Legion of Christ discloses Fr. Maciel's plagiarism to its members

News Resources Tools Columns Documents ACI Group

Contenidos del sub-menu

Comments: 30

CNA STAFF, Dec 18, 2009 / 11:42 am (CNA).- In an effort to distance itself from the wrongdoings of its founder, the Legion of Christ has recently circulated an internal memo detailing how a long venerated work of spirituality attributed to Fr. Marcial Maciel was actually a slight re-writing of a book from a little-known Spanish author.

“El Salterio de mis días” (The Psalter of my Days), according to the Legionary tradition, was regarded as written by Fr. Maciel during the period of the "great blessing," (1956-59), when the Mexican founder was submitted to a canonical process by the Vatican that was finally called off.

The memo now reveals that the text, very popular among the Legion in its original in Spanish and partially translated into English for internal use, was “based” on the little known work of a Spanish Catholic politician, Luis Lucía.

In a book titled “El Salterio de mis horas” (The Psalter of my Hours), Lucía, a Christian Democrat, reflected on his experience of being persecuted both by the Communist government during Spain's civil war (1936-1939), and the Nationalist government of Francisco Franco, who condemned him to death, but later changed the sentence to life in prison.

Lucía, the author of several political and spiritual books, probably wrote “The Psalter of my Hours” in the 30's. He was released from prison in 1941, and died in Valencia, Spain in 1943.

Despite being long forgotten, a small edition of “The Psalter of my Hours” was published in Valencia in 1956. It seems this was the edition Fr. Maciel read in Spain.

Although the memo does not describe Fr. Maciel's copying as plagiarism, a Spanish member of the Legion familiar with the text told CNA that Fr. Maciel's version reproduces "80% of the original book in content and style."

Comments: 30

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Sam
CT.,USA 03/11/2010 02:28 PM EST

This is NOT about just one man's failure...can anyone possibly believe that NO ONE at the top or otherwise didn't know about what Maciel was doing? And what about those seminarians WHO REPORTED WHAT MACIEL WAS DOING and were shunned or sent away? There are those in leadership positions as well as those in the ranks who still believe in Maciel and call him 'our father' and have his pictures hung around...the depth and spread of Maciel's evil sicknesses have permeated the order and it needs to be disbanded and brought into a place where they can be healed first of all, and then given a strong and healthy formation under Pontifical guidance...otherwise the disease that Maciel let loose will continue to spread...and infect the Church, schools, children, families...

Published by: dina little
massapequa, ny, usa 02/09/2010 03:23 PM EST

I will pray for you Mark and all those of the Legionaries and RC.

Published by: Little Sister
Richardson, TX 02/02/2010 06:02 PM EST

Dear Mark, I am sorry you feel so betrayed. However, the service that you have given is to Christ, who loves you so much; therefore it has not been in vain. Christ is the One who will never fail us. Remeber that even the recognized saints had their faults. Only Christ is truly worthy of all our love and efforts. Stay close to his Sacred Heart so He may heal you and help you grow in your love for Him. My prayers are with you. God Bless You!

Published by: Anne
Louisiana 01/10/2010 09:55 PM EST

The Church needs to separate the weeds from the wheat. While many of you say that there are good priests/seminarians, (which I do not dispute) they all need the proper counseling/help to undo the psychological damage that has been done unto them. It seems logical to place these genuine priests/seminarians in different orders/diocese however how do you convince such person/s that they are brainwashed?! And for all you folks who are all for the continuation of the Legion/RC (I'll leave that decision in God's hands) can you tell me how EXACTLY the Legion and RC benefit the church? From my observations I see them only benefiting themselves- recruit, recruit, recruit! And don't forget fundraising!

