What Do We Do with the Works of Scandalous Founders in the Catholic Church?

Abstract

Throughout the 20th century, new religious movements (NRMs) emerged within established religions. Within Catholicism, these NRMs are known as new ecclesial movements and communities. A significant number of founders of these Catholic NRMs have been reported and found guilty of various types of abuses, including sexual abuse, abuse of power, abuse of conscience, and spiritual abuses. This article examines the repercussions of these scandalous behaviors on the foundations and institutions established by the accused founders. Firstly, we investigate how contemporary Catholic communities employ interpretations provided by traditional congregations regarding their founders in the postcouncil era. They utilize these interpretations to legitimize the charismatic founders of their respective movements. Secondly, we assess the feasibility of disentangling the accomplishments of these communities from the shadow cast by their controversial originators. Our findings advocate for the contextualization of works authored by individuals under scrutiny. This approach is presented as a more constructive and effective alternative to wholesale dismissal.