Jan 9, 2014: The Extraordinary General Chapter of the Legionaries of Christ begins
its working sessions on Thursday, under the guidance of the Pontifical Delegate to
the Legion, Cardinal Velasio De Paolis. The Chapter has been called with a view to
helping the Legion reform and renew itself in the wake of revelations regarding the
double-life led by the congregation's deceased founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel. Following
a Vatican investigation into Fr Maciel’s life and conduct as founder and leader of
the congregation, Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 stripped the priest of his leadership
role and ordered him to a life of prayer and penitence.
Following an examination
of conscience apt to allow for unclouded evaluation of the path the Legion has taken,
especially in recent years, the six-week convocation of 61 priests from 11 different
nations is to turn its attention to the needed constitutional reform and the election
of new leadership.
Cardinal De Paolis celebrated Mass on Wednesday evening
in Rome, to open the Chapter officially, during which he delivered a homily addressing
the principal tasks of the six-week convocation of 61 priests from 11 different nations,
specifically the needed constitutional reform and election of leadership. “The constitutions
that you give yourselves,” said Cardinal De Paolis, “will therefore not be simply
a code of laws that unites you only externally in discipline,” but, “an expression
of a common vocation, a common ideal, a common mission, a common path to healing.”
Cardinal De Paolis went on to call the election of new officers to govern the congregation,
“a point which should always be given special attention, especially for you, who have
a history of suffering in this regard,” adding, “it is important not to forget that.”
The
Legionaries of Christ have as many as 950 priest-members, and an estimated one thousand
seminarians at various levels of formation. With the help of their once 30 thousand-stron
lay organization, Regnum Christi, the Legion operates schools and other works of social
and charitable service in more than 20 countries around the world.