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

Five Questions to Ask Before You Join a Personal Growth Group, Church or Spiritual Teacher

From Alexandra Amor's blog, Cult, a Love Story

Five Questions to Ask Before You Join a Personal Growth Group, Church or Spiritual Teacher



Do you know when you’re being manipulated or coerced? Unfortunately there are those who will deliberately prey on those of us who are seeking answers and guidance in life. When we are seeking answers, often our hearts and minds are a bit more open, and therefore a bit more susceptible to manipulation. I offer these questions as a way for you to take a measured assessment of any teaching or group that you are attracted to. I wish I had known to ask myself these questions before I joined a meditation group that turned out to be a cult.
1. Do the answers that are being provided by the group or the teacher seem too easy and/or too all-encompassing? Is what is being offered a panacea to ALL your problems? Life is never that simple; no once can make good on a promise of a one-stop solution.

2. Is there a sense of urgency that prevails in the group or that is layered into the decisions you’re being asked to make? In cults and/or coercive situations this is done purposefully so that you don’t have time to consider the downside or the arguments against joining. Urgency encourages us to ignore our normal decision-making processes and our intuition about the danger in a situation.
3. Do you have any intuitive heebie jeebies? Any red flags? Is your body expressing discomfort with the situation while your head/logic tries to talk you out of that? Your body always knows the truth. Don’t ignore it.

4. Does the intimacy in the situation move along too quickly? Is the teacher or leader a little too eager to like you and praise you and become your new BFF? Do you feel extremely flattered? This is seduction and a sure sign of coercive behaviour.

5. Are you in a time of transition or depression? It is more difficult to be skeptical and analytical at these times in life. Any time you’re in a major period of transition or feeling depressed, make a point to avoid big decisions and committing yourself to groups or individuals.

Two Bonus Questions

6. Are you being told, subtly or otherwise, that your life will be harmed if you don’t go along with what’s being offered? As though the group/leader/teacher knows better for you than you know for yourself. This is never possible. You always know what’s best for you.

7. Are you being asked to reserve judgment about morally or ethically questionable behaviours or situations in the group? Or do you find yourself telling yourself to reserve judgment? “This crazy behaviour will make sense when I’m more spiritual or educated or know more about how the group works.” If a situation seems wrong at the time, knowing more won’t explain that, you will only be convinced to ignore your initial hesitation.

David Murray

by Angeles Conde and David JP Murray


Whatever happened to Maciel's reporter, Bro. David Murray? He left the Legion but carried on in the capacity of unconditional reporter, biographer and hagiographer for Nuestro Padre Maciel

Where are you David?
and
How are you?

Former RC Consecrated, Nelly Ramirez, Publishes Testimonies [Spanish Text]

Former Regnum Christi Consecrated, Nelly Ramirez sends a letter to her former team members on the occasion of the publication of her book The Kingdom of Marcial Maciel with a prestigious Mexican publisher.
In this letter she attempts to cut off the usual litany of "objections" from active members along the lines of "resentful, lies, disgruntled, libel..."
She apologizes for offending anyone
She maintains anonymity where requested
and has been as objective as possible
She also affirms she has consulted with well informed and balanced experts
====
¡Venga tu Reino!


México DF, 25 de febrero de 2011

Muy estimadas en Cristo:

Antes de todo, les mando un saludo lleno de afecto y gratitud por todo lo que recibí de ustedes durante mi paso por la vida consagrada en el Movimiento Regnum Christi. Todavía ahora sigo en contacto con muchas de ustedes con las que tengo una verdadera amistad y con las que comparto los grandes ideales que han alimentado mi vida.

Me he permitido escribirles estas líneas ante las informaciones que ya circulan entre ustedes sobre el libro “El Reino de Marcial Maciel” que acabo de escribir y próximamente estará a la venta en las librerías.

Les aseguro, contra lo que se está diciendo en algunos equipos, que el libro no nace del resentimiento porque no hay tal, sino de mi compromiso con la verdad y con ustedes. Lo he hecho con todo el amor cristiano y el respeto a la verdad que ustedes se merecen, y lo pondré en sus manos para ofrecerles un conocimiento informado de los hechos, con el fin de que juntos podamos buscar lo que el Señor quiere de nosotros en la renovación del Movimiento Regnum Christi por encima de componendas y ficciones.

