIA Headquarters.]