Pope Benedict’s first full day in Mexico was clouded by fresh allegations the Vatican hid evidence of sex abuse by one of the country’s most prominent Roman Catholic leaders for decades.
The authors of a new book say a trove of once-secret Vatican documents prove Church officials ignored complaints of drug use and molestation of seminarians by the late Father Marcial Maciel, founder of the Catholic order the Legionaries of Christ.
Adding to the criticism of the Church, victims of abuse by priests in Mexico came forward to seek an audience with Benedict, but said their calls have not been answered.
Church officials acknowledged in 2009, a year after Maciel’s death at the age of 87, that the charismatic Mexican cleric had led a double life, secretly fathering children and lavishly spending the generous donations of his followers.
Now more than 200 leaked documents from confidential Church archives spanning the years from 1944 to 2002 reveal a mass of new testimony against Maciel, says the book, La voluntad de no saber (The will not to know).
“The Vatican not only knew about Maciel’s pathologies, but they tolerated them and protected him,” said religion expert Bernardo Barranco, who wrote the book’s introduction.
Barranco presented the 255-page work on Saturday in the central city of Leon, while the 84-year-old pontiff was resting after his long flight from Italy.
Among the evidence is a 1979 letter to Church authorities from John McGann, the Bishop of Rockville Center, New York, that cites allegations by Legionnaire Juan Vaca, who said his years of sexual abuse by Maciel began when he was 13.
The Bishop told a Vatican official in the US Vaca raised “serious questions concerning Father Maciel’s stability” in written testimony given to Church officials. Another 1954 letter describes in detail Maciel injecting a form of morphine.
Despite years of allegations, Maciel — who had the support of previous Pope John Paul II — was spared official censure. After accusations against Maciel mounted, Benedict ordered him to retire in 2006 to a life of “prayer and penitence.”
Benedict arrived on Friday afternoon to cheering crowds, and was yesterday due to hold a Sunday mass where more than 300,000 believers were expected. He is scheduled to travel to Cuba today to conclude his first trip to Spanish-speaking Latin America in his seven years as pope.
While he has made a point of speaking with victims of abuse in a number of other countries such as Malta, the US and Australia, the pope has no meeting scheduled in Mexico.
“We asked to see him and hoped he would sit down with us like he has done in other countries. The Church said no victim reached out to them, which is just another lie to protect priests who are still active,” said Jesus Romero, who says he was molested by a Catholic priest at the age of 11.
Father Jorge Martinez from Mexico’s Episcopal conference said it would be difficult for the pope to change his schedule, but that he would address the suffering of children on Saturday.
Thousands of singing and cheering Mexicans crowded into the colonial center of nearby Guanajuato to hear the pope give his message from a balcony, where white doves were released.
“I wish to lift up my voice, inviting everyone to protect and care for children, so that nothing may extinguish their smile,” Benedict said, appealing especially to children experiencing “suffering, abandonment, violence or hunger.”
However, Maciel’s legacy of abuse is likely to continue haunting the Church and the Legion in Mexico, which has many prominent members among the country’s elite. Backers have included Carlos Slim, the world’s richest man.
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