Founder of Mexico’s Legionaires of Christ Catholic order abused at least 60 boys, report finds

Father Marcial Maciel, who died in 2008, was perhaps the Catholic Church’s most notorious paedophile, even abusing children he had secretly fathered

The Legionaires of Christ says in a report that 175 minors were victims of abuse by 33 priests between 1941 and 2019

2-MIN READ2-MIN

Father Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, is blessed by Pope John Paul II during a special audience at the Vatican in 2004. A new report has found that Maciel abused at least 60 minors. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:54pm, 22 Dec 2019Updated: 9:54pm, 22 Dec 2019

Sexual abuse of minors was rife among superiors of the Legionaires of Christ Catholic religious order, with at least 60 boys abused by its founder Father Marcial Maciel, a report by the group showed.

The report is important because for decades until 2006, the Vatican dismissed accusations by seminarians that Maciel had abused them sexually, some when they were as young as 12.

The order said the report, which was released on Saturday and covers the period since Maciel founded it in his native Mexico in 1941 to this year, was “an additional attempt [by the Legionaires] to confront their history”.

Pope Francis celebrates the Pentecost mass in St Peter's square at the Vatican. Photo: AFP

Maciel, who died in 2008, was perhaps the Roman Catholic Church’s most notorious paedophile, even abusing children he had fathered secretly with at least two women while living a double life and being feted by the Vatican and Church conservatives.

Cardinal Angelo Sodano, 92, who was secretary of state under John Paul, was for years one of the Legionaires’ biggest protectors in the Vatican.