Update: Legion Undone

I'm sorry to say that, as yet, I haven't seen anything coming from the Legion or Regnum Christi that indicates that they have any intention of heeding the Vatican's advice to distance themselves from Fr. Maciel.

The National Catholic Register, published by the Legion, has a disingenuous editorial saying they don't intend to pay much attention to the story because 'it's not their way' -- they like to focus on the "vitality of the Church". The editorial also says, by ignoring the story, they're following the example of Fr. Maciel. And, in addition, they intend to stick with him: "The Legionaries will continue this as they also accompany their founder in this new stage of his life."

Needless to say, I don't see this as a healthy sign.

Meanwhile, back on Planet Earth, Karl Keating of Catholic Answers offers some much-needed perspective on the situation via his e-letter:

1. Supporters of Fr. Marcial Maciel, the founder of the Legion of
Christ, note that over the years other priests have had their faculties
removed when serious charges were levied against them, only to be
rehabilitated later when the charges were shown to be false. Padre Pio is the
name most usually cited. But are there not two distinctions to be made?

First, in the old days, accused priests lost their faculties at once,
and then the Church made an investigation into the charges. (Shoot
first, ask questions later.) Nowadays the procedure usually (not always) is
the other way around: investigate first and then, if there seems to be
at least prima facie evidence, penalize the priest.

Second, it is one thing for a priest to have his faculties suspended.
It is another for him to be invited to live the remainder of his days
doing penance. The first can be interpreted as merely cautionary, like a
preliminary injunction, but the second carries a clear note of penalty.
When, in pre-Vatican II years, accused priests were told to cease their
priestly ministries for a time, were they also told to take up a life
of penance? Not that I remember.

[Note to Karl: As a recovering attorney, you need to stay current on your meds.  When you use "prima facie
evidence" and "preliminary injunction" in the same post, it's time to renew the prescription! :-) ]