Legion institutes drastic rules
eliminating public identification with Fr. Maciel
and regulating references to him
From the website of
Rome, Italy. December 11, 2010. Following authorization by the pontifical delegate, Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, Fr Alvaro Corcuera, LC, general director of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi, issued norms regarding the figure of Fr Marcial Maciel.
The decree, promulgated on December 6, is the result of many considerations and suggestions, and of an ongoing exchange among the major superiors of the congregation. The decree formalizes in broad strokes what has for the most part already been general practice:
- In institutional writings, the way of referring to Fr Maciel will be as “founder of the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi” or simply “Fr Maciel.”
- It is confirmed that photographs of the founder alone or with the Holy Father cannot be placed in Legionary or Regnum Christi centers.
- Dates having to do with his person (birthday, baptismal day, name day, and priestly ordination anniversary) are not to be celebrated. The anniversary of his death, January 30, will be a day dedicated especially to prayer.
- The founder’s personal writings and talks will not be for sale in the congregation’s publishing houses, centers, and works of apostolate.
- The crypt of the Cotija cemetery with the mortal remains of the Maciel Degollado family, Fr Maciel and other Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi consecrated members will be given the value that pertains to any Christian burial place.
It will be treated as a place of prayer for the eternal repose of the deceased.
- The retreat centers in Cotija will continue offering the same services, but a place for prayer, reparation, and expiation will be created there.
Along with these institutional provisions, the text indicates that the superiors and directors must proceed “according to the criteria of this decree also for all matters not explicitly covered in it, taking their communities’ and teams’ personal preferences into account.”
In addition, respecting the personal freedom of the Legionaries of Christ and consecrated members of Regnum Christi, the norms leave space so that anyone who wishes to may privately keep a photograph of the founder, read his writings, or listen to his talks. In addition, the content of these writings may be used in preaching without citing the author.
Upon issuing the decree, Fr Alvaro Corcuera expressed his firm hope that this institutional position will help all Legionaries and Regnum Christi Movement members to focus on the person of Christ and continue forward united in charity.