Letter of Fr. Cathal Daly re Atlanta Exodus of 3 Prominent Legionaries of Christ

Thy Kingdom Come!


Dear Regnum Christi Members in Atlanta,

As we begin summer vacation, I would like to take this opportunity to give you an update on important developments within the Legionaries of Christ community in the Atlanta area. As we near the celebration of the Ascension of the Lord, I would like to highlight a fundamental truth of our faith: God’s Providential love for us. We are in His hands. We are under His providential care. And we are all being led by Him in mysterious ways to fulfill our lives as sons and daughters of God, created in His image.

First of all, you may have heard about three Legionaries who have been serving in Atlanta who have asked for time to discern their possible future in the diocesan priesthood. They are Fr Paul Moreau, Fr Todd Belardi and Fr John Donahue. As Superior of the Spalding community where they resided, I want to make sure you are aware of their decisions.

We have offered our full support to our brothers as they have each discerned their future in the Legion during this past year. As Fr Paul Moreau wrote in his recent letter to all of you, he will remain in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Fr Todd Belardi will return to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee where he and his family are from. Fr John Donahue will be doing the same, residing in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.

While I am sad to see these fine men leave our community, I am truly happy for them, because they are discerning their futures in a spirit of prayer, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Along with all Legionaries, I thank them for their dedicated work throughout the years. They are great priests. They are our brothers in Christ. We will continue to pray for them and support them in every way possible.

Second, and in anticipation of concerns you may have regarding our work in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, I assure you that we will continue to provide our priestly support in Atlanta. Legionary priests will arrive to fill the vacancies left by the priests who are departing and the other Legionaries currently working in Atlanta will remain. If there are changes in this regard I will let you know.

Third, I give my own testimony that I believe represents many other Legionaries remaining in Atlanta. Despite the difficulties of the past few years, we consider it a call and a privilege to serve the Church in our Congregation during this time of renewal. The Visitation from the Holy See concluded a year ago and, since then, we have benefited greatly from the clear direction given by Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, C.S. as delegate of Pope Benedict XVI. It is a great consolation to know that we are guided by direct representatives of the Holy Father.

You may know that, as a Congregation, one of our primary objectives for the next three years is the review and renewal of our Constitutions. In furtherance of this objective, all Legionaries in Atlanta meet monthly to review our spirituality and Constitutions and propose changes that we see necessary. The meetings have helped strengthen us individually and as a community, and we can sense God’s providence at work.

During this time of renewal, we remain dedicated to our mission of serving the Church and serving you the members of the Regnum Christi Movement.



Finally, thank you for your faith, love and collaboration. We are very grateful. Thank you for accompanying us with your prayers!

Sincerely in Christ,



Fr David Daly, LC

Local Coordinator of Apostolate, Atlanta

Local Superior of the Spalding Community

Fr Todd Belardi and 2 other Priests Abandon the Legion in Atlanta

see him on U-Tube link below

Fr. Todd, a shining light of the Legion's Atlanta [Pinecrest, etc.] community is leaving

The handsome guys are leaving...to pursure their "ecclesiastical careers" elsewhere...

Ma, che bella faccia!

The blogger's use of the word "abandon" is intentional; it was the word Fr Maciel used when he tried to instill into us never to leave the Legion, never to "abandon our God-given vocation from all eternity to be called to the Legion of Christ". It takes some theological and faith readjustments in our interior as one summons the courage to leave.

But the change can be growthful:
a new vision of oneself: no longer a clone of Maciel
a new vision of the priesthood: it is a personal committment to Jesus
a new vision of the Legion: it is just one -quite flawed- part of the Church, no longer the Jesuits new and improved
a humbling experience: no more songs of glory about the Legion and the Regnum created by Marcial Maciel