By IANS/EFE,
Mexico City : The Congregation of the Legion of Christ apologised to everyone because its founder, Mexican priest Marcial Maciel (1920-2008), “harmed with the immoral acts of his private life”.
The apology was offered by the Legion’s secretary-general, Evaristo Sada, in a speech last weekend at a church event that was posted later on the order’s website.
“With all my heart I wish to beg pardon of everyone that our founder harmed with the immoral acts of his private life, and of the people who have been injured by the consequences,” Sada said about Maciel who died amid accusations of sexual abuse.
Shortly after Maciel’s death, it became known that he had children, six according to the attorney of three of them who are seeking legal recognition.
“It grieves us deeply what the church and these people have suffered,” Sada said.
Maciel was accused for decades of abusing seminarians, eight of whom filed complaints that went as far as the Vatican.
In May 2006, Pope Benedict XVI formally urged Maciel to give up “all public ministry” and ordered him to live a quiet life of prayer and penitence.