Vatican restricts top priest over sex abuse
Vatican restricts top priest over sex abuse
By Ian Fisher and Laurie Goodstein. Copyright by The New York Times
FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2006
ROME The Vatican on Friday cautiously acknowledged long-standing allegations of sexual abuse by the founder of a prominent Roman Catholic community, asking him to give up his public ministry in favor of a quiet life of "prayer and penitence."
The statement did not address the allegations themselves, but it nonetheless marked a significant public gesture by Pope Benedict XVI on the sensitive issue of sexual abuse in the church: The priest, the Reverend Marcial Maciel Degollado, 86, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, in Mexico, who was often praised by Pope John Paul II, is the highest profile church figure to be accused of sexual abuse.
The statement said that Maciel would not undergo a church trial for the allegations against him, which were not disclosed. At least nine men have accused him of molestation. The reasons, the statement said, were Maciel's "advanced age" and "weak health."
But the statement said the Vatican's doctrinal office had decided "to invite the father to a life reserved to prayer and penitence, renouncing any public ministry." It added: "The Holy Father has approved these decisions."
Reactions to the decision varied. Some praised the pope for taking so public a stand, others said he did not go far enough given the seriousness of the allegations and the wider crisis of confidence in the church over sexual abuse.
"It's tempting and easy to want to believe that this is a positive long-term sign," said David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests in the United States. He praised the Vatican for a statement that he said "sanctioned" Maciel, but added: "I think one act, even a brave one, isn't necessarily indicative of a trend."
Juan Vaca, a former priest in the Legionaries who said Maciel abused him over 10 years starting in 1950, when he was 12, said he felt Maciel should be removed from the priesthood entirely - something the Vatican did not do.
"It's not enough," Vaca, an adjunct professor of psychology and sociology at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York, said in an interview Thursday as rumors of the judgment began leaking out. "Because this man has done a lot of damage to a lot of people - to children and supporters and even the hierarchy of the church."
The judgment was first made public on Thursday on the Web site of National Catholic Reporter. The Vatican document did not specify exactly what duties Maciel would be barred from, but National Catholic Reporter quoted anonymous Vatican officials as saying that he could not celebrate Mass publicly or give speeches or interviews.
The Legionaries, now based in Connecticut, released a statement noting that Maciel has long "declared his innocence." But the group said he "has accepted this communiqué with faith, complete serenity and tranquillity of conscience, knowing that it is a new cross the God, the Father of Mercy, has allowed him to suffer."
Maciel stepped down from the order's leadership last year. Since it was founded by Maciel in 1941, the Legionaries have tracked an impressive arc of growth and influence: It now has 650 priests worldwide and 2,500 seminarians in 20 countries. The order runs a dozen universities and recently opened its first degree-granting college in the United States, the University of Sacramento.
Pope John Paul II had repeatedly praised Maciel and his work, most recently at a public audience on Nov. 30, 2004, for the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. In 1994, in a trip to Mexico, Pope John Paul II called him "an efficacious guide to youth" - a statement that several victims said prompted them to make complaints.
Two years later, nine victims alleged in several newspapers articles and a book that Maciel had abused them when they were between 10 and 16. As an indication of Maciel's influence, a number of conservative American Catholics wrote testimonies defending him on the Legionaries Web site in 2002.
The case has presented a complex tableau for the church's willingness to confront allegations of sexual abuse, the legacy of Pope John Paul II and what many church experts say is the evolving view on the issue by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became pope last year.
John Paul has been criticized often for minimizing the scandal as it broke in the United States and many accusers cited as one gray area in his papacy his long friendship and public support of Maciel.
By Ian Fisher and Laurie Goodstein. Copyright by The New York Times
FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2006
ROME The Vatican on Friday cautiously acknowledged long-standing allegations of sexual abuse by the founder of a prominent Roman Catholic community, asking him to give up his public ministry in favor of a quiet life of "prayer and penitence."
The statement did not address the allegations themselves, but it nonetheless marked a significant public gesture by Pope Benedict XVI on the sensitive issue of sexual abuse in the church: The priest, the Reverend Marcial Maciel Degollado, 86, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, in Mexico, who was often praised by Pope John Paul II, is the highest profile church figure to be accused of sexual abuse.
The statement said that Maciel would not undergo a church trial for the allegations against him, which were not disclosed. At least nine men have accused him of molestation. The reasons, the statement said, were Maciel's "advanced age" and "weak health."
But the statement said the Vatican's doctrinal office had decided "to invite the father to a life reserved to prayer and penitence, renouncing any public ministry." It added: "The Holy Father has approved these decisions."
Reactions to the decision varied. Some praised the pope for taking so public a stand, others said he did not go far enough given the seriousness of the allegations and the wider crisis of confidence in the church over sexual abuse.
"It's tempting and easy to want to believe that this is a positive long-term sign," said David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests in the United States. He praised the Vatican for a statement that he said "sanctioned" Maciel, but added: "I think one act, even a brave one, isn't necessarily indicative of a trend."
Juan Vaca, a former priest in the Legionaries who said Maciel abused him over 10 years starting in 1950, when he was 12, said he felt Maciel should be removed from the priesthood entirely - something the Vatican did not do.
"It's not enough," Vaca, an adjunct professor of psychology and sociology at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York, said in an interview Thursday as rumors of the judgment began leaking out. "Because this man has done a lot of damage to a lot of people - to children and supporters and even the hierarchy of the church."
The judgment was first made public on Thursday on the Web site of National Catholic Reporter. The Vatican document did not specify exactly what duties Maciel would be barred from, but National Catholic Reporter quoted anonymous Vatican officials as saying that he could not celebrate Mass publicly or give speeches or interviews.
The Legionaries, now based in Connecticut, released a statement noting that Maciel has long "declared his innocence." But the group said he "has accepted this communiqué with faith, complete serenity and tranquillity of conscience, knowing that it is a new cross the God, the Father of Mercy, has allowed him to suffer."
Maciel stepped down from the order's leadership last year. Since it was founded by Maciel in 1941, the Legionaries have tracked an impressive arc of growth and influence: It now has 650 priests worldwide and 2,500 seminarians in 20 countries. The order runs a dozen universities and recently opened its first degree-granting college in the United States, the University of Sacramento.
Pope John Paul II had repeatedly praised Maciel and his work, most recently at a public audience on Nov. 30, 2004, for the 60th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. In 1994, in a trip to Mexico, Pope John Paul II called him "an efficacious guide to youth" - a statement that several victims said prompted them to make complaints.
Two years later, nine victims alleged in several newspapers articles and a book that Maciel had abused them when they were between 10 and 16. As an indication of Maciel's influence, a number of conservative American Catholics wrote testimonies defending him on the Legionaries Web site in 2002.
The case has presented a complex tableau for the church's willingness to confront allegations of sexual abuse, the legacy of Pope John Paul II and what many church experts say is the evolving view on the issue by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who became pope last year.
John Paul has been criticized often for minimizing the scandal as it broke in the United States and many accusers cited as one gray area in his papacy his long friendship and public support of Maciel.
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