It is not enough to hate or forget Maciel, or simply write him off: we must understand the damage, what he did to all those he came in contact with, and heal from it -heal ourselves. Otherwise, we will limp through life...
Traumatic Narcissism: Relational Systems of Subjugation
"the kind of narcissist who controls and exploits others, inflating himself by deflating those he surrounds himself with. ...he needs others desperately, but he disavows dependency, which he views as weak and shameful. He needs to lure others into becoming dependent on him, which then allows him to persist in his delusion that only others are needy, not himself. ...Dependency and shame are repugnant weaknesses in his eyes, problems for his inferior followers, not for superior him..."
Thus begins the latest book by psychiatrist Daniel Shaw who has been practicing in the NY/NJ area for decades and has treated many former members of harmful groups and relationships.
For years Dan has been fascinated by the series of gurus that have paraded before his eyes as they were described by his patients. He wondered whether there was a common element.
This blogger used "Psychopath" to describe Maciel in the book he wrote. Juan Jose Vaca, a victim, considers Maciel a "Malignant Narcissist".
Reading Shaw's books has been a gripping experience for one who knew Fr. Maciel beyond his large group performances...And for one who has witnessed his destruction first hand in his own life and in the lives of many companions. Maciel's victims will understand their abuse better by reading certain parts of this clinical psychology book, particularly chapters:
1. The Relationality of Narcissim (what it is)
3. Traumatic Narcissism in Cults, and
6. "But what do I do": Finding the Path to Freedom.
I am grateful to Daniel Shaw for his clinical studies, insights and description of this "phenomenon": people who are not only Narcissists but who somehow are also capable of doing a lot of harm to those who come in contact with them, be it fleetingly or on a long term basis. It is not enough to hate or forget Maciel: we must understand the damage, what he did to all those he came in contact with, and heal from it -heal ourselves. Otherwise, we will limp through life.
The unfortunate result of contact with this kind of person is Trauma. The blogger believes that anyone who has been a member of the Legion of Christ or Regnum Christi, Maciel's creations, should not dismiss the need for psychotherapy, self help together with brotherly support and caring to heal from our wounds.
A question looms for us, former members, and for all concerned parents, Catholics, Christians and people of good will as to whether Fr. Maciel, the Traumatizing Narcissist, has created a Traumatizing Narcissistic System which is perpetuated in LC/RC training, life, groups, schools and organizations.
Can we hope that priests, bishops and the Roman Curia authorities get the message that there is a cost to the Legion of Christ's "success"? The cost being trauma: lives, families and society harmed, sometimes destroyed, in the name of God, Christ and Catholic Church.
