http://www.life-after-rc.com/ Making sense of the Church after experiencing the Regnum Christi Movement en-US 2012-02-24T20:34:32-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/02/two-new-offerings.html From a Spanish-language blog: Seven years after being elected director general of the Legionaries of Christ and the Regnum Christi Movement, Fr Alvaro Corcuera, LC published his first book. Through letters and reflections compiled in the book He First Loved... gsk 2012-02-24T20:34:32-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/02/magister-perceives-a-shift.html In his latest piece for Chiesa, Sandro Magister sees substantial changes in the Movement: the new vical general, Fr Sylvester Heereman, age 36, is considered to be from outside MM's circle of influence; the appointment as general counsellor, Father Deomar... gsk 2012-02-23T10:03:22-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/02/driven-to-our-knees.html Lent is fast approaching and it's a perfect time to purify our intentions and rearrange our priorities. Before we consider prayer intentions, the wayward Gregorbo (ok, so he wrote a book -- an enormous/important one!) has peeked in to see... gsk 2012-02-20T13:55:25-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/02/new-directors-for-third-degree.html The Delegate's letter has been published in English concerning the two new directors: Agostino Montan, SC will be in charge of the 3gf's (he already oversees the Ordo Virginum in Rome), and Fr Ghirlanda, SJ for the 3gm's. At first... Consecration Reformation gsk 2012-02-16T20:58:29-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/02/when-good-men-say-nothing.html While those in positions of authority make all the right noises about discernment, patience and collaborating with God's will, occasionally someone will help out the confused onlookers with a harsh dose of reality. Avoiding the standard diplomatic language ("Mumble, mumble,... gsk 2012-02-16T13:27:28-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/02/important-letter-from-malen-oriel.html Trastevere blog offers the text of a letter written to Cardinal DePaolis by Malen Oriel: Malénn Oriol takes leave of the consecrated women of Regnum Christi It's official. Malén Oriol has sent a message to the Regnum Christi consecrated to... Consecration gsk 2012-02-13T16:58:42-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/02/serve-the-church.html Since the Legion likes to conflate itself with the Church, then they should ponder these statements made at this week's Vatican conference on sexual abuse: For many if not most victims a first need is to be heard, to know... gsk 2012-02-08T12:29:20-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/02/the-ambience-of-the-legion.html The Legion offers a new encyclical ("Principal Traits of the Apostolic Charism") and what members are told once again is that the current difficulties this Movement faces indicate that they're on the right track, because these painful years of reform... Charism gsk 2012-02-07T15:35:43-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/02/landscape-on-the-inside.html Milenio offers this piece based on an interview that Eugenia Jiménez had with an LC in Mexico. Four years after the death of Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legionaries of Christ, the "whitewash" of his actions is what has most... gsk 2012-02-02T21:12:49-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/01/coronas-account-of-mms-death.html [These are notes from a meeting held a month after the death of MM, in which Fr Corona describes the events which he witnessed. This may remind outsiders of how the Legion responded internally to the death of the founder,... gsk 2012-01-30T16:08:22-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/01/short-circuiting-justice.html Trastevere has an explosive piece, which I'll be tweaking all day (help appreciated). For now, Googelle offers this: The papal delegate for the Legion of Christ, Cardinal Velasio de Paolis, with the invaluable help of Alvaro Corcuera and other superiors... gsk 2012-01-27T08:55:55-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/01/first-hand-accounts.html The other thread, once again, was too long. Let's focus on what we really know, rather than heard. Scipio asks: Monk: I find your testimony quite accurate of the inner culture around Maciel. But maybe you could share with us... gsk 2012-01-26T08:27:33-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/01/how-to-form-a-cult.html An excellent article was noted on the last [now unwieldy] thread, so we'll start fresh. How To Start a Cult outlines the critical elements that may very well have been embedded in the Legion from the start. It usually begins... Cultish behaviour gsk 2012-01-20T09:24:53-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/01/kudos-for-katie.html For those of you who remember many common sense comments by Katie in recent years, thoughtful contributions that added to the depth of our discussions at LARC, you'll be edified by her article on marriage found on Catholic Lane. She... Resources gsk 2012-01-20T00:15:07-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/01/garzas-version-of-events.html The following account is from the RC State of the Section meeting held in Atlanta on Sunday, 9/25/2011, at 7:00 pm, during which Fr. Luis Garza, LC was asked: "Was there a cover up?" His answer is summarised as follows:... gsk 2012-01-12T22:48:10-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/01/bringing-others-to-heaven.html A common theme in the Regnum Christi Movement is the task to bring others to heaven. For years we were told that our vocation to RC was a privilege and a duty -- and we had to live it faithfully... gsk 2012-01-11T09:31:11-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/01/hearing-from-the-new-priests.html From this source: Rome .