Leading consecrated woman leaves Regnum Christi

Rome, Italy, Feb 15, 2012 / 18:11 pm

Malén Oriol, the head of consecrated women in the Legionaries of Christ’s lay branch Regnum Christi, announced Feb. 14 that she has submitted her resignation.

Oriol, the assistant for consecrated life to the Legion’s general director Fr. Alvaro Corcuera, submitted her resignation to Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, the papal delegate overseeing the reform of the religious congregation.

She did not state whether she intends to join the departing women, Regnum Christi said on its website Feb. 14.

Oriol also revealed that some consecrated women within the congregation have asked the Vatican to let them live out their vows under a bishop, not as part of the Legion.

Regnum Christi addressed the departing sisters in its statement:

“We don’t yet have details of this initiative, but we wish them all the best in their new endeavor and pray that they will be blessed with great success in their spiritual growth and service to the Church,” it said.

“We are deeply grateful for all the years that they have lived as consecrated members of Regnum Christi; let us pray for them and keep the gift of the consecrated life in Regnum Christi in our prayers so that God grant each one of us the grace to move forward in this path of renewal that the Holy Father has invited us to undertake.”

The Legion’s branch of consecrated women has about 800 members who work in Legion schools and in recruitment and fundraising activities.

Oriol comes from one of the wealthiest Catalonian families in Spain. Four of her brothers entered the Legion and became priests, but over the last three years, all four have left the Legion while still remaining  priests.

Updated Feb. 16, 2012 at 11:01 a.m. MST. Describes Oriol as head of consecrated women and changes number of consecrated women from 600 to 800.