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Critic questions Legionaries' new attitude toward disgraced founder

December 15, 2010

William Oddie of the Catholic Herald questions the logic of the recent announcement from the Legionaries of Christ that the order’s founder, the late Father Marcial Maciel, will no longer be venerated, yet his writings may be used in the formation of members. Oddie wonders whether “the cult of Fr. Maciel is to be allowed to continue to flourish underground.” He asks:

If the whole charism of a body is based on a particular individual’s supposed sanctity, how – without going through a process of very radical change – does it continue after that individual is shown to be not holy at all but a very bad man indeed?

 


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  • Posted by: AgnesDay - Dec. 16, 2010 5:45 PM ET USA

    Who would want to belong to a community founded by a pervert?

  • Posted by: hartwood01 - Dec. 16, 2010 4:56 PM ET USA

    I am getting sick of hearing their name. Their founder was a sociopath and the fact that the Legionnaires are still in existence is very troubling.