Regnum Christi: Principal resigns following arrest of school chaplain on sex abuse charges

Madrid, Spain, Mar 26, 2025 / 15:45 pm (CNA).

The principal of the Regnum Christi Highlands El Encinar school in Madrid, Father Jesús María Delgado, LC, has resigned days after five complaints of sexual abuse involving Father Marcelino de Andrés, former secretary of the disgraced founder of the Legion, Marcial Maciel, were reported.

De Andrés, who served as the school’s chaplain, was arrested March 6 by Spain’s National Police and released subject to restrictions. The priest was initially accused of sexually abusing one female student but subsequently four additional complaints were received.

According to the seventh statement issued by the institution since the case broke, Delgado has resigned from his duties.

“Given the situation we are going through at the school where I am principal, which has caused profound pain and distrust in our institution, I believe I must resign as principal,” the letter begins.

Delgado said he shares the pain of “those who feel betrayed, despondent, and dismayed” over the recent revelations.

He asked forgiveness for “all this pain” and encouraged the school to embark on “a new phase, with the urgent task of undertaking the necessary reforms to continue striving for excellence, heal the pain, and restore lost trust.”

The statement, signed by Father Javier Cereceda, LC, president of the board of directors of Regnum Christi Schools of Spain, announced that Regnum Christi consecrated woman Marilú Álvarez is taking over the position of principal, having undergone “a meticulous vetting process in all areas of her competencies and personal and professional background.”

‘And now what?’

In an eighth statement also published on the school’s website, Cereceda addressed all the Legionaries of Christ and other members of Regnum Christi in Spain, as well as the educational communities of the institution’s schools across the country, stating that “the serious incidents reported once again confront us with the reality of the suffering caused throughout our history, for which we humbly ask forgiveness.”

In the letter he recalled the steps taken since 2019, when a thorough review began starting with the abuses committed by founder Maciel and which led to the refounding of the institution, whose new statutes were definitively approved on Feb. 5.

“Amid the pain we are experiencing, the question arises in many hearts: and now what? We want to tell you that the answer to this question, out of humility and commitment, is that we’re not giving up, we’re not quitting, we’re not abandoning the path of renewal we embarked on then,” the priest assured.

“We know that what we do for a culture of care, prevention, truth, justice, and healing will never be enough and never be too much,” Cereceda acknowledged.

The priest pledged that “we will redouble our efforts sparing nothing to conduct a thorough review of our institutional culture and to continue promoting a culture of zero abuse.”

“It’s our responsibility to reflect on what we have gone through, draw lessons, and learn from each experience. We also ask all members of Regnum Christi, the Church, and all of society to continue helping and supporting us so that we can always be faithful in this commitment that we publicly renew today,” he concluded.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.