El Puma’s Accusers, flashbacks
[excerpt from Our Father [Maciel] who art in bed, a Naive and Sentimental Dubliner in the Legion of Christ....]
I supported Father Peter Cronin when, in 1992, he
initiated a newsletter to other ex-legionaries whose whereabouts
he knew. We were unaware of the serious accusations of sexual
abuse against Father Maciel at that time and for several years
later. The bomb exploded in the American media in 1997 with
the Hartford Courant articles of Renner and Berry. I had not
read them and was still oblivious.
In 1998 I received a phone call at my home from José
Barba: “Paul, do you remember me? I am José Barba. Do you
believe our testimonies?” It was too point-blank. “Testimonies,
about what?” I was totally at sea. I lacked context and
information. First, we had to catch up on the past twenty-five
years of our lives. Such is frequently the disjointed existence
of ex-Legionaries. I remembered José Barba, known as one of
the most intelligent LC students ever, from a visit I paid him
when he was an ex-Legionary teaching at La Universidad de
las Americas in Puebla, Mexico. Legionary priest Juan Manuel
Amenábar—who would later accuse Father Maciel on his
deathbed—because of the relative freedom his fundraising
activities then afforded him, found a way to visit his old
confrere. I do not know why he took me in tow that day.
Barba now launched into an explanation of his efforts to
bring the testimonies of ten ex-Legionaries accusing Father
Maciel of sexually abusing them to the notice of the Catholic
hierarchy. He mentioned other members I knew personally,
Juan Vaca and Arturo Jurado. I was surprised but the stories
seemed credible. He told me about one of his encounters with
Father Maciel. It was true to the Legion atmosphere, and to
the customs and character of the Marcial Maciel I had come to
know beyond the aura of holiness and the legend of integrity.
One thing I was convinced of regarding Maciel: he had no
concern or respect for people. Nevertheless, I could not roundly
condemn him without knowing more. I would be open to
learning more about the accusations. After that I read the
newspaper articles. They rang true. They were all different,
but said the same thing. Maciel’s method sounded uncannily
authentic; the abuse sickeningly real.
“Dear Arturo (Jurado),
On Tuesday I received the videotapes you sent and started
watching them last night (April 4, 2003; Mexican Canal 40,
Círculo Rojo Program April 15, 2002), beginning with the
first video: the “rough” version of the testimonies of three brave
ex-Legionaries. On the screen appeared the face of Jose Barba
whom I haven’t seen for many years, and there he was, full of
dignity, ruefully talking about his abuse. I was saddened and
angry at Father Maciel listening to Jose’s story. I, who love
to sleep late, did not sleep well. I got up at six; a record for
me. As I follow with the second tape, the Mexican Canal 40
report, I understand better the nature of, and grasp the reality
and seriousness of, this abuse. Hearing and watching Alejandro
Espinoza talk about the recruitment of “pretty” boys I made an
uncanny connection with my own “intuition.” I seem to have
stumbled onto the realization of Maciel being an “ephebophile”,
an adult who loves adolescents, a few days ago when I shared
my reflections with our ReGAIN group.
Memories and names from my own experience come
to mind. When I arrived in Salamanca in September 1961,
I do remember seeing a certain Arturo Jurado. He belonged
to another community, and therefore we were not allowed to
speak or communicate in any way, although we lived under
the same roof. (You told me later, Arturo, that Maciel had
you “quarantined” as a form of punishment.) At the time I
assumed Bro. Jurado was already a Philosophy student in
apostolic practices (i.e., a period when the Legionary takes a
break from studies to get experience in one of the Legion’s
Apostolates or missions). From what I remember, although I
could not talk to him, he did seem to be a particularly gentle
and quiet individual. I certainly do not remember crashing into
him during one of our “friendly” intramural soccer matches.
But maybe that too was forbidden to you during your solitary
confinement.”
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