Another New York Times article goes into more detail regarding the alleged reopening of the Vatican investigation of abuse charges against Fr. Marcial Maciel, founder of the Legionaries of Christ.
I immediately noticed something about the article: It does not once directly quote anyone saying that the investigation has been officially reopened by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It is simply asserted and we are left wondering where this information comes from. Our only clue is from the same canon lawyer for the alleged victims who has been constantly quoted as saying an investigation has been reopened.
A few days later, on Dec. 2, Ms. Wegan received a message from Cardinal Ratzinger’s office asking whether the men who had alleged abuse still wished to give testimony to investigators, Mr. Barba said.
Wegan is the canon lawyer and Barba is one of the alleged victims. But that’s it. It doesn’t even say that testimony was given.
In other words, despite the article, we don’t know anything more about this case now than we did last December when the whole discussion about it blew open. Since there aren’t actual facts to discuss, I’m left wondering why the Times even published this article.
