Pope Francis Continues to Ignore Church Child Abuse During Trip to Mexico

Despite children playing key role in his visit to Michoacan state

On the second to last day of the his tour through Mexico, Pope Francis visited Michoacán, the home state of Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legion of Christ and involved in one of the worst of the child sex abuse scandals that took the Roman Catholic church by storm in the last decades, as well as fathering children.

Marcial Maciel, the Catholic priest accused of pedophilia

However, children will play key roles in Pope Francis’ visit to Morelia, Michoacán’s capital city and one of the most violent places in México, where he will hold mass and will have a meeting with young people. In the midst of a strong security operation in preparation for the day’s events, close to 150,000 people were there to see the Pope and 600 kids were chosen to meet with him.

Due to his history and the Pope’s chosen method to spread his message towards the Mexican youth, there isn’t a better place to speak against pedophilia and ask for forgiveness for the Catholic Church's mistakes regarding the condemnation and punishment of priests accused of committing this crime.

The Legion of Christ has a powerful presence in the country since its foundation by priest Marcial Maciel in 1941. Maciel also founded Instituto Cumbres, with schools in 18 countries all around the world (including one in Tijuana.) Despite him dying eight years ago, Maciel’s memory is a dark shadow over the faith of many Mexicans, since he died without paying for the crimes he committed. The clergyman died at 87 in the midst of the scandal created by accusations of clerical pedophilia. Former Legion of Christ members documented abuses perpetrated by their religious leader and accused the Vatican of covering it up. Since the 1940s, Maciel has been linked to at least 100 child abuse cases.

In 1996, he was accused by eight former Legion of Christ members of being sexually abused by him when they were teenagers in Italy and Spain. Maciel and members of his organization denied the accusations in the media and legal courts. Even Pope John Paul II gave him his blessing back in 2004, commemorating the 60th anniversary of Maciel’s priest ordination.

We will soon know if Morelia will be known as the place where the pontiff spoke about the Church’s dark chapter in Mexico. Experts think this is highly unlikely, however, although as the first jesuit pope, let's hope Pope Francis surprises us.

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@Yanuvision

Translated by: edgar.martinez@sandiegored.com

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