Disciplining Marciel

Pope Benedict XVI is showing signs of bravado:

Pope Benedict XVI disciplined the founder of the conservative Legionaries of Christ, a favorite of Pope John Paul II who for decades has been dogged by sexual abuse allegations _ effectively making the elderly prelate a priest in name only.

In its announcement Friday the Vatican did not say whether it had determined if the accusations against the 86-year-old Mexican priest, the Rev. Marcial Maciel, were true. But canon law experts said the Vatican would not have imposed such a severe penalty unless it found at least some validity to the complaints.

Initially, nine former seminarians said Maciel had abused them when they were young boys or teenagers in Roman Catholic seminaries in Spain and Italy in the 1940s-1960s. Later, others came forward.

One of the problems which plagued Pope John Paul II pontificate was the priest abuse scandal, and his seeming blindness or indifferenct to what was actually a tremendous tragedy. One should not impugn the character of such a holy man too easily, but even saints make mistakes. In his defense, evidently orthodox priests and other good Catholics were often falsely charged with heinous crimes by the enemies of the Church, at least in the Pope's native Poland. Thus, he interpreted allegations of abuse, not as serious and credible charges, bus instead as character smears, similar to those he saw earlier in his lifetime. Benedict's decision to discipline Marciel shows that he does not take the same view as his predecessor.

The Legionaries of Christ, which Maciel founded in 1941 in Mexico City, is one of the fastest-growing religious orders in the Catholic Church with more than 600 priests and 2,500 seminarians in 20 countries in North and South America, Europe and Australia.

It was well-regarded by John Paul in particular because of its conservative views, loyalty to church teaching and because it has been so successful in recruiting.

That Benedict would choose to target Marciel is telling. Obviously, Marciel is quite guilty; the Vatican wouldn't dare take the risk of taking out someone of such high profile were the case the least bit ambiguous. Still, the laws of practical politics, insensible that they are, say to leave the founder of a growing orthodox order well enough alone. If Benedict's latest action is indicative of the way in which his papacy will be run, orthodox Catholic, even those who look well upon Marciel, have reason to be pleased. Once the priesthood had been cleansed, healing and forgiveness can take place, and the Church can reclaim her place in the world as a bastion of morality and truth. This can only be done by going after each and every pedophile, and the cowardly bishops who perpetuated these monsters.

Reforml takes time, but if Benedict is committed, as one can safely surmise, the reform will transpire as quickly as possible. The Church gives all appearances of being in very good hands.