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

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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.

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.

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.

I could not put this book down. I was raised in a Catholic orphanage by a very stern and controlling order of nuns, some of whom could have been the twin sisters of a few of Paul Lennon's legionnaires. I understand how difficult it is to trust your own God-given intelligence and instincts after you have been brain-washed not to think for yourself from a young age. The fact that Paul was finally able to free himself from the mental and emotional chains of the cult-like Legion of Christ, is a testament to his strength and integrity. Although he had committed himself totally to the Legion and spent many years as a priest, when it became clear to him that there was serious rot in the organization, most of which was the result of a depraved and self-serving leader, he rebelled. Catholics should not be afraid to read his book. Recognizing that there can be rotten Catholics or Catholic organizations should not
threaten their faith or keep them from believing there are many good Catholics and Catholic organizations.

Would you, as a loving parent, send your seventeen year old son to dedicate his life to a highly manipulative organization controlled by a sexual predator? Of course, you would not and neither did the loving parents of John Paul Lennon but...it did happen. As told in this book, what happened was a culturally motivated, naive young man from Ireland accepted the glowing promise of Catholic recruiters to help form a new religious movement in Mexico in 1961. Lennon felt drawn to the adventure with holy men who would guide and protect his journey. What could be better? Despite lingering doubts about everything from his sexual expression to the existence of God Lennon signed on and served eventually as an ordained priest in the Legion of Christ for 23 years. He formally left the "congregation" in 1984. This book answers the question, why?

The Legion was founded by a young Father Marcial Maciel in 1941. In many respects, the Legion of Christ and its lay subsidiary Regnum Christi closely resembles Opus Dei, the Catholic organization maligned in The Da Vinci Code. Both are controversial, conservative, hierarchical Catholic groups formed ostensibly to provide members with rules for a saintly life and a way to serve others. Both groups target wealthy donors and aggressively seek favor from the Vatican. Indeed, Opus Dei's founder was a canonized recently. The same beatific fate may not befall Father Maciel as long as strong evidence continues to appear regarding his mismanagement of the Legion and his decades' long legacy of sexual abuse of young men.

J. Paul Lennon's self-published autobiography is the second significant exposé in English of the Legion and Fr. Maciel, the first being Vows of Silence (2004). There are many exposés in Spanish. Lennon's story brings the Legion experience into intimate focus through the lens of his life, his dreams, his sins, and his struggles. Lennon broke with the Legion after confronting the leader publicly about mistreatment of relocated members. He was also fed up with the double standards regarding vows of poverty while the leaders basked in favors and food from wealthy donors. Though Lennon never encountered sexual abuse personally while a Legion member, he documents what he learned after he left the group. Be prepared for specificity regarding Maciel's controversial behavior toward the end of the book. (The title refers to Fr. Maciel's dubious illnesses that required frequent time-outs for days in bed complete with injections of Demerol and erotic massages from boys).

'Our Father, who art in bed' reads well enough as a self-published effort by a first-time book writer. I enjoyed Lennon's anecdotes about his life in Ireland and Mexico. The reader finds a sense of place and culture as Lennon reflects on his struggles to make sense of his psychological isolation while serving others. The Legion restricted every aspect of a member's life including friends. "What friends" asks Lennon on page 111? "I had to have a motive and objective to contact outsiders; all activities not sanctioned by the very detailed rule had to be approved by my superior." He was able to visit his family only five years after he joined. Lennon would not know the songs of Bob Dylan or the other John Paul Lennon and The Beatles until after 1984. Lennon served as a priest in the Washington, DC area for 5 years after he broke away. He applauds the open kindness of Catholic clerics there who restored his faith in the Church. Nevertheless, Lennon requested and was granted a release from Holy Orders in 1989.

Lennon eventually recognized that his Legion experience matched many stories of ex-cult members from any number of other controversial groups. He and other ex-Legionites eventually formed a helping network called REGAIN that has a website. As his book documents, Lennon and REGAIN were sued last year by the Legion of Christ over violation of allegedly confidential information. This book is in part an appeal to the Church, the Legion and the public to recognize the truth of the matter. If nothing else, Lennon's legacy is set as one brave former priest that took on a festering cult that the Catholic Church has yet to adequately lance and to heal from. As a Catholic myself, and a professional consultant about cults, I can sympathize with Lennon's account thoroughly.

For anyone that has been adversely affected by cultic new groups in the Church such as Legionaries of Christ, Regnum Christi, Opus Dei, or Miles Jesu, this is the book for you! Excellent book!