Published by: Tom
USA 01/10/2010 08:57 PM EST

Mark, you are in my prayers (I don't think God sees that your suffering is in vein). Tom

Published by: irishmexican
Mexico City 01/10/2010 08:03 PM EST

Dear Mark, I am sorry that you feel so betrayed. Despite being an LC for two decades I never swallowed it hook line and sinker; I knew Maciel personalmente and I felt he was eery and strange -little did I know how strange- I read the Psalter of my days with great devotion like many others but I was a bad legionary and read a lot of other spirituality to nurture my soul, French Dominicans, etc. I tell about in my memoir "Our Father, who art in bed,..." Published by: Mark VA 01/10/2010 09:29 AM EST There is betrayal at the deepest level, straight through the heart. I have difficulty even praying now because inside I cannot understand Father Maciel's evil or the Church who protected him. The abuse continued for so many years because no one did the right thing. It is easy to say "get up and move on". Yet the reality is that it is hard. It is all I have ever known. We are brothers and I am old. In my prayers, I pray to God for understanding because I do not comprehend how he could have allowed me to give my life in service to Him and have it be a fraud. A waste of a life. Normally, when abuse victims are healing, we counsel them to turn to God. Instead, I find myself turning away from God and the church too. Please pray for me.

Published by: Mark
VA 01/10/2010 09:29 AM EST

There is betrayal at the deepest level, straight through the heart. I have difficulty even praying now because inside I cannot understand Father Maciel's evil or the Church who protected him. The abuse continued for so many years because no one did the right thing. It is easy to say "get up and move on". Yet the reality is that it is hard. It is all I have ever known. We are brothers and I am old. In my prayers, I pray to God for understanding because I do not comprehend how he could have allowed me to give my life in service to Him and have it be a fraud. A waste of a life. Normally, when abuse victims are healing, we counsel them to turn to God. Instead, I find myself turning away from God and the church too. Please pray for me.

Published by: Catherine
Baton Rouge/LA/USA 01/03/2010 04:16 PM EST

The founder of Padre Pio's order had a similar tragedy and yet he joined the order and has become one of the greatest saints in Church history by being faithful to his call in that order!

Published by: William Stegall
Baton Rouge, LA United States 01/03/2010 03:52 PM EST

Let's look at the history of our Catholic Church, a history that has quite the sordid and twisted past. At various times men of the Church, sometimes leading and other times merely representing, have been imperfect to say the least. The Church's very existence despite man's interference is proof alone to me of it's divine origin and protection. But because of our many indiscretions of both the past and present, there are many who say throw out the whole Church. Do we as Catholic believers dare say throw out the Church? I should hope not. We, not blinded by hatred, see the fruits that Christ's Church provides to the world. Our position is to pull the weeds from the garden and allow it to continue to serve the world. To me, this stance is exactly the approach that the Church and all followers of Christ should maintain. No one who is truly familiar with the Legion and Regnum Christi can honesty look at what God has done for His Church through them and call it evil or the work of the devil. We are all imperfect instruments. I personally am humbled everyday when I see God's might as He makes such beautiful work from my imperfect and bumbling attempts to serve Him. Get rid of the weeds in the Legion but lets not ruin a part of the Garden that is bearing fruit. The Legion's seed was not their founder. The seed has always been and always will be Christ. Christ provided the seed, the founder received and planted it and the Church with the laity will keep it nurtured.

Published by: Fortissime
Canberra, Australia 01/01/2010 04:39 AM EST

I was a novice in 1983 and don't recall this book; the title is slightly familiar but we certainly did not meditate on it. We had volumes of his letters, which were grandiloquent but not very revealing. I think the Legion's particular exams have merit, and also think that Maciel wrote them but could be mistaken. I was particularly impressed by a few phrases Fr Bannon put in the supporters' newsletter; like bringing "the ocean of God's mercy to the ocean of man's misery". Subsequently I discovered that the "ocean of God's mercy" is Loyola's phrase; Maciel may have written the rest. I also discovered the grandiloquent phrases and style of his letters are drawn from Mexican political discourse.

Published by: Fr. Thomas J. Hennigan
Spain 12/27/2009 05:54 PM EST

About 15 years ago I was told by one of te older Legionary priests that it was plagiarized. It also seems that the part which was not stolen from Luis Lucia was written by someone else. Was anything beyond Maciel? The whole thing is a lie, a monstrosity.

