Apr 24, 2010 / 16:53 pm
Fr. Owen Kearns, L.C., the publisher of the National Catholic Register, has published an apology for defending the disgraced Legionaries of Christ founder Fr. Marcel Maciel. He specifically apologized to victims of Maciel’s abuse, investigative journalists who helped expose the crimes and to readers of the Register.
“I’m sorry for adding to your burden with my own defense of him and my accusations against you. I’m sorry for being unable to believe you earlier. I’m sorry this apology has taken so long,” he told victims.
In a publisher’s note dated April 20 and published in the Register, Fr. Kearns said he had intended not to comment until the Holy See issued its findings after its apostolic visitation of the Legionaries of Christ.
However, he realized even if he was not ready his readers were.