In my new book, "An Irish Tragedy, how sex abuse by Irish priests helped cripple the Catholic church", I noted how Pope John Paul II looked to Ireland to help maintain a strict morality in his church, but at the same time protected Macial Maciel Degollado, founder of the Legionaries of Christ and a notorious sex abuser. The pope did so even though Maciel was accused of sexually abusing more than 20 young seminarians and priests in his religious order. Why? I contended that John Paul didn't want to challenge the man who was churning out many, many priests who shared the pope's conservative beliefs.

But I didn't know why these priests remained so loyal to their corrupted leader. Now I know. As one of those priests, Paul Lennon explains in this book how the "great leader" brainwashed his followers, enforcing silence, isolation and blind obedience. Paul joined the order as an idealistic Irish youth of 17, and remained in it for 23 years, until he could no longer tolerate the repressive culture of the cult and left to rejoin the real world. Rather than describe Paul's experiences--like eight years separated from his family--I urge readers to obtain his book and get an unprecedented look inside the pope's legion.--Joe Rigert, investigative journalist and author.

Paul Lennon, in "Our Father Who Art in Bed" mentions two Legionary companions of his, a Spaniard and an Irishman. According to Paul, both were sent to Gabon in Central West Africa "to learn their lesson." I am the Irishman in question now writing a very belated review of Paul's book.

First I should say that although I read and enjoyed Paul's heart-wrenching memoir, I hated the title. Like Paul, I too had serious difficulties with Marcial Maciel the founder of the legionaries of Christ. Although my fellow Dubliner joined the legion a couple of years before me, he left shortly after I did. During our time in the congregation we sometimes existed in parallel universes - I was assigned to work with our most affluent supporters while Paul toiled in the heat and humidity of our missions in Chetumal, Mexico. Our careers overlapped for a short time in Mexico City, where Paul headed "The School of Faith." He didn't live in our community but he joined us most days for our midday meals. That's where I came to appreciate his intellect and his passion for the underdog and downtrodden. At that stage in our lives neither of us talked to each other about our doubts and nascent rebellion against the Legion.

After I published my memoir of my time in the Legion, Driving Straight on Crooked Lines: How an Irishman found his heart and nearly lost his mind I re-read "Our Father who Art in Bed." I felt as if I were hearing my own song, played on a different instrument. Our experiences are very similar but told from very different perspectives. Unlike me, Paul actually met some of the victims of Maciel's abuse. Characteristically this "fired him up" - as it should have - and he became an ardent crusader against the abuses of the founder and the dysfunctional aspects of the congregation we both once wanted to love. Meanwhile, I was busy taking care of my new career, playing financial catch-up to support my growing family. Back in 1998 when Paul was meeting with some of the victims, I was quite oblivious to the awful allegations being made about Maciel. If I knew about them, I would not have believed them. Like Paul, I had no personal inkling at all of the level of Maciel's abuse while we were both in the Legion. I chose not to be part of Paul's crusade, hanging on to the positive aspects of my experience in the Legion. History, of course, has vindicated Paul's brave position. This makes his book even more gripping - he is the "naive and sentimental" poet recounting his life, unafraid to reveal the raw emotions he felt. "Driving" our community cars and buses was what distracted me in the Legion. For Paul, I think it was soccer. I was exposed to the debonair side of Maciel the brilliant entrepreneur. Paul was quicker to pick up on the Machiavellian manipulation.

Paul's book is a must read. Indeed, in a fantasy world if we could collate the different chapters in our books, I think the readers would get an even more complete picture of the disgraced fraud to whom we both showed so much loyalty. Meanwhile, to quote the American dentist who revised Paul's teeth, deprived of dental care for so many years in the Legion, saying, "You must come from very good stock!" I suggest the same can be said for his mind, his heart and his soul. His is a seminal book, based on real-life experiences. He could have called his book "Scoring goals on a bumpy pitch!" And then I would have no quibbles.

A GREAT BIOGRAPHY FULL OF THE REALITIES OF CATHOLIC LIFE IN THE PRIESTHOOD. DEFINATELY OBLIGRD READING FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE CHURCH OR THE PRIESTHOOD.Our Father Maciel, who art in bed: A Naive and Sentimental Dubliner in the Legion of Christ

Our Father, Who Art in Bed. A Naive and Sentimental Dubliner in the Legion of Christ:
J. Paul Lennon, Irish Co-Founder of this Mexican Order
by J. Paul Lennon
Copyright J. Paul Lennon, 2008 (paperback)
Pp. 379 including notes and index
ISBN: 1-4196-7662-8
ISBN-13: 978-1419676628

Review-commentary by Reverend Brian Van Hove, S.J.
Alma, Michigan
Posted by the New Oxford Review, online edition, January 2009 and
Published in New Oxford Review, vol. LXXVI, no. 1 (January 2009): 47-48


