Father Marcial Maciel Archives

Founders with feet of clay another challenge for Pope’s reform campaign

Feb 14, 2021

Most observers of new movements in the Catholic Church would say they tend to share a number of characteristics, one of which is a strong cult of personality around the founder that tends to insulate such figures from suspicion and creates a series of disincentives for bringing forth accusations or complaints.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Official in John Paul II’s sainthood cause says no cover-up on sex abuse

May 16, 2020

The official responsible for Pope John Paul II’s sainthood cause says charges of cover-up for abuser clergy were investigated and “no evidence” was found.

By Elise Ann Allen

Mexico: Legion of Christ victims criticize sex abuse report

Dec 24, 2019

Victims of sexual abuse by priests from the Legion of Christ in Mexico sharply criticized an internal report on pedophilia released over the weekend.

By Maria Verza

Legion of Christ finds 33 priests, 71 seminarian sex abusers

Dec 22, 2019

The Legion of Christ religious order, which was discredited by its pedophile founder and the cult-like practices he imposed, says an internal investigation has identified 33 priests and 71 seminarians who sexually abused minors over the past eight decades.

By Associated Press

Cardinal tainted by abuse scandals steps down as dean, pope sets term limit

Dec 21, 2019

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of 92-year-old Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who faces questions about his role in various clerical sexual abuse scandals, as Dean of the College of Cardinals.

By Elise Harris

Church now faces ‘Sheen dilemma’ in evaluating saints and their halos

Dec 8, 2019

Going forward, in order to claim a halo, any candidate who was in a leadership position in the Church – meaning, usually, a bishop or religious superior – will have to be shown to have had “clean hands” on the abuse scandals.

By John L. Allen Jr.

Dziwisz thanks Francis for ‘putting an end’ to attempts to discredit JPII

May 30, 2019

Polish Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz has issued a letter thanking Pope Francis for recent comments defending the late Saint John Paul II’s holiness and his handling of the case of Mexican abuser priest Marcial Maciel.

By Elise Harris

Mexican bishops set up team to protect children, develop protocols

Nov 22, 2018

The Mexican bishops’ conference has established a team to protect children against clerical sexual abuse, advise church leaders and develop and outline prevention protocols.

By David Agren