Edward Peters on what won't, should and could happen to the LCs

My father, canon lawyer Edward Peters, speaks about the Maciel meltdown and the future of the Legion. I'm excerpting some of the most important points. You can read the rest of his blog entry here.

• The Legion should (if it can, and I'm not sure it has the self-possession to do this) identify every official who knew of Maciel's canonical crimes or who suspected them, but did nothing (let alone cooperated with them!) and expel them under 1983 CIC 696. Canonical crimes by a number of persons might well have been committed here (see e.g. 1983 CIC 1389); these should be pursued.

It is almost impossible that Maciel acted alone, without the abetting of at least some associates.

• Everyone, within the Legion and without, who has publicly attacked the motives and/or character of Maciel's accusers and of Legion critics should, just as publicly, apologize. (Tom Hoppes, a layman who edits the Legion's National Catholic Register was the first, and so far the only, Legion official to offer any apology for the LC's treament of it's critics.)

If this were any other institution, apologies would be publicly demanded of them. This is a first step towards reconciliation, and an essential stage to begin if the public is to ever trust LC leadership again.

• the Legion could dissolve itself... the LC priests who might wish to remain together could dissolve the Legion, and reconstitute themselves as a new institute under a dramatically new form of governance (not simply with the correction of some strange points in the Legion rule as occurred under Benedict XVI) and with a substantially new charism.

This is essentially what I've spoken about in terms of "refounding" the order. Others have made the point that the way of life approved by John Paul II remains in effect. Without addressing that issue directly (I need to do more research), this seems an insuffitient solution for the enormity of the sins perpetrated by the founder, as well as the "structures of sin" he established (and others apparently participated in) which allowed his misdeeds to go undiscovered and unpunished until after his death.

• What must not happen: Any more language whatsoever from Legion leadership that tries to spin this disaster. Today's pathetic first response must not be repeated.

We'll be watching.