Marcial Maciel
Mexican priest
Quick Summary
Marcial Maciel was a Mexican priest who founded the Legion of Christ in 1941. He was a close confidant of Pope John Paul II. However, Maciel was later found to have sexually abused minors, including seminarians, and fathered multiple children. In 2006, the Vatican ordered him to retire to a life of prayer and penance. The Legion of Christ acknowledged his abuse after his death in 2008, stating he was not a role model due to the gravity of his actions.1
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