REPORT: Benedictine Abbott in NM Accused of Homosexual Abuse, Medical Neglect, Financial Corruption

Benedictine monks in New Mexico have accused their abbot of homosexual predation, sexual harassment, sexual grooming, medical neglect, elder abuse, retribution, abuse of power, and financial malfeasance.

Several monks of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert (MCID) near Santa Fe have alleged in official complaints filed with the Vatican’s Dicastery for Consecrated Life in Rome that Abbot Christian Leisy, O.S.B.—elected Abbot of MCID in 2018—is guilty of numerous counts of sexual abuse and abuse of power, several instances of which could result in criminal charges.

These allegations, made in sworn affidavits, were sent to the Lepanto Institute by friends of the victims after Rome sat on the case for several years. Whistleblowers hope that media attention will break the pattern of ecclesiastical cover-up and help secure justice for the victims of Abbot Christian’s abuse. Several of the monks intend to seek civil recourse and protection after having been apparently stonewalled by ecclesiastical authorities both within the Benedictine Order and inside the Vatican.

Lepanto has obtained copies of signed and notarized written affidavits, as well as hundreds of pages of documentation submitted to ecclesiastical authorities, together with first-hand oral testimony from many members of Christ in the Desert Abbey, both current and former monks, corroborating the allegations included in this report.

Background

Christ in the Desert is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1964, in Abiquiu, New Mexico, by Fr. Aelred Wall, O.S.B., accompanied by monks of Mount Saviour Monastery in New York state. The monastery stands in a remote part of New Mexico’s desert about 75 miles north of Santa Fe. According to the MCID website:

“In 1983 the Monastery of Christ in the Desert was received into the English Province of the Subiaco Congregation as a Conventual Priory, and in 1996, it became an autonomous Abbey. From its beginning, the monastery has followed the Benedictine life according to the Rule of St. Benedict with no external apostolates, but it does maintain a guesthouse for private retreats where men and women can share the Divine Office and Mass in the Abbey Church with the monks.”

Abbot Philip Lawrence, O.S.B., was elected the monastery’s first abbot in 1996, a position he held until retiring in 2018. Having served as superior of the community since 1976 before his abbatial election, Abbot Philip led the community for a total of 42 years and revived it from just six members in 1976 to around 75 monks when he stepped down. He was succeeded by Abbot Christian Leisy, who was elected Dec. 12, 2018.

In what appears to be yet another lavender-mafia ecclesiastical scandal, the Monastery of Christ in the Desert has now been decimated under Abbot Christian by a homosexual coup that has reduced the once flourishing international monastery of 75 monks to a mere dozen men within the span of just five years.

The abuse reported below continues at present in the form of financial retribution against the whistleblower monks who have confronted the abbot for sexual harassment and brought the matter to the attention of the Catholic press. Some of these men still depend upon Abbot Christian for their means of support even while banned from the monastery or on leave of absence to escape its unhealthy and predatorial walls.

As a result of continuing abuse, a civil lawsuit has been initiated against Abbot Christian, while further charges on both civil and criminal grounds are being actively considered. A copy of this report has been sent to the Attorney General of New Mexico, Members of Congress of both the House and the Senate, and the Papal Nuncio of the United States.

Summary of Allegations:

Monks of Christ in the Desert Abbey have accused Abbot Christian of sexual abuse of persons under his authority in the form of homosexual predation, sexual harassment, and sexual grooming. They have also accused him of abuse of power in the form of retribution against those who have confronted him and brought the matter to ecclesiastical authorities. Finally, they have accused him of medical neglect toward sick and elderly members of the community, as well as financial malfeasance, in the form of withholding financial support for monks in need of urgent medical care.