He evitado cualquier dato morboso o dañino para alguien y sólo he recogido testimonios seguros y verificados. Desgraciadamente, he tenido que señalar cosas negativas, pero verán que no me deleito en ellas, sino que las señalo como elementos que tenemos que superar y que estoy convencida de que podemos superar.

En el libro, he recogido muchos testimonios dolorosos de personas queridas y cercanas porque me parecía que eso ayuda a tener un punto de vista completo. Lejos de las visiones idílicas o utópicas en las que vivimos. He respetado el anonimato de quién me ha pedido que lo mantuviera y he tratado de ser siempre sincera en la exposición de lo que pienso. Puedo tener muchos errores, como todos los seres humanos, y seguramente ustedes los irán descubriendo, pero les aseguro que he investigado y comprobado todas las afirmaciones que hago, siempre asesorada por hombres y mujeres de Iglesia especialistas en los distintos temas que se abordan. Pido perdón desde ahora a aquellas que puedan sentirse ofendidas o afectadas. No era mi propósito hacer daño a nadie.

Prometo enviarles una copia para el equipo con el fin de que puedan juzgar por ustedes mismas.

Sin más, me despido de ustedes deseándoles una vivencia libre y comprometida en su consagración a Dios, sin trampas ni manipulaciones.

Les aseguro un lugar muy especial en mi corazón y en mis oraciones y me encomiendo a las suyas.

Afectísima en Cristo y el Movimiento.


Nelly Ramírez Mota Velasco

Regnum Christi Consecrated Female to Tell All in new book

"The Kingdom of Marcial Maciel, the Secret Life of the Legion and Regnum Christi"


Book will be published very soon in Spanish by the prestigious Mexican house, Editorial Planeta.

Life after RC gives a preview and a rough translation

Former LC Fr. Matthew Green now in New York diocese

Fr Matthew Green posts on his blog a request to Pray for the members of LC and RC

This is the first the blogger has heard of Fr. Green, that he existed, that he had belonged, and that he had left; so I am unaware whether or not his defection is news.
Like others who have continued as active priests, he does not explain why he left, except in vague terms -maybe there is an unwritten code of clerical discretion.. But anyway I welcome the writing, the sharing of something somewhat personal and his well wishes and prayers for the members:

"The Legion of Christ’s 70th Birthday


Posted on January 3, 2011 by Fr Matthew Green

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Legion of Christ, the congregation which I joined in 1991 and which I am now in the process of leaving.

As novices we studied the history of the congregation. We all learned that the process of foundation had been fraught with complications and opposition, and only succeeded because of the persistence and ingenuity of the founder, Marcial Maciel, and his fidelity to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. Little did we suspect just how complicated and obscure that process was. Over the past few years we have learned of a variety of abuses and transgressions on the part of the founder – dating back to the foundation and probably before – that force a reexamination and reevaluation of the facts, motivations, and results of the Legion’s 70 year history, and of its current practices, rules and leadership.

My own reflections and prayers on these revelations helped me to the conclusion that God no longer wants me to be a part of the Legion. However, the Vatican has invested important resources in trying to help the Legion overcome this crisis. While there must be some bad apples (as there are in any organization, and they could not have gotten into this mess without the founder having some accomplices), all the Legionaries I know well are talented, well-intentioned men whom I love and respect, and who have the desire to make whatever changes are needed to continue serving God through the Legion’s charism (although the exact nature of the charism is itself a topic of some debate right now). They need help to see clearly and judge correctly, with a healthy distance from the distorted views and habits of thought and behavior that have their origin in the profoundly disturbed psychology of the founder. There is significant good in the Legion, and it would be a tragedy to lose that good in the murky and pervasive bathwater that desperately needs to be flushed out.

So today, I’d like to ask anyone who reads this, to pray please for the Legionaries of Christ and members of their affiliated Regnum Christi lay movement. May this 70th anniversary of foundation mark a turning point in this crisis. Under the guidance of the Pope and his representatives, may they come to a clear and objective understanding of what comes from God and what does not, so they can leave the tragedy of the Legion’s past behind, make reparation where needed, and serve the Church in justice, truth and charity.

It’s a good day to re-read the Vatican’s communiqué following the Apostolic Visitation of the Legion, published last year. "