Fr. Maciel removed from ministry: reactions & commentary

From the Vatican Information Service:

"...After having attentively studied the results of the investigation, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under the guidance of the new prefect, Cardinal William Joseph Levada, decided - bearing in mind Fr. Maciel's advanced age and his delicate health - to forgo a canonical hearing and to invite the father to a reserved life of penitence and prayer, relinquishing any form of public ministry. The Holy Father approved these decisions.

"Independently of the person of the Founder, the worthy apostolate of the Legionaries of Christ and of the Association 'Regnum Christi' is gratefully recognized." [More...]

The Legionaries of Christ respond:

2. Facing the accusations made against him, he declared his innocence and, following the example of Jesus Christ, decided not to defend himself in any way.

4. Fr. Maciel, with the spirit of obedience to the Church that has always characterized him, he has accepted this communiqué with faith, complete serenity and tranquility of conscience, knowing that it is a new cross that God, the Father of Mercy, has allowed him to suffer and that will obtain many graces for the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi Movement.

5. The Legionaries of Christ and the members of the Regnum Christi, following the example of Fr. Maciel and united to him, accept and will accept always the directives of the Holy See with profound spirit of obedience and faith. We renew our commitment to work with great intensity to live our charism of charity and extend the Kingdom of Christ serving the Church. [More...]

Note: At the time of writing (12:30pm EST), the Legionaries of Christ website was down.
Update, 2:30Pm EST: the website is back up (intermittently, probably due to high traffic volume).

St. Blogs commentary and reactions:

• In Light of the Law looks at the canonical implications of this decision, as well as to what degree one can conclude Maciel's guilt from it: "... I think that the CDF directive that Maciel undertake prayerful "penance" might have greater canonical significance than meets the eye."
• Amy Welborn's posting is ground zero (per usual) for the comment wars.
• Jimmy Akin: "That the Congregation found that at least some substance to the allegations is indicated by the fact that the Congregation invited him to give up public ministry and lead a life of prayer and penance. You don't do that to people against whom baseless charges have been made, particularly at the ends of their lives. One does not lightly ask the enormity of asking a priest to have to give up public ministry, particularly if he is aged and infirm and has spent his career building an organization with a reputation for faithfulness." [More...]
• Update, Richard John Neuhaus: "The most precise statement of what has happened, I believe, is that, in the judgment of CDF and the pope, it is in the best interests of the Church, the Legion, and Fr. Maciel that he relinquish his public ministry and devote the remainder of his life to penitence and prayer. It should be noted that “penitence” in this connection does no connote punishment for wrongdoing." [More...]

The mainstream commentary and reactions:

• New York Times: "The announcement marked the first public action by Pope Benedict XVI on the sensitive issue of sexual abuse in the church. And it came against a priest with a particularly high profile: the Rev. Marcial Maciel Degollado, 86, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, one of the fastest growing Catholic communities, praised often by Pope John Paul II." [More...]
• Associated Press: "Benedict's approval of the sanctions showed that he is not beholden to John Paul's legacy when it comes to dealing with what he once called the "filth" in the Catholic Church _ a widely understood criticism of clerical sex abuse ... Nine former seminarians first accused Maciel in 1996 of having abused them when they were boys or teenagers during the 1940s to 1960s. Later, other alleged victims came forward.
• More from the AP: "But such a serious sanction against as prominent a churchman as Maciel _ which would prohibit him from celebrating Mass and other sacraments in public _ is a clear indication the Vatican found at least some validity to the charges, experts said...The Vatican investigated Maciel in the 1950s for alleged drug use, trafficking and misuse of funds but not for sexual misconduct. He was suspended from his duties as head of the order then reinstated after being cleared of all allegations."[More...]
• Reuters: "The sanctions against Maciel made him one of the most prominent persons to be disciplined for alleged sexual abuse and could be devastating for the order and its lay branch Regnum Christi, which claims tens of thousands of members." [More...]
• Update, CNA: "Favreau added that one of the accusations against Father Maciel was that he absolved in confession people who were his accomplices in sexual sins and that this is punishable by automatic excommunication." [More...]
• Update, the AP: Pope Shows Independence in Priest Penalty: "Even as he was dogged by claims of sexual abuse, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ religious order remained a favorite of Pope John Paul II. On Friday, Pope Benedict XVI showed a bold willingness to correct his beloved predecessor by disciplining the Mexican priest. It's the latest move by Benedict away from John Paul's legacy." [More...]
• Update, Brian Mershon has pre-released his upcoming article for The Wanderer.

I'll repeat my previously-related personal story: "When I had the opportunity of meeting Cardinal Levada last summer, a friend of mine who was with me had the gumption to ask him if he would be pursuing the Maciel case when he took up his duties at CDF. Needless to say, Levada declined to respond... well, now we know."

[tags: Maciel, Legionaries of Christ]