The General Chapter of the Legionaries of Christ has published the documents “Conversion and Repair” and “Protect and Heal,” which reflect the fruit of their reflections, decisions, and commitments regarding the abuse of minors by members of the Congregation and the care for victims. With their publication, the newly appointed Director General, P. John Connor, LC, commits to “confronting the abuses in our history with determination as part of our mission and a sign of the authenticity of our vocation.”

Under the guidance of these two documents, the new Director General and his council will continue with determination the investigation and clarification of responsibilities for each of the past abuse cases documented in the Report 1941-2019, and will report or inform the authorities of any cases that may arise, in order to meet the victims and restore justice. Anyone found guilty of cover-up or gross negligence in managing these cases, as established in the document “Protect and Heal,” will not be able to hold positions within the Congregation.

The Legionaries of Christ establish in “Protect and Heal” a policy of communication and transparency for publishing the names of those convicted of sexual abuse. “Thanks to this policy, I am working with provincial superiors to prepare to disclose these cases according to the criteria set by the General Chapter,” affirms P. John Connor. They will also ask ecclesiastical authorities for those guilty of abuse to be expelled from the priesthood and for the statute of limitations on cases prescribed in canon law to be lifted.

Cultural change: commitment to justice, truth, and victims

The new Director General, P. John Connor, LC, has stated that “the renewal through which the Holy See led us in past years has prepared us to responsibly face the consequences of our history. Now, aware of what we have learned, we have decided to continue taking firm steps forward on this path that has no turning back,” he assured.

“My advisors and I, along with the General Chapter gathered here in Rome these days, have committed to bravely, transparently, and justly confronting the consequences of the sexual abuses that occurred in the history of our Congregation and that we have documented in the Report 1941-2019,” he said. “Until now, we have not been able to attend to many victims of members of our Congregation, but we are committed, as far as possible and respecting each person’s space and timing, to pursue paths of repair and reconciliation with each of them, their families, and the affected communities. We know this will take many years,” he assured: “It is part of our mission and a sign of the authenticity of our vocation.”

In recent days, the Director General has held various meetings with experts in the comprehensive approach to the phenomenon of sexual abuse to offer victims who wish it a safe and independent professional space aimed at achieving truth, justice, and reparation.

In addition to addressing past cases and responsibilities, the Congregation seeks to provoke a change in mentality, procedures, and institutional culture that made such pain possible, and to continue the renewal effort around creating safe environments along with the entire Church.

Conversion and Repair

The document “Conversion and Repair” is primarily addressed to victims of abuse and their families, making an explicit plea for forgiveness. It mentions by name the first complainants of crimes committed by Fr. Marcial Maciel and other Legionaries, retracting the negative judgments made when they presented legitimate and necessary accusations, and recognizing “their prophetic denunciation in favor of truth and justice.” While asking for forgiveness for the pain they endured, it thanks them “for the good they did not only to [the Congregation], but to the Church itself.” It mentions Federico Domínguez, P. Luis Ferreira, Juan José Vaca, Juan Manuel Fernández Amenábar, P. Félix Alarcón, José Barba, Saúl Barrales, Alejandro Espinosa, Arturo Jurado, José Antonio Pérez Olvera, and Fernando Pérez Olvera.

“Conversion and Repair” invites all members of the Congregation to a conscience examination regarding their commitment to meet with victims, while acknowledging “with pain and shame” the shortcomings and errors that facilitated these crimes or prevented proper attention to them, and commits to correcting them. It recognizes “allies” in repairing damage and doing good as “civil and ecclesiastical authorities, society, media, and specialized organizations in the prevention of abuse and the restitution of justice.” It commits to concrete future actions outlined in the normative document “Protect and Heal.”

Protect and Heal

“Protect and Heal” is a normative document that strengthens the international Policy on Safe Environments issued after the 2014 General Chapter. The text addresses, in its first part, principles and action protocols to promote healing and reconciliation with victims-survivors of abuse; reinforces prevention measures and the creation of safe environments; guarantees quick, effective, and pastoral responses to reports or accusations of sexual abuse; seeks to ensure fair processes, as well as collaboration with other ecclesiastical and civil organizations to eradicate the scourge of child sexual abuse.

The second part of “Protect and Heal” provides procedural norms for cases of child abuse. Among the innovations are the commitment to transparency, which includes a communication policy for publishing the names of guilty Legionaries; sanctions for those guilty of failing to report or impede the proper handling of a sexual abuse case; and a request that, in ordinary processes, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith be asked for the penalty of laicization and expulsion from the Congregation. In cases where these penalties are not imposed, the convicted individual will be permanently removed from any public exercise of priestly ministry.

The collection of documents “Protect and Heal,” “Conversion and Repair,” and the “Report 1941-2019” can be viewed at this link.