Pope Sex Mex Kids
By Mica Rosenberg
Leon, Mex: Pope Benedict's
first full day in Mexico was clouded by fresh allegations the
Vatican hid evidence of sex abuse by one of the country's most
prominent Roman Catholic leaders for decades.
The authors of a new book say a trove of once-secret Vatican
documents prove Church officials ignored complaints of drug use
and molestation of seminarians by the late Father Marcial
Maciel, founder of the Catholic order the Legionaries of Christ.
Adding to the criticism of the Church, victims of abuse by
priests in Mexico came forward to seek an audience with
Benedict, but said their calls have not been answered.
Church officials acknowledged in 2009, a year after Maciel's
death at the age of 87, that the charismatic Mexican cleric had
led a double life, secretly fathering children and lavishly
spending the generous donations of his followers.
Now more than 200 leaked documents from confidential Church
archives reveal a mass of new testimony against Maciel, says the
book, "La voluntad de no saber" (The will not to know).
"The Vatican not only knew about Maciel's pathologies, but
they tolerated them and protected him," said religion expert
Bernardo Barranco, who wrote the book's introduction.
Barranco presented the 255-page work on Saturday in the
central city of Leon, while the 84-year-old pontiff was resting
after his long flight from Italy.
Among the evidence is a 1979 letter to Church authorities
from John McGann, the Bishop of Rockville Center, New York, that
cites allegations by Legionnaire Juan Vaca, who said his years
of sexual abuse by Maciel began when he was 13.
The Bishop told a Vatican official in the United States Vaca
raised "serious questions concerning Father Maciel's stability"
in written testimony given to Church officials. Another 1954
letter describes in detail Maciel injecting a form of morphine.
Despite years of allegations, Maciel - who had the support
of the previous Pope John Paul - was spared official censure
until 2006 when Benedict ordered him to retire to a life of
"prayer and penitence."
Victims Would Like to Meet
Benedict has made a point of speaking with victims of abuse
in a number of other countries including Malta, the United
States and Australia, but has no meeting scheduled in Mexico.
"We asked to see him and hoped he would sit down with us
like he has done in other countries. The Church said no victim
had reached out to them, which is just another lie to protect
priests who are still active," said Jesus Romero, who says he
was molested by a Catholic priest at the age of eleven.
Father Jorge Martinez from Mexico's Episcopal conference
said it would be difficult for the pope change his official
schedule but his message to children on Saturday afternoon would
speak to the suffering of youngsters affected by violence.
The Legion, founded by Maciel when he was in his 20s, is a
powerful order with many prominent members among Mexico's
business leaders. Backers have included the owners of Mexican
breadmaker Bimbo and Carlos Slim, the world's richest man.
The order runs private Catholic schools and charitable
organizations in 22 countries via its network of 800 priests and
2,600 seminarians. The order's lay movement, known as Regnum
Christi, has around 75,000 members.
Benedict arrived on Friday afternoon to cheering crowds, and
holds a Sunday mass where over 300,000 believers are expected.
On Monday he travels to Cuba to conclude his first trip to
Spanish-speaking Latin America in his seven years as pope.
http://www.chicagotribune.com
Leon, Mex: Pope Benedict's
first full day in Mexico was clouded by fresh allegations the
Vatican hid evidence of sex abuse by one of the country's most
prominent Roman Catholic leaders for decades.
The authors of a new book say a trove of once-secret Vatican
documents prove Church officials ignored complaints of drug use
and molestation of seminarians by the late Father Marcial
Maciel, founder of the Catholic order the Legionaries of Christ.
Adding to the criticism of the Church, victims of abuse by
priests in Mexico came forward to seek an audience with
Benedict, but said their calls have not been answered.
Church officials acknowledged in 2009, a year after Maciel's
death at the age of 87, that the charismatic Mexican cleric had
led a double life, secretly fathering children and lavishly
spending the generous donations of his followers.
Now more than 200 leaked documents from confidential Church
archives reveal a mass of new testimony against Maciel, says the
book, "La voluntad de no saber" (The will not to know).
"The Vatican not only knew about Maciel's pathologies, but
they tolerated them and protected him," said religion expert
Bernardo Barranco, who wrote the book's introduction.
Barranco presented the 255-page work on Saturday in the
central city of Leon, while the 84-year-old pontiff was resting
after his long flight from Italy.
Among the evidence is a 1979 letter to Church authorities
from John McGann, the Bishop of Rockville Center, New York, that
cites allegations by Legionnaire Juan Vaca, who said his years
of sexual abuse by Maciel began when he was 13.
The Bishop told a Vatican official in the United States Vaca
raised "serious questions concerning Father Maciel's stability"
in written testimony given to Church officials. Another 1954
letter describes in detail Maciel injecting a form of morphine.
Despite years of allegations, Maciel - who had the support
of the previous Pope John Paul - was spared official censure
until 2006 when Benedict ordered him to retire to a life of
"prayer and penitence."
Victims Would Like to Meet
Benedict has made a point of speaking with victims of abuse
in a number of other countries including Malta, the United
States and Australia, but has no meeting scheduled in Mexico.
"We asked to see him and hoped he would sit down with us
like he has done in other countries. The Church said no victim
had reached out to them, which is just another lie to protect
priests who are still active," said Jesus Romero, who says he
was molested by a Catholic priest at the age of eleven.
Father Jorge Martinez from Mexico's Episcopal conference
said it would be difficult for the pope change his official
schedule but his message to children on Saturday afternoon would
speak to the suffering of youngsters affected by violence.
The Legion, founded by Maciel when he was in his 20s, is a
powerful order with many prominent members among Mexico's
business leaders. Backers have included the owners of Mexican
breadmaker Bimbo and Carlos Slim, the world's richest man.
The order runs private Catholic schools and charitable
organizations in 22 countries via its network of 800 priests and
2,600 seminarians. The order's lay movement, known as Regnum
Christi, has around 75,000 members.
Benedict arrived on Friday afternoon to cheering crowds, and
holds a Sunday mass where over 300,000 believers are expected.
On Monday he travels to Cuba to conclude his first trip to
Spanish-speaking Latin America in his seven years as pope.
http://www.chicagotribune.com
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