Mexican Priest Abuse Scandals Cast Shadow on Pope's Visit

By Mica Rosenberg and Philip Pullella
The Reuters
March 25, 2012

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/25/us-pope-mexico-idUSBRE82M0RZ20120325

Pope Benedict XVI speaks during a meeting with children, from the balcony of the State Government building ''Casa del Conde Rul'' in Guanajuato March 24, 2012.

Pope Benedict XVI waves during his visit to Mexico in Guanajuato March 24, 2012.

(Reuters) - 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 spanning the years from 1944 to 2002 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. After accusations against Maciel mounted, Benedict ordered him to retire in 2006 to a life of "prayer and penitence."

VICTIMS REQUEST MEETING

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.

While he has made a point of speaking with victims of abuse in a number of other countries such as Malta, the United States and Australia, the pope 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 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 to change his schedule but that he would address the suffering of children on Saturday.

Thousands of singing and cheering Mexicans crowded into the colonial center of nearby Guanajuato to hear the pope give his message from a balcony, where white doves were released.

"I wish to lift up my voice, inviting everyone to protect and care for children, so that nothing may extinguish their smile," said Benedict, appealing especially to children experiencing "suffering, abandonment, violence or hunger."

But Maciel's legacy of abuse is likely to continue haunting the Church and the Legion in Mexico, which has many prominent members among the country's elite. Backers have included 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.

After an investigation, the Vatican concluded in 2010 that Maciel was "devoid of scruple" and guilty of "immoral behavior" that resulted in actual crimes. Church officials sent an envoy to refound the order to try and separate it from Maciel, said Benjamin Clariond, a Mexican priest from the Legion.

"We can't deny the historical fact that he founded the order, but it is now clear he is not a model or an example to follow," Clariond said. "We have to close this chapter and Maciel's final judgment will be left to God."