Maciel's Walking Paper

The Holy See has formally announced its conclusions in the case of Fr Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ.

Below is the Whispers translation of the Holy See's statement, as released this morning in the original Italian.

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Beginning in 1998, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith received accusations, which had in part already been published, against the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, for delicts reserved to the exclusive competence of the Dicastery. In 2002, the Rev. Maciel published a statement denying the accusations and to express his displeasure at the offense caused by some ex-Legionaries of Christ. In 2005, for reasons of his advanced age, the Rev. Maciel retired from the office of Superior General of the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ.

All these elements were objects of mature examination on the part of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and, by norms of the Motu Proprio "Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela" of 30 April 2001 by the Servant of God John Paul II, the then-Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, His Eminence Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, authorized an investigation of the accusations. In the intervening time came the death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as the new Pontiff.

After having subjected the results of the investigation to attentive study, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under the leadership of its new Prefect, His Eminence Cardinal William Levada, has decided -- taking into account the advanced age of the Rev. Maciel and of his precipitous health -- to renounce the [further option of a] canonical process and to invite Father to a reserved life of prayer and penance, giving up all public ministry. The Holy Father has approved these decisions.

Independently of the person of the Founder is recalled with gratitude the good merits of the apostolate of the Legionaries of Christ and of the Association Regnum Christi.

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