Marciel Marcial

Mexican-born Catholic priest who founded the Legion of Christ and the Regnum Christi movement. He was respected throughout his career as "the greatest fundraiser of the modern Roman Catholic church" and as a prolific recruiter of new seminarians. Late in his life he was revealed to have sexually abused boys and young men and maintained relationships with at least two women, fathering as many as six children, two of whom he allegedly abused sexually as well. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI removed Maciel from active ministry based on the results of an investigation started under John Paul II concerning sexual impropriety. Maciel was ordered "to conduct a reserved life of prayer and penance, renouncing every public ministry." On 25 March 2010, a communiqué on the Legions website acknowledged as factual the "reprehensible actions" by Maciel, including sexual abuse of minor seminarians. He died 30 January 2008 Link to Wikipedia biography Read less