Sexual Abuse

It is both a civil and a canonical crime for one in spiritual authority to sexually abuse subordinates, and the allegations against Abbott Christian in this regard are indeed grave.  Separate testimonies from various members of the monastery corroborate the allegations indicating consistency in the claims, which are serious and deeply depraved.  What is alleged is that Abbott Christian “abused his office by engaging in sexual actions with vulnerable adults under his charge as abbot.”  Among the testimonies from these monks – testimonies formally submitted to Rome and provided in full below – are the following.  Abbott Christian:

• Exposed his genitals to a subordinate monk, enticed him to discuss sexual fantasies, plied him with sexually suggestive gifts, and masturbated over the phone (of which there is a recording).
• Psychologically manipulated another subordinate monk, made him discuss homosexual pornography and masturbation, and made the monk give him a nude massage.
• Was witnessed by several monks in a condition of undress with junior monks and observed grooming novice and junior monks.
• Forced a monk to regularly wash his sexual attire, which was consistently covered in lubricant.
• Ignored the sexual assault of a monk on three separate occasions at the monastery, causing a medical diagnosis of PTSD.

Abuse of Power

The second allegation brought against Abbot Christian is that he “abused his office by using his authority to undermine the credibility of the victims and witnesses in violation of Canon 220 [Code of Canon Law].”  Canon 220 states:

“No one is permitted to harm illegitimately the good reputation which a person possesses nor to injure the right of any person to protect his or her own privacy.”

Again, testimony from several monks – provided below in full – claim that Abbott Christian:

• Told other members of the community that one of the monks was a “sexual offender and a thief” after the monk confronted him over his grooming of novices and juniors.
• Called a seminary in the Archdiocese of New York to claim that a monk training to become a priest was “sexually suspect” and “had no vocation,” resulting in the monk’s expulsion.
• Dismissed a monk from the monastic life via email while he was visiting family in Kenya because the monk stood up to him in defense of other brothers.  Additionally, Abbott Christian denounced this monk to the superior of Polokwane.

Medical Neglect

The third allegation brought against Abbot Christian is that he abused his office by withholding payments for medical, canonical, and living expenses, thereby committing gross medical neglect of persons under his responsibility, as well as elder abuse, retaliation against whistleblowers, and financial malfeasance.

Testimony from several monks allege that Abbot Christian:

• Refused to extend the medical leave of absence – against the recommendation of medical professionals – of a monk who had been sexually assaulted causing PTSD.
• Refused living expenses and medical payments for a monk recently diagnosed with cancer.  Payments were also refused for canonical representation needed to appeal for said medical and living expenses.
• Expelled an 80-year-old monk diagnosed with a brain tumor, leaving him to die a few weeks later in a homeless shelter.
• Refused to allow a monk to be treated for a broken foot after being stepped on by a horse on abbey grounds, resulting in the monk having a lame foot.

All of these, and other horrible testimonies, sworn affidavits, and documented evidence have been obtained by the Lepanto Institute.  The corroborating testimony regarding abuse at Christ in the Desert and the failure to date on the part of ecclesiastical authorities to address the allegations leveled against Abbot Christian raise serious questions regarding the effective implementation of the Church’s protocols for sexual abuse, abuse of power, and protection of victims.

Given the apparent stonewalling of ecclesiastical authorities, and the Church’s current record of cover up for crimes and scandals committed by members of the hierarchy, the monks are now turning to the press and civil representation, knowing that much of what has been alleged falls squarely within the jurisdiction of American civil and criminal courts.

Having sought justice within the Church’s highest courts, and having failed to date to secure any relief, Abbot Christian’s victims are now making their allegations public and are seeking legal recourse under U.S. law for the many counts of homosexual assault, sexual predation, sexual harassment, medical neglect, elder abuse, threat to life, retribution, abuse of power, and financial malfeasance suffered at his hand and at the hands of those whom he has placed in power.

The Lepanto Institute reached out to the monastery and Abbott Christian for comment, but did not receive a response by press time.

What follows are excerpts from the nearly 500 pages of documented evidence against Abbott Christian.  Further information is available upon request to any lawyers or media agencies interested in following up on this story.

Testimony of Br. B, submitted to Rome in a formal Vos estis complaint about sexual abuse and abuse of power:

“Vos estis protocols now apply to investigations regarding allegations that an abbot committed acts described in Vos estis, Article 1: that the abbot, among other things “[f]orced someone … through abuse of authority, to perform or submit to sexual acts” and/or “[t]ook actions or made omissions intended to interfere with or avoid civil investigations or canonical investigations … against a cleric or religious” regarding the sexual acts.

Specifically I allege as follows: That Abbot Christian abused his