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Saturday, February 18, 2012

Cardinal looks to stem exodus from Regnum Christi RSS Facebook February 17, 2012

The papal delegate supervising the reform of the Legion of Christ has asked departing members not to try to persuade others to leave the troubled religious order.
Cardinal Velasio De Paolis reacted to the announcement that 30 consecrated women of Regnum Christi—the lay movement associated with the Legion—were leaving the group. "I would hope that those who intend to leave Regnum Christi don't give into the temptation to try to persuade or proselytize those who intend to remain firm and faithfully persevere in their commitments," the cardinal said.
Malen Oriol, a leader of the roughly 600 consecrated women in Regnum Christi, revealed earlier this week that she is leaving. She said that 30 others were also leaving, with many of the women approaching local bishops in hopes of finding another way to live a life of celibate service to the Church.
Cardinal De Paolis, who has supported efforts to reform both the Legion and Regnum Christi, seemed dismayed by the highly public departures. "Just as respect is required for the choices made by those who leave," he wrote, t"he same respect is expected for those--and they are the great majority--who intend to persevere in the choice they already made in Regnum Christi."
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