Vatican's Long Delayed Action Against Rev. Maciel Uncovered in New Documents

Newly released documents from the Vatican's central governing office shed light on the extensive evidence against the Rev. Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legion of Christ, who was accused of sexual abuse and misconduct as early as the 1940s. Despite the overwhelming documentation, it took the Holy See over fifty years to sanction Maciel, who led a double life as a religious leader while fathering three children and abusing seminarians. The latest findings provide insight into the internal dynamics of the Vatican, revealing who protected Maciel and who sought to impose stricter measures against him. The documents detail a pivotal moment in 1956 when Maciel was suspended and ordered to undergo treatment for a morphine addiction. The Vatican's Congregation for Religious had recommended that he be barred from contact with young seminarians, but this directive was later altered, allowing Maciel to continue his interactions with them. Cardinal Giuseppe Pizzardo, a key figure in the Vatican, played a significant role in shielding Maciel from severe repercussions, despite serious concerns raised about his conduct. In the wake of Pope Pius XII's death in 1958, Maciel's supporters maneuvered to reinstate him as the Legion's superior, leading to the order's eventual recognition as a pontifical religious institution. The recent release of the Pius archives has shifted focus from wartime actions to the Church's handling of abuse allegations, highlighting a troubling legacy of complicity and protection within the Vatican.