Our Father, who art in bed: A Naive and Sentimental Dubliner in the Legion of Christ [Paperback]

J. Paul Lennon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 12, 2008

From age 17 to 41 the author was a member of the Legion of Christ, a lesser known but important Catholic Religious Order. Led by its charismatic Mexican Spanish-speaking leader, Fr. Marcial Maciel, who would be praised and supported by the late pope John Paul II, the Legion of Christ and its lay branch, Regnum Christi (Christ's Kingdom) has made deep inroads into the Traditional Catholic woodlands of North and South America and Europe. This is the story of a member whose relevance may consist of being one of the very first eight Irish-born members during the foundation period, of quickly becoming bi-lingual and of knowing Fr. Maciel personally-locking horns with him on a few occasions- and of being one of the handful of members who ever verbalized doubt or criticism of the Legion while still inside. Leaving this mind-controlling organization after more than 23 years was a devastating experience. But he is not the first or the last to leave and survive. Recovery and healing have followed those harrowing years and he is thankful to the kindness of friends and strangers. "Thank you" to them and to Life!

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born Dublin, Ireland, Legion of Christ Catholic Religious Congregation (order) member 1961-84, presently Mental Health Therapist residing in Washington, DC, Metro area

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing; 1st edition (August 12, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419676628
• ISBN-13: 978-1419676628
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,187,445 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

(John) Paul Lennon, was born in Dublin during World War II -Ireland remained neutral- to working-class Catholic parents, and educated with the Irish Christian Brothers. He joined the Legion of Christi Order at age 17 and spent 23 years with the Legion in Spain, Rome, and Mexico, finally leaving after an acrimonious encounter with the then considered saintly founder, Fr. Marcial Maciel. He describes his childhood, youth and adulthood in "Our Father (Maciel), who art in bed, a Naive and Sentimental Dubliner in the Legion of Christ" (Amazon, 2008). Paul and the organization he helped found, REGAIN, INC, were sued by the Legion in 2007 in Alexandria City, Virginia, District Court. A year later he had to settle when he ran out of funds to defend himself. Wounded by the lawsuit REGAIN limps along and Paul continues to blog away to tell the truth as he sees it and warn others about the dangers of the Legion of Christ and its Regnum Christi lay movement. He recently published a booklet of prayers in Spanish, "Un Cura lucha con Dios" (A Priest Wrestles with God) and is planning to publish poems, and prayers, and articles -maybe even another book- in the near future.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First English language Biography of a Legionary of Christ, August 13, 2008

By 

Paul Lennon - See all my reviews

This review is from: Our Father, who art in bed: A Naive and Sentimental Dubliner in the Legion of Christ (Paperback)

First-hand account of Irishman Paul Lennon''s boyhood, youth in the 50's Dublin, recruitment into the Legion of Christ at age 17 and his 23 years in the Legion in which he got to know the Founder.

After February 2009 revelations that Fr. Maciel had sired a daughter now living in Spain, that he used large amounts of cash for his personal pleasure, and lived a double life, many supporters are questioning themselves. Legion leadership promises to come clean but has not been sufficiently forthcoming. This book will help you see inside Fr. Maciel, the Legion, its leadership and the way it operates behind the scenes.

The Legion of Christ -a controversial Catholic Religious Order, or New Religious Movement, whose founder was a Pedophile censored by the Vatican-is so secretive and controlling that only ex-members can write freely (if they are not still influenced or controlled in some way by the organization). Besides its biographical and historical value this book was written to give readers an alternative version to the squeaky clean official stories written by Fr. Maciel's hagiographers, and by active Legionaries, fans and those in the "Movement"'s employ.

May others follow Lennon's suit as there is a dearth of written testimonies in English [Lennon informs of several critical books written in Spanish in Mexico and Spain]. Perhaps others can do a better job. But at least the author has put his experience on paper in an honest way and stands by it. Hopefully another LEGION VS REGAIN and LENNON lawsuit is not forthcoming because of the author's audacity. Enjoy.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our Father Who Art In Bed, September 15, 2008

By 

Dilbert - See all my reviews

This review is from: Our Father, who art in bed: A Naive and Sentimental Dubliner in the Legion of Christ (Paperback)

Having some Irish ancestry, I enjoyed the detailed insights of what it was like growing up in Ireland in a Catholic family and learning how a young naive well intentioned person could be drawn into the spider's web.
Mr. Lennon provides a detailed account of his life in the Legionaries of Christ and how it took so long to discover what was under the surface. On the back cover he refers to himself as a 41 year-old adolescent. His book provides a good explanation of how and why he described himself in such a way.
Because of the lawsuit and the major (negative) impact the Legionaries and Father Marcial Maciel had on his life and his spirituality I had not expected to see the facts presented in such a gentle manner.
Mr. Lennon is a brave and genuine person with a message that I believe is accurate. He is extremely well qualified to share such a message after his years of experience inside the Legion and later duking it out with them through the Regain website and having to deal with legal attacks.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fair & Lyrical: Paul Lennon Looks Back at the LCs, January 14, 2009

By 

Patrick J. Dooling (Monterey, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Our Father, who art in bed: A Naive and Sentimental Dubliner in the Legion of Christ (Paperback)

I have rarely encountered such a fair, balanced and honest response to religious abuse and the perpetrator of such a wicked attack on the human spirit. Lennon's memoir of his years with the LCs is not only 'all that' but, through the use of song lyrics, Hesse's novel SIDDHARTHA, his account is both lyrical and emotionally compelling.

Perhaps because Lennon was not sexually as well as spiritually and emotionally abused by Fr Maciel as so many others were, he is able to chronicle the repressive nature of his formation and life as an LC more dispassionately. But there may be something more: despite all the cultic nonsense with which Lennon was inundated, the strength of the Irish character, virtues of his family, a passion for justice, a willingness to make friends, as well as a kind of dark faith bring him through. Not without horrendous hurt and confusion but through nonetheless.

I would hope OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN BED [a play on on Nuestro Padre's bedroom, the scene of his crimes against young men as well as his constant neurotic illnesses] receives the wide reading the book deserves. It is bittersweet to reflect that Lennon, utilizing his own painful experiences, continues to help those in psychological distress, not least many ex-LCs. As Kierkegaard observed, the foot the steps on the thorn leaps the highest.