Published by: martin
south africa 12/25/2009 03:14 PM EST

The beauty of this revelation (if true) is that the spirituality of the text is authentic and can continue to be used without any mental reservation arising out of its former link to Fr. Maciel

Published by: Bill
Manassas 12/25/2009 11:24 AM EST

There are probably very few orders that have anything original about their founder's writings or spirituality. All of the founders were influenced by their circumstances or other people. Don't make a big deal about something that is not a big deal. The Legion of Christ is just trying to determine how their founder was influenced, which is what they are supposed to do. They don't really need to apologize to anyone...this is a normal process.

Published by: elleblue
canada 12/24/2009 01:04 PM EST

This further saddens me and I worry about the vocations that this organization is nurturing. How can they continue to do this in 'good faith' when their very foundation is built on lies? We need to continue to pray for these vocations and give thanks for the people who continue to expose the lies.

Published by: Pablito
Alexandria, VA, USA 12/20/2009 08:31 PM EST

Fr Maciel stole his most significant mystical writing from Luis Lucia, the Constitutions of the Legion of Christ from the Jesuits, the structure and statutes of the Regnum Christi Lay Movement from the OPUS DEI, and their innocence and sexual integrity from many of his own seminarians.

Published by: katie
usa 12/20/2009 08:32 AM EST

Sounds like there are folks here that have blinders on and think maciel left something beautiful here, in spite of his dirty deeds. Get real! LC might have some holy priests but it's time to disband it . The legion is forever tainted and history will prove it every time maciel's name is mentioned,(an asterisk if you will) and it will be mentioned. How can it not be. No, it's time to place these holy people in other capacities and to try to mend the harm maciel has done. The LC defenders still think maciel is on par with sainthood and cannot get over it, and are intent on saving something out of it, maybe because of emotional ties to the group, after so many years of supporting it.

Published by: Chris
MD 12/19/2009 04:11 PM EST

I am grateful to Patrick Madrid for continuing to cover this sordid story --he is always insightful and never afraid to speak the truth! Thank You!

Published by: Carol Romano
East Northport 12/19/2009 02:54 PM EST

To: Robert from Ireland 12/18 Think about how Jesus felt when Judas betrayed him. But you must also think about how the Catholic Church grew and survived over 2,000. years. Man cannot put assunder what God ordains. Even though Marciel was in sin, the works in his hands were Blessed from a soul who received no credit for them here on earth. I am sure that same unknown author resides today in the company of Jesus. Let all judging of souls be in the Father's hands. Let right and wrong be a learning process for us to become better advocates of Righteousness.

Published by: Carol Romano
East Northport 12/19/2009 02:40 PM EST

Rate: Regular

I was fortunate to get to know a few of the Legionaries in the last 3 yrs. They impressed me with their honesty and love for their order. I visited their boys school and was truly impressed with what I saw. I only hope that this whole situation would be finished and they could go on doing the wonderful spiritual work they do. Why let one man's Fall destroy all the good of the others. God Bless You Legionaries, May All You Do in the Future have a lasting Spiritual Gift of God for all who come into your presence. You are in my prayers. A Friend company and teachings of Christ.

Published by: Jerry Bonagofski
Kent, WA / USA 12/19/2009 10:56 AM EST

Rate: Bad

Many seem to be missing the point. God at times uses imperfect humans, even sinners, to accomplish good. Regardless of Fr. Maciel's shortcomings, the good that is in LC/RC is still valid and those whom it brought to a closer relationship with Christ are no less closer to Him.

Published by: Glenn
Washington, DC 12/19/2009 10:55 AM EST

The organization, ReGAIN, which helped ex members and tried to get the truth out about Maciel and the Legion was sued for having "stolen" Maciel's writings, and this Psalter was on the list in the court documents.