- It's been three hours since the Mass of ordination for 50 new priests (49 of the Legionaries of Christ and one Somascan priest) and inside the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome, there's still... gsk 2012-01-09T21:01:32-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/01/sacril%C3%A8ge-%C3%A0-nouveau.html Father Garza, settling into his new position as territorial director of North America, has issued a letter to members of the Movement, and I hadn't gotten past the fourth paragraph when I began to steam. Please understand that everything is... Charism Elitism LC/RC personality gsk 2012-01-06T23:45:23-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2012/01/rebounding-after-leaving.html A long-time reader poses two important questions: I am writing because I am writing a series on my blog about 'cult-life thinking' as I experienced YET ANOTHER cult experience after leaving RC. (You'd think I'd learn, right? ;) But I... Cultish behaviour Resources gsk 2012-01-03T11:49:36-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/12/the-chaput-approach.html This letter stands on its own, and should be a tonic to those who welcome forthright speech, prudence and courage -- three elements that could have served the Legion well in the last three years. Consider how such an approach... gsk 2011-12-16T16:25:19-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/12/christmas-novena.html Those of us who can still believe and pray should pray for those who cannot. And those of us who have found freedom can can now pray with confidence to destroy the remaining fetters--on ourselves and those who still don't... gsk 2011-12-16T16:06:09-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/12/nors-super-catholics.html This is how some on the outside see members of this Movement: The media spotlight has moved back onto the scandal-wracked Legion of Christ, and the themes of secrecy, servile obedience, financial irregularities, and spiritual abuse are again casting long... gsk 2011-12-14T15:01:50-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/12/new-legionaries.html One cannot fail to rejoice in the ordination of priests, and please know our hearts and prayers go out to the 49 new Legionaries (including ten from North America) found here. May they be led by the Holy Spirit to... gsk 2011-12-12T18:19:13-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/12/external-commissioner-for-the-rc.html As reported at Clerical Whispers: As the Legionaries of Christ recover from scandal, Pontifical delegate Cardinal Velasio de Paolis has placed its lay branch, Regnum Christi, under the administration of an external commissioner and set out strict guidelines for its... Reformation gsk 2011-12-07T19:10:28-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/12/update-on-catholic-world-mission.html A reader provides the following: 1. their new executive director Ricardo "Rick" Medina is strangely absent from their website, facebook and mailings. If he is gone, then that makes 3 directors in 1.5 years. Thomas Clements left the organization &... Deceit for the Kingdom gsk 2011-12-05T00:25:38-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/12/back-to-the-kingdom.html ADDENDUM added below Over the years, we've parsed the theology used by the Movement that sounds very orthodox at first glance, but then may not be so. For those inclined, could we reconsider the foundational use of the word "kingdom,"... Charism gsk 2011-12-04T23:58:11-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/12/more-on-charism.html An important exchange in a recent interview: The American Redemptorist Joseph Tobin, who has served a year and a half as Secretary of the Congregation for Religious Life, just below the Cardinal Bráz of Aviz, spoke with us about the... Charism Discernment gsk 2011-12-01T19:46:07-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/12/as-we-approach-the-cr%C3%A8che.html ... I know we will continue to carry one another in our hearts and prayers, knowing that we've come a long way in the three years since the damning revelations exploded into full view. The Vatican investigation and two visitations... gsk 2011-12-01T19:06:00-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/11/legion-500.html That's a hybrid between the Legion and Fortune 500 companies -- meaning that the Legion seems to be implementing a proven business model in order to bolster sales recruit and fundraise. Take a moment and imagine Francis doing this (or... Reformation gsk 2011-11-28T22:32:51-05:00 http://www.life-after-rc.com/2011/11/lets-revisit-the-cult-word.html Pete provides this valuable link on red flags in religous settings, which provides comparative lists of characteristics. One list includes: The group is focused on a living leader to whom members seem to display excessively zealous, unquestioning commitment. The group... Cultish behaviour gsk 2011-11-25T14:48:44-05:00