They are both now dead, but that doesn’t mean their alliance is not worth noting. Father Marcial Maciel founded and ran an authoritarian theocon cult within the Catholic church for many years, aided and abetted and celebrated by the Wojtila-Ratzinger papacy. Maciel was credibly accused of molesting and abusing countless young men in his care … Continue reading Neuhaus And Maciel
I posted about the Legionaries of Christ yesterday. Here’s an interesting and new John Allen interview with the archbishop of Baltimore who’s finally trying to prevent the cult’s "one-on-one spiritual direction with anyone under 18."
One of the most powerful and well-connected child-abusers in the Catholic hierarchy, Marcial Maciel Degollado, has died. Rocco’s obit is here. Benedict made some efforts to hold him accountable for countless crimes, but, like most of the child-abusers with strong Vatican connections, Maciel was never prosecuted: The community’s formal notice said that Maciel passed away … Continue reading Maciel Dead
They represent a Who’s Who of American theoconservatives. Money quotes: "The recent revival of long discredited allegations against Father Maciel would come as a surprise were it not for the fact that the U.S. is currently experiencing a resurgence of anti-Catholicism. One would have thought that Father Neuhaus’s meticulous analysis of the evidence in First … Continue reading Maciel’s Defenders
A quite astonishing development has occurred in Rome. The founder of the Legion of Christ, Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, has finally been disciplined for what was a long and brutal history of sexual abuse and harassment of young seminarians in his care. The case against Maciel has been voluminous and exhaustive. The best account of … Continue reading Benedict and Maciel
One thing remains: to hold to account those who protected Maciel, denied the charges, covered up the evidence, intimidated witnesses, and slandered good reporters. Chief among these enablers was Pope John Paul II, a close friend of Maciel, who essentially sided with his archconservative friend against the victims of sexual abuse for years, and even … Continue reading Maciel’s Enablers
This gets weirder and weirder.
The website that devotes itself to seeking justice for those who claim they were molested by the Legion of Christ’s leader says that the investigation has not ended. I don’t know how to judge their claims. The website is a good resource, though, for learning more about this troubling matter.
The UN Report on the Vatican’s role as a global conspiracy to enable, abet and cover up crimes against humanity is a vital reminder of just how hideous the Catholic Church has been in violating the souls and bodies of so many innocents. Sometimes, the sheer scale of the abuse renders one mute. But it … Continue reading An Acid Test For Francis
To share in this way is courageous, powerful and generous. Please read: http://t.co/RKKREFB8hM — Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) February 1, 2014 A reader writes: I understand your perspective on Dylan Farrow and respect what you have written. I, too, am deeply sympathetic to her and refuse to dismiss what she has said. Nonetheless, the account published … Continue reading Debating Woody Allen On Super Bowl Sunday, Ctd