Published by: John
Washington, DC 12/19/2009 10:13 AM EST

Folks, this is good news. The spirituality that Legionaires were meditating on, at least in this case, was largely plagiarized -- and that means it didn't come from the twisted mind of Fr. Maciel, but (largely) from an authentic spiritual source. LC should all get the original book, note the differences, and draw deeper from the clean water which had been subtly poisoned for them.

Published by: katie
usa 12/19/2009 08:00 AM EST

What else will be discovered about this fraud? He fooled the 'great' JPII, so he is a very sly and dishonest charlatan. If one can get away with sexual promiscuities, one can get away with almost anything, and it seems he has for not years but decades. So many people had put their faith in this guy, it must be humiliating as hell to find out he was a total fraud without an ounce of humility even to the end of his life.

Published by: Frank
Ohio 12/19/2009 06:45 AM EST

This is a major revelation. These were the writings of the founder that were read nightly by directors to hundreds of LC seminarians and women members of Regnum Christi as they fell to sleep at night. These writings were built up to be the inspired words of a soon-to-be saint and were used to manipulate these seminarians and consecrated into believing that they were part of a special moment in history via the privilege of being "co-founders" of this movement with Maciel. Now its revealed that he never wrote those words. And it's revealed that he fathered at least 5 children by 2, maybe 3 women and committed other crimes including pedophilia and violated countless Church laws, over a 50-year period. So yes, the fact that he stole another person's words matters.

Published by: Fred
Olathe, Kansas, USA 12/18/2009 08:01 PM EST

Ah, now we see that the spirituality of LC comes not only from the person of Maciel...

Published by: Aaron Loughrey
Ireland 12/18/2009 05:48 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

Which is it? "80% of the original book in content and style" is plagiarised or is there only a "slight re-writing"? There's a big difference. The nephew of the original author who was never referenced or mentioned in Maciel's "book" - is deeply upset and insulted about all of this. Marcial Maciel stole the beautiful spiritual texts of a spanish poet for the sole purpose of making him - maciel - appear to be what he was not nor never - holy, spiritual, a believer in god. We all believed he was truly a living saint because of these texts - we meditated on them so many mornings. Now i understand more why the Legion's spirituality was to be kept under lock and key in their centres. Who has seen Maciel pray his breviary? Why was his private altar set for mass each morning when it was never used? Why did he not know how to say Mass without someone pointing out what he had to read from the missal? This man was a fraud, a thief, a crook and he deceived the catholic church, deceived many popes and truly ripped apart the hearts and lives of many, many trusting young men, families and faithful. I cannot for one moment believe that he even believed in a god other than himself.

Published by: Steven
CA 12/18/2009 03:56 PM EST

Is it fair to say that some of our 'groups' within the Church are not really IN the Church?

Published by: Sheela
Atlanta, GA, USA 12/18/2009 03:32 PM EST

I participate in many Regnum Christi activities, but I have never heard about this book. Anyway, those who know it should also know who wrote it. And those who found out that there was something wrong, had to tell them. So far, so good.

Published by: Maggie
St. Lucie,Fl USA 12/18/2009 02:42 PM EST

As one having family members(about 30) in the LC/RC movement. This is welcome news. And all I can say is,"It's about time.".

Published by: Robert
Ireland 12/18/2009 01:00 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

as a former Legionary who was made to Meditate on this book I feel a deep sense of betrayal, I find it hard that he Legion is still willing to defend its origins and spirituality when its has been 100% that it was invented by a peadophile priest only interested in his own end.

ADD A COMMENT (Your e-mail will NOT be published):


NAME:
CITY/STATE/COUNTRY:
EMAIL:
COMMENT:

PLEASE ENTER THE SECURITY CODE DISPLAYED ABOVE:
Chars:

* Thanks for your comments. The number of messages that can be online is limited. Length should not exceed 1500 characters. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages.

ADVERTISING
CNA does not necessarily endorse these advertisers. Please proceed with discretion. If you feel that a website announced has inappropriate or offensive content, please send it by e-mail to catholicna@catholicna.com