The Legion of Christ (LC) is a Roman Catholic congregation of pontifical right, made up of priests and seminarians studying for the priesthood. It is the priestly and religious branch of the apostolic lay movement, Regnum Christi. In addition to the Legion, Regnum Christi has a branch of consecrated men and consecrated women in addition to laity.
It was founded in Mexico in 1941, by Marcial Maciel, who directed the congregation as its General Director until January 2005. The Legion of Christ has priests working in over 22 countries, and had 889 priests and 2,373 seminarians as of December 31, 2010. In the U.S. it operates 9 schools (and assists at several others) and two of a small number of seminaries for teenage boys currently operating in the US.
In addition to the Legionaries, Regnum Christi has approximately 70,000 members, and the youth branch ECyD has tens of thousands. Both members of the lay movement and legionaries dedicate themselves to various apostolates such as education and spiritual direction in order to form the new man in Christ.
In 2006, Maciel was investigated by the Holy See and suspended from his ministry initially over breaches of celibacy, and following public revelations later confirmed as sustained sexual abuse. Following these revelations, Pope Benedict XVI ordering an apostolic visitation in 2009. At the conclusion of the visitation, Cardinal Velasio De Paolis was delegated to examine the Legionaries’ constitutions and conduct a visitation of its lay affiliate Regnum Christi. On October 19, 2012, De Paolis published a cover letter for a summary of the Regnum Christi's charism which he had approved as a working document.
Read more about Legion Of Christ: Ethos, Formation, Apostolates, Papal Support, The Founder, Further Controversies, Apostolic Visitation
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