(ZENIT News / Rome, 11.05.2026).- The Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ has published its Annual Report, “Truth, Justice, and Healing,” the sixth in its series of accountability reports in relation to their 2020 commitments to attend to victims of abuse and to create safe environments. The report, prepared by the General Directorate’s Interdepartmental Commission, covers the period from January 1 to December 31, 2025, and has been authorized expressly by the new general director, Fr. Carlos Gutierrez, LC, who was elected by the Ordinary General Chapter held in January and February 2026, and who takes on the commitment to continue down this path. “The commitments made in 2020 have become part of the Congregation’s identity and mission, and therefore remain in effect,” the report states. It also marks the conclusion of the 2020–2026 term of government, during which the public commitments that have guided this series of annual reports were made.
A Year of Transition, Continued Commitment
Throughout 2025, the Congregation remained steadfast in fulfilling its commitments: personalized attention to victims, the comprehensive plan of reparation, monitoring of ongoing canonical proceedings, and safe environment formation in all the territories. This work continued even during a year marked by preparations for the Ordinary General Chapter, which is why this report is being published somewhat later than in previous years.
In the 2026 Chapter Communiqué, the new general government made an honest assessment of the path taken and asked for forgiveness on behalf of the entire Legion for the errors committed in implementing these commitments: instances in which attention to victims was not provided with due promptness or sensitivity, and occasions when transparency did not fully harmonize with regards to the presumed innocence of the accused.
Key Information from the Sixth Report
- Allegations: In 2025, five new allegations of sexual abuse of minors committed by members of the Congregation were received. Since the publication of the Historical Report 1941–2019, the Legion has addressed allegations related to 25 cases involving priests not included in that report; abuse could not be proven in nine of these cases, two priests were removed from the Congregation and from the clerical state, and seven cases remain under investigation.
- Canonical proceedings: As of the end of 2025, there are six canonical proceedings underway. During the year, five new proceedings were begun, and four of the five proceedings that had been open since the previous report were concluded. In all the active cases, precautionary measures have been imposed on the accused, without putting the presumption of innocence at risk.
- Independent support for victims: Since 2022, the independent Eshmá channel has attended to 62 victims; as of the finishing of this report, it continues to provide active attention to 31 individuals.
- Financial reparations: The plan, currently in effect in five territories, added two new reparations agreements in 2025, bringing the total to 64 agreements signed since its launch in 2022.
- Accreditation of safe environments: During 2025, the territories of Western and Central Europe, Italy, and the Rome Delegation were accredited; Brazil began its initial accreditation process, and Colombia-Venezuela and Chile-Argentina began their reaccreditation processes.
- Authority and Obedience: The work of the Study Commission established in 2023 concluded with the presentation of the document Authority and Obedience in the Legion of Christ: A Path of Evangelical Renewal, which was submitted as input for the discernment of the General Chapter.
The Commitment Continues Under the New General Government
The report devotes a section to the commitments the Congregation intends to uphold going forward, organized into eight points: listening, reparation, justice, transparency, prevention, efficiency, collaboration, and the evangelical exercise of authority and obedience. The 2026 General Chapter also gave the new general director the task of promulgating an updated version of the normative document Protect and Heal, which is in effect since 2020, in order to adapt it to recent developments in canon law—in particular, the new Book VI of the Code of Canon Law—without relying on a new General Chapter to be convened.
“With the same spirit of humility and determination that has marked this journey from its beginning, we continue forward, knowing that no action can undo the harm caused, but convinced that the sustained commitment to truth, justice, and healing is the only dignified path,” states Catalina Gallego Barbier, International Director of Safe Environments, on behalf of the Interdepartmental Commission of the General Directorate.
Available Resources
The full report, along with updated statistics and a detailed timeline of the actions taken by the Congregation since 2006, is available at www.0abuse.org.
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