Founded in 1911 as the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America, Maryknoll had theformal approval of both the American Bishops and the Vatican. For some fifty years, allseemed well. Missions were founded in one country after another, and the societyeventually established its presence in all continents.
In 1912 a companion congregation of nuns, the Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, wasformed and eventually approved by the Holy See. Their purpose was similar to that of theMaryknoll fathers: the bringing of the gospel of Jesus Christ to those in need of salvation.
Then Maryknoll embraced Liberation Theology and the promotion of political activities(revolution) in one of the most remarkable changes in a religious organization in theUnited States. Under the influence of Miguel D’Escoto and others, Maryknoll adoptedLiberation Theology as its primary form of ideological expression. In 1970, D’Escotofounded Orbis Books, Maryknoll’s publishing house. He is also responsible for the changein orientation of Maryknoll Magazine from a traditional missionary publication to aninstrument of political indoctrination that is distributed to about one million readersworldwide.
The results of these changes were devastating. From more than 800 priests in 1969,Maryknoll is down to less than 700 today. The nuns have been similarly reduced frommore than 1,400 in the 1960s to less than 900 today. Whereas there were 330 major and447 minor seminarians in 1960, there are less than 25 today. Maryknoll’s five seminarieshave all been closed, reportedly, over the teaching of Marxism instead of Christiantheology.
Orbis Books publishes dozens of books every year. Although some titles appearinnocuous, Orbis is the main vehicle for the production of liberationist material in theUnited States.
According to Orbis, the list of cities requiring liberation does not include Moscow,Havana, Beijing, Hanoi, or Prague. The complete Orbis catalogue of over 200 titlesmaintained this distinction. The majority of titles are concentrated on Latin America, a fewon Africa, Asia, and elsewhere, none on communist lands, even though such countrieswere once the target of intensive missionary effort.
The current spirit that prevails within the Maryknoll organization is well captured in therecognition given to Miguel D’Escoto. Although defrocked by the Vatican, D’Escotoremains in good standing within Maryknoll.
