Rome, Italy, Oct 4, 2011 / 22:35 pm
The Legionaries of Christ have appointed Father Jaime Rodriguez as their new general secretary. The 35-year-old Spaniard replaces Fr. Everisto Sada, who held the post for the past six years.
In his new position, Fr. Rodriguez will serve as the right-hand man of the Legion’s general director, Fr. Alvaro Corcuera.
The Legion stressed in an Oct. 4 statement that Fr. Rodriguez’s new post is purely administrative.
“As stipulated in the constitutions of the Legionaries of Christ, the general secretary has no authority on his own,” the press release said.
“His task is to assist the general director of the congregation in everything that has to do with issues like official correspondence, council meetings, calendars, and appointments.”
Attempts by CNA to interview the new general secretary were declined by a spokesman on the grounds that his task is “mainly one of internal coordination and assistance to the general director. The general secretary of a religious congregation is not a ‘public figure,’ so to say.”
Such statements are perhaps a response to those who suggest that Fr. Rodriguez’s predecessor played a larger role in the Legion’s governance.