Legionaries of Christ founder Marcial Maciel dies

update 1, feb 1: Amy notes:

I’m struck by the fact that at least up to this point, there is no telegram made public from the Holy Father sending condolences to the group for the death of their founder, an act that is otherwise standard practice.

Agreed. Remember that I said originally in this post that one should watch to see the Vatican reaction to his death. In this case, I would claim that even a lack of activity can be taken to mean something. The official LC response, similarly, is significantly terse (and it looks like I got my translation of their announcement accurate).

update 2, feb 1: The Associated Press has reported that Maciel died in Houston, Texas.

original post: ABC News gets right to the point:

A well-connected Vatican insider who was accused of molesting young priests in training has died. Father Marcial Maciel never faced a trial nor was he punished by the Vatican despite the fact the church had asked him to stop all public ministry appearances.

The Vatican City AP wire is a bit more accurate:

The Rev. Marcial Maciel, a Mexican priest who founded the Legionaries of Christ religious order and was disciplined by Pope Benedict XVI after sex abuse allegations, has died in the United States, his order said Thursday. He was 87.

Maciel died Wednesday of natural causes, the conservative religious order said on its Web site. It did not say exactly where he died.

{update 2, feb 1: The Associated Press has reported that Maciel died in Houston, Texas.}

The Legionaries website announces (In Italian) essentially that their "beloved Founder and Father, MARCIAL MACIEL DEGOLLADO, has passed to his celestial native home, on the 30th of January, etc..."

(Again, my rough translation:) "By the wish of Fr. Maciel, the funeral will take place in an atmosphere of prayer and celebrated in a simple and private manner."

CNA specifies that the funeral will occur in his hometown of Mexico, date unpublished.

Associated Press: "Religious Order Leader Maciel Dies"
Reuters: "Mexican Catholic leader accused of sex abuse dies"

God rest his soul.

Watch for: 1) Vatican reaction at the news of his death. 2) Official Legionaries of Christ reaction.

Related posts:

• File photo of Maciel with John Paul II
• May 22: "ZENIT's objectivity about the Maciel decision doubteful?"
• May 20: "Fr. Maciel removed from ministry: Day Two"
• May 19: "Fr. Maciel removed from ministry: reactions & commentary"
• May 18: "Pope Benedict approves restrictions on Fr. Maciel, Legionaries of Christ founder"