Vatican probes seven Legionaries of Christ priests for sexual abuse

(May 14, 2012) Seven priests of the Legionaries of Christ congregation are being probed by the Vatican for alleged sexual abuse of minors. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi on Friday confirmed the investigation against the priests, saying the probe had only recently begun and many of these accusations were old and presumably previously known to its leadership. Two other Legionaries priests are being investigated by the Vatican for alleged sacramental violations, believed to involve abusing spiritual direction and other pastoral care to have inappropriate sexual relations with women. The religious order, in a statement on Friday, confirmed it had referred seven cases of alleged abuse to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Vatican office that investigates sex crimes. "Over the past few years, in several countries, the major superiors of the Legion of Christ have received some allegations of gravely immoral acts and more serious offenses ... committed by some Legionaries," the statement said. All the cases but one involve alleged abuse dating from decades ago; one case involves recent events, it said. The statement said the congregation was committed to examining the accusations and reaching out to victims while safeguarding the rights of all involved. While the priests are under investigation, their access to children has been restricted, the Legionaries of Christ said. The investigations mark the first known Vatican action against the Legionary priests following the revelations that the order’s founder Fr. Marciel Maciel was a sex abuser.