Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 8, No. 2, 2009, Page 53
days in bed, which also often required injections of Demerol and erotic massages by young
male students).
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 he serves 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, D. C. area
for five 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
formed a helping network called REGAIN, which 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 who took on a festering cult that the Catholic authority has yet to
adequately assess. We learn from the book that deceptive recruiting and using the power of
the Gospel to manipulate loyalty to an elitist agenda does not represent Christian principles.
The author weaves memoir, exposé, and a plea into his narrative. Details of his life and
youth offer insight into his reactions and sense of loyalty as a young recruit. In the Ireland
of his youth, it was a high honor for one of your sons to become a priest. Clear evidence
allows the reader to see how the cult surrounding the founder Fr. Maciel operated. Lennon
moves at times from a first-person account to third person as an emotional strategy to
remain as objective as possible about some highly painful passages. Introductory chapter
quotes from Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse act as effective reflections of the author‘s
insights. Lennon appears to identify with the emerging Buddha‘s struggles and insights.
Other quotes from various songwriters, especially Bob Dylan, accent certain passages.
When Fr. Paul finally breaks with the Legion in Quintana Roo, Mexico, he realizes that he‘s
leaving behind everything that mattered to him for twenty-three years. On page 209, a
section and the chorus of Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan captures the emotion: ―How
does it feel, to be on your own, with no direction or home, like a complete unknown…‖
Lennon forces the reader to consider why the Vatican appeared to support Fr. Maciel,
despite early knowledge of the priest‘s sexual violations. Abusive cults tend to surround
leaders with hidden agendas. In this case, Maciel as a young priest with a vision captured
the Vatican‘s attention, much as the founder of Opus Dei had. While promoting conservative
principles in the face of modernism and secularism, the Church most likely felt it had in both
movements an antidote to social decadence and liberalism. Besides, they seem so
successful in both recruiting young men and women and in fundraising. Add to that the
apparent charisma of the new leaders, and the Church considered that maybe it had
budding saints! However, this book examines the forces that act on why someone stays in a
religious order. Is there deception and manipulation? Where does one draw the line between
rational obedience and blind loyalty? What are the costs one faces to break away? Lennon
forces us and the Vatican to ask: Is an ends-justifies-the-means approach the way to make
a saint? Is the Legion‘s success due more to cult behavior than living the Gospel‘s calling?
days in bed, which also often required injections of Demerol and erotic massages by young
male students).
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 he serves 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, D. C. area
for five 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
formed a helping network called REGAIN, which 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 who took on a festering cult that the Catholic authority has yet to
adequately assess. We learn from the book that deceptive recruiting and using the power of
the Gospel to manipulate loyalty to an elitist agenda does not represent Christian principles.
The author weaves memoir, exposé, and a plea into his narrative. Details of his life and
youth offer insight into his reactions and sense of loyalty as a young recruit. In the Ireland
of his youth, it was a high honor for one of your sons to become a priest. Clear evidence
allows the reader to see how the cult surrounding the founder Fr. Maciel operated. Lennon
moves at times from a first-person account to third person as an emotional strategy to
remain as objective as possible about some highly painful passages. Introductory chapter
quotes from Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse act as effective reflections of the author‘s
insights. Lennon appears to identify with the emerging Buddha‘s struggles and insights.
Other quotes from various songwriters, especially Bob Dylan, accent certain passages.
When Fr. Paul finally breaks with the Legion in Quintana Roo, Mexico, he realizes that he‘s
leaving behind everything that mattered to him for twenty-three years. On page 209, a
section and the chorus of Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan captures the emotion: ―How
does it feel, to be on your own, with no direction or home, like a complete unknown…‖
Lennon forces the reader to consider why the Vatican appeared to support Fr. Maciel,
despite early knowledge of the priest‘s sexual violations. Abusive cults tend to surround
leaders with hidden agendas. In this case, Maciel as a young priest with a vision captured
the Vatican‘s attention, much as the founder of Opus Dei had. While promoting conservative
principles in the face of modernism and secularism, the Church most likely felt it had in both
movements an antidote to social decadence and liberalism. Besides, they seem so
successful in both recruiting young men and women and in fundraising. Add to that the
apparent charisma of the new leaders, and the Church considered that maybe it had
budding saints! However, this book examines the forces that act on why someone stays in a
religious order. Is there deception and manipulation? Where does one draw the line between
rational obedience and blind loyalty? What are the costs one faces to break away? Lennon
forces us and the Vatican to ask: Is an ends-justifies-the-means approach the way to make
a saint? Is the Legion‘s success due more to cult behavior than living the Gospel‘s calling?
