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Contact: John Moynihan, jmoynihan@votf.org ,
617-558-5252
For Immediate Release
Voice of the Faithful is pleased to
note that the Vatican has imposed restrictions on Fr. Marcial Macial
Degollado
May 22, 2006, Newton MA - Voice of the Faithful is
pleased to note that the Vatican has imposed restrictions on Fr. Marcial
Macial Degollado, the founder of the Legionaries of Christ because of
his numerous alleged sexual violations of members of his order, We would
also like to pay tribute to Jason Berry and Gerald Renner whose book “Vows
of Silence” first brought this case to widespread public attention.
Macial is the most powerful Catholic official to suffer Church sanctions
for sexual abuse. He has achieved great influence because of his position
with the Legionaries of Christ, a large, secretive, rapidly-growing and
well connected religious order.
This announcement vindicates the long-suffering men who have lived for
so long with the deep pain caused by Maciel’s crimes.
In addition to Berry and Renner, it is also a great victory for the
members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), VOTF
and all those who have brought the clerical abuse crisis to the attention
of the world. To be sure, without all the pressure that has been brought
on the Church in regard to this problem, this would have continued to
be “swept under the rug”.
We join with SNAP in calling for Maciel’s complete removal from
the priesthood. This would be a great sign from the Vatican that they
truly believe in “Zero Tolerance” for child sexual abusers.
For more information, click
here.
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VOTF is a worldwide movement of concerned mainstream
Catholics formed in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. The
group’s mission
is to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which
the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance
of the Catholic Church. Its goals are to support survivors of clergy
sexual abuse, support priests of integrity, and shape structural change
within the Catholic Church in full accordance and harmony with Church
teaching.
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