Do the Legion of Christ stand a chance of surviving? And may Pope Benedict save them from themselves? Part One

Some background detail. Maybe I’m easily shocked or just misled? But I find the following episode to be very revealing. The New York Times reported (see here) that prior to becoming Pope, Pope Benedict gave a lecture to a group of Legionary priests, and was afterwards was given an envelope of money “for his charitable use.” Ratzinger was “tough as nails in a very cordial way,” a witness said, and turned the money down. Later in 2004 it was Ratzinger who launched a thorough examination of Maciel’s past. And as Pope, who banished Maciel to a monastery for ‘perpetual penance’ and started formal inquiries into the religious order founded by Maciel, The Legion of Christ.