ROME: The Legionaries of Christ apologised today for the "reprehensible actions" of their late founder Marcial Maciel after a Vatican probe concluded he had molested seminarians and fathered children.
"We express our sorrow and grief to each and every person damaged by our founder’s actions. We share in the suffering this scandal has caused the church, and it grieves and hurts us deeply," the Roman Catholic order said in a statement.
Longstanding allegations against Marcial Maciel finally led Pope Benedict XVI to bar him from active duty in 2006.
Before Maciel's fall from grace, he and the order he founded in Mexico in 1941 were championed by Benedict's predecessor John Paul II.
Earlier this month in Mexico, the order asked for forgiveness after two brothers claiming to be Maciel's sons said he had abused them.
Last year the conservative order confirmed a report in The New York Times that Maciel had secretly fathered a daughter.
"Though it causes us consternation, we have to say that these acts did take place," it said.
Last week a Vatican panel ended a months-long investigation in 120 countries and reported its findings to Benedict.
The global probe wrapped up as the Catholic Church is engulfed by a spate of paedophile priest scandals.
The Legion of Christ is present in 22 countries, notably Mexico and Spain, and runs 12 universities. It counts 800 priests, 2,500 seminarians and 70,000 lay members.
- AFP
