The General Chapter of the Legionaries of Christ has proceeded with the election of the new general director of the Congregation, and has chosen American P. John Connor, LC for the position. The Chapter has been focused for two weeks on sexual abuse, victim care, and clarification of responsibilities, and has committed to publicly disclose, at the end of its work, the results of its considerations and resolutions on this matter.

The voting took place on February 6. With this election, the term of P. Eduardo Robles Gil, LC concludes. In the coming days, the election of the six members of the Government forming the General Council will take place, according to the Constitutions approved by the Holy See in 2014, after the review carried out by the Legionaries in collaboration with the Church.

The P. John Connor, LC

P. John Connor, LC is 51 years old. Since 2001, he has lived in the United States, where he has exercised priestly ministry and held leadership positions in Philadelphia, New York, and Atlanta. He holds a degree in Administration from Loyola University (Chicago). He has lived in Germany, Italy, and Spain. He studied Philosophy and Theology in Rome, where he was ordained a priest on January 2, 2001. Since 2014, he has been the territorial director of the Legion of Christ in North America, and was currently a member of the Territorial Governing Board of Regnum Christi in that territory.

Determination and transparency to face abuses

The new general director will share responsibility with the rest of the government to carry out the mandates and directives of the current Chapter, which is the highest governing body of the Congregation.

On past January 24, the Chapter publicly committed to primarily addressing the issue of abuses. It has been dedicated for two weeks mainly to this, “with the mind and heart focused on the victims,” “to analyze the extent of the evil committed and the suffering inflicted, its causes, its consequences, and thus confirm the measures already taken and establish new ones.” It has committed to “publicly disclose, at the end of its work, the results of its considerations and resolutions on this matter.” The chapter fathers had the opportunity to hear the testimony of two victims of sexual abuse, and of P. Hans Zollner, S.J., secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, who urged them to reach out to victims.

In the coming weeks, the chapter fathers will also address other topics such as the Congregation’s apostolic mission and its relationship with other vocations of Regnum Christi, the formation of seminarians, the practice of poverty within the Congregation, community life, vocational pastoral work, and religious discipline in general.

On the website of the 2020 General Chapter, you can see periodic updates, photographs, and other official communications.