Sacred Scandal

エピソード

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  Interview with Steve Hassan 27.11.2025 29分

  In our last episode, we ask ourselves… Was Elena Sada part of a cult? We sat down to talk with Dr. Steven Hassan, an American mental health professional and author who specializes in cults, undue influence, and mind control. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Interview with Ciro Cómez Leyva 20.11.2025 16分

  An exclusive interview with Mexican journalist Ciro Gómez Leyva. In this special episode, Ciro explains the struggle he went through before breaking the news about Marcial Maciel’s crimes in 1997.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Rebirth 13.11.2025 35分

  Despite distance, memories persist, symbolized by a mysterious package. Elena recounts rebuilding a life in New York, finding solace in writing, and challenging the narrative of Marcial Maciel. The episode also tellsthe story of Mariana Martínez, another former member who found a new path after leaving the consecrated life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Like father, like father 06.11.2025 27分

  When an eight-year-old girl in Cancún revealed that her priest had abused her, her family’s search for justice exposed a powerful network determined to protect its own. Decades later, her story would echo in Chile, Mexico, and beyond—revealing that Marcial Maciel was not an exception, but a reflection of something far darker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Quiet End 30.10.2025 29分

  Maciel’s death unleashed a storm of conflicting emotions throughout the Legion of Christ. While some mourn, others grapple with the dark truth of his legacy. The shocking revelation of the Legion’s secret wealth emerges, exposing a stark contrast between their public message of religious devotion and their private accumulation of riches. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Family Trips 23.10.2025 32分

  Raul Gonzalez knew one rule: never touch his father’s crocodile-skin briefcase. His mysterious dad, supposedly a Shell Oil executive, traveled constantly. He visited with gifts, taking Raul and his siblings on exotic trips. But questions about his father’s many names and guarded life lingered. A magazine cover revealed a shocking truth about the man he called dad. Raul faced a difficult reality. What other secrets did his father keep hidden in that briefcase?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  After The Fall 16.10.2025 31分

  Elena Sada experienced heart-wrenching moments within the Legion of Christ. Her path to freedom was filled with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Meanwhile, at the Vatican, winds were beginning to change. The protective mantle that had sheltered Marcial Maciel for decades was starting to unravel, and many saw a glimmer of hope for achieving justice. But what was about to be revealed was merely the tip of the iceberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Forgiven but Not Forgotten 09.10.2025 34分

  In 1990s Mexico, amid political chaos and a visit from Pope John Paul II, a priest named Alberto Atie learns about shocking secrets involving a prominent figure, Marcial Maciel. After agreeing to help a former legionary priest seek justice, Atie begins a painful fight within the Church’s system, a fight that would span decades.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Pains 02.10.2025 36分

  In 1960s Spain, Marcial Maciel’s desperate search for morphine hints at a hidden addiction and a dark undercurrent to his revered image. Years later, Jason Berry’s explosive article threatens to expose Maciel’s secrets, but Jose Barba refuses to let the truth be buried.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  I started hearing rumors 25.09.2025 34分

  After years of investigating abuse in the Catholic Church, journalist Jason Barry is ready for a quieter life. But when a mysterious box of documents arrives on his doorstep, he’s pulled into a new investigation. This time, the allegations point to a powerful Mexican priest, Marcial Maciel, and a cover-up that reaches the highest levels of the Vatican.  The archival audio clips used in this episode come from the Oscars. The title of the referenced news article comes from The Hartford Courant.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Spell 18.09.2025 39分

  Elena Sada recounts her early experiences with the Legion of Christ, including the moment she felt “chosen” by its founder, Marcial Maciel. Lourdes Barroso shares her story of being personally invited by Maciel to become a consagrada. Both women describe the “spell” that Maciel cast, blurring their perceptions and leading them down a path of strict obedience and hidden manipulation. As the women are molded into ideal servants, they are tasked with recruiting new members and raising funds, becoming key players in the Legion’s expansion and financial empire.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  A Personal Message From the Pope 18.09.2025 47分

  When Elena Sada was eight, she met a priest who would change the course of her life forever. This priest, Marcial Maciel, founded the Legion of Christ, which became one of the world’s largest and wealthiest Catholic institutions. As a child, Elena was drawn into Maciel’s world, attending a Legionary school and eventually dedicating 21 years of her life to the organization. But behind the holy facade lay dark secrets.  The archival audio clips used in this episode come from Rome Reports, Milenio and Televisa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Introducing: Sacred Scandal: The Many Secrets of Marcial Maciel 11.09.2025 1分

  Sacred Scandal is back for a fourth season. The Many Secrets of Marcial Maciel is a gripping investigative podcast that uncovers the mysteries behind one of the Catholic Church’s most powerful and controversial figures. Through the voice of Elena Sada—a former consecrated lady in the Legion of Christ—the series exposes Marcial Maciel’s double life of abuse, fraud, and manipulation, as well as the silence and complicity that allowed him to thrive. Blending survivor testimony and in-depth reporting, the show reveals how faith, power, and secrecy collided to protect a predator, and how those who lived inside his empire found the strength to break free.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Introducing Marketplace: Hanif Abdurraqib on what it means to “make it” 30.01.2025 36分

  To kick off Marketplace’s season premiere, we’re sharing a conversation with one of our favorite writers, Hanif Abdurraqib. He joins Reema for a wide-ranging discussion about the moral judgments often made regarding people’s financial circumstances, notions of success and legacy, and what it means to be “good” versus “bad” in an unequal world. Hanif also opens up about one of the most challenging financial moments of his life and his commitment to giving away a significant portion of his income.Hanif is an award-winning poet, cultural critic, and author from Columbus, Ohio. He’s written six books, several of which are bestsellers, including his most recent, “There’s Always This Year.” His work spans sports, pop culture, and politics, often focusing on issues of race and class, while also exploring themes of grief, beauty, and love. Hanif has received a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” and was a finalist for the National Book Award, among other accolades.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Power of Telling Our Own Stories with Roberto Lovato 08.08.2024 32分

  An extended interview with writer and professor Roberto Lovato, whose book “Unforgetting: A Memoir of Family, Migration, Gangs, and Revolution in the Americas” helped inspire the series.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Living a Dual Identity with Marcella Arguello 01.08.2024 24分

  A special conversation with Salvadoran American comedian Marcella Arguello, whose giant tattoo of Oscar Romero sparked the series. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Future 25.07.2024 38分

  The rise of President Nayib Bukele, and what that means for El Salvador’s future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Gangs 18.07.2024 34分

  In the aftermath of the Salvadoran Civil War, gangs like MS 13 and Barrio 18 rise to power in the US and El Salvador. Jasmine interviews her aunt Vilma about the murder of her son. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The Jesuits 11.07.2024 35分

  The murder of 6 Jesuit priests finally ends the war in El Salvador, and brings into question who really holds the power. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  El Mozote 04.07.2024 31分

  A lonely town in the Salvadoran mountains becomes a symbol for the lies of the government. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.