Father Maciel: pedophile priest, friend of the Vatican

UPDATE: “An error occurred” repeatedly with playlist; replaced with 4 embeds.

UPDATE: Added Pope Benedict’s recent speech on the subject of abuse.

This four-video playlist set on Maciel is in reverse chronological order, starting with the shocking news that Father Maciel abused his own children and hid his occupation from his family for 17 years. The heart-breaking interview of one of Maciel’s sons by ABC news broadcast June 21, 2001 should lay to rest any question as to the truth of the allegations, and the extent of the Vatican’s problem in pursuing its own investigations. 

The last of the four is quite an eye-opener in this context. The accusations against Maciel in 1997 published in the Hartford Courant were denied by the Vatican, and were followed by Maciel’s special appointment by Pope John Paul II as his representative in Latin America. (Then) Cardinal Ratzinger protected Maciel by stopping the investigations. (Current) Pope Benedict is complicit in covering up the heinous crimes of pedophiles like Maciel, who died in 2008.

Maciel was a very successful fundraiser for the church, and founded the order “Legionaries of Christ.” The apologies to the victims and the declaration by the order that Maciel is no longer considered a “model” are pathetic and shameful. These events make a mockery of what increasingly seems a late, reluctant and patronizing effort by the Vatican in public relations damage control. 

Here is more evidence that the Vatican’s real concern is self-preservation. In the part about “enemies” it is implied that they are enemies of “God.” The Pope apparently thinks he must protect the priests from their enemies, who are trying to use the children and the scandal to destroy them.