J. Paul Lennon, author of this autobiographical work, was an Irish co-founder of the now much-embattled Legion of Christ. Having left it behind in 1984, he went on to found the ReGAIN network (www.regain-network.org), which provides documentation about the Legion and Regnum Christi, its lay branch.
The Mexican co-founder of the Legion, Father Marcial Maciel (1920-2008), was "invited" to retire to a life of prayer and penance by Pope Benedict XVI (text on pages 349-350). Father Maciel had been convinced that one day he would be canonized.
Through the aid of James Cardinal Hickey, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., Lennon was able to function as a diocesan priest until 1989 when, a broken man, he left the priesthood to seek recovery from the wounds of his Legionary experience. He credits Cardinal Hickey with showing him kindness and understanding, in contrast to Father Maciel who was known within the Order as "Nuestro Padre" ("NP"). (pages 179, 223-232 and 252)
To those who were alienated from Maciel, the secretive and hypochondriacal co-founder was known as "El Puma". (page 283) Unfortunately, Lennon's book is one of the few sources in English, the others written in Spanish, revealing the predatory nature of Maciel. See page 283, and pages 377-378 for the chilling testimony of Arturo Jurado Guzman. Lennon writes that he knew nothing of Maciel's sexual activity with young men until years after he left the Legion (page 290) which he entered at the age of seventeen.
The title of Lennon's work refers both to the hypochondriacal and sexual proclivities of Maciel. (page 280) Such a title may inhibit some readers from opening the book. Or they may turn instead to the Legion's own uncritical and adulatory self-history published as The Legion of Christ: a history by Angeles Conde and David J.P. Murray (2008). Lennon says the Conde-Murray book does not tell the truth. (page 278). Lennon is far less graphic than the DVD produced by Jason Berry, Vows of Silence, which premiered in April 2008 at the Fifth New Orleans International Human Rights Film Festival. Here we get the inside story of Marcial Maciel and the Legion, but with an edge. In the Acknowledgments, Lennon thanks Berry for advice.
In contrast to Berry, Lennon writes dispassionately of his subject. He has found solace in therapy to deal with the trauma suffered by those stifled by Legionary life. He claims one chief scar inflicted by this distorted "Religious Life" is an infantilizing of the personality. An unhealthy view of human sexuality is inculcated by Legionary training which can only be described as prudishness or "angelism". (page 292) How far this is from Pope John Paul's theology of the body!
In violation of the universal Catholic wisdom tradition for seminaries and religious communities is the breaking of the boundary between the internal forum and the external forum. In the Legion, a confessor or spiritual director may also be an administrator or religious superior of the same members. This is unimaginable in a normal seminary or Religious Order, but for the Legion it is common practice. The Founder even heard the confessions of his own subjects! (pages 112, 143 and 298)
Paul Lennon was put in charge of a Legionary institution in Mexico soon after ordination to the priesthood. He makes the point that a Legionary school is a base for recruitment to Regnum Christi or the Legion's novitiate. Schools are "fronts" for recruitment, not centers of study or the intellectual life. (pages 169-170) In fact, all Legionary apostolates exist for recruiting and fund raising, no matter their alleged purpose. This agenda leads to the creation of numerous "front" apostolates. Instead of thinking "with" the Church, the Legion wishes to think "for" the Church, especially in its attempt to dominate Catholic publishing and media.
The Church approved the constitutions of the Legion and Regnum Christi. Will history judge the Church harshly? Paul Lennon is not the only victim of this organization. He mentions other names in this book, Mexicans and Irish, including his friend Peter Cronin. Father Cronin initialized the concept of the ReGAIN website, currently being sued by the Legion's lawyers.
These tragedies should have been avoided. Innocent lives were "tossed away" by Father Maciel's heartlessness. Lennon describes himself as a survivor, but others have not fared as well. (page 151)
Several American dioceses have restricted or banned the Legion and Regnum Christi, including the Archdiocese of Minneapolis-St. Paul. More recently the Archdiocese of Baltimore has moved against the Legion. In an interview on 11 June 2008 Archbishop Edward O'Brien said that "I got a call 20 minutes before my meeting with Fr. Raymond [Cosgrave] two months ago. Then I got a letter from another cardinal, and a phone call from a third cardinal the day before I met with Fr. Alvaro." Father Alvaro Corcuera is the General Director of the Legion. In other words, three curial cardinals in Rome protected the Legion from an American archbishop who was doing his duty and safeguarding his people, especially the youth.
While it is possible to oppose the Legion for the wrong reasons, the truth is served by administrative decisions such as that of Archbishop O'Brien. Paul Lennon would argue that such efforts are only a beginning.