8 victims seek damages from Legion of Christ

Washington Post

 April 12

By Nicole Winfield | AP

VATICAN CITY — Eight victims of the Catholic Church’s most notorious pedophile are pressing the Legion of Christ religious order to compensate them for the sexual abuse they endured and the psychological harm they say resulted from the order’s prolonged campaign to discredit them.

The men, some of whom are suffering financial and medical hardships as they age, sent a letter to the Legion’s leadership seeking public recognition of their status as victims of the Rev. Marcial Maciel and the Mexico-based order, which was once one of the fastest-growing congregations in the church but suffered a credibility crisis over Maciel’s crimes and cover-up.

The letter, obtained by The Associated Press, is the latest indication that clergy abuse victims are increasingly demanding recognition and apologies not just for their abuse, but for the retaliation often inflicted on them by church leaders after they reported allegations.

Just this week, Pope Francis acknowledged making “grave errors” in discrediting abuse victims in Chile, and begged their forgiveness.

There was no comment Thursday from the Legion.

The letter underscores the still-unfinished business surrounding the scandal over Maciel, despite the Legion’s efforts to move on. The charismatic preacher was beloved by the Vatican but turned out to be a drug addict who sexually abused his seminarians, fathered three children and created a cult-like order to hide his double life. The Vatican knew of allegations against him since the 1950s, but only took action against him in 2006. He died in 2008.

In the letter, the victims asked that a compensation commission, which had been active

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They called for the Legion to recognize that their revelations were not a betrayal but rather a service to both the church and the Legion.

No mention was made of the letter in an April 8 press release by the Legion after a recent meeting of Legion leaders to whom it was addressed.

“My expectations are absolutely low,” Barba said. “I know the Legionaires, and I know they don’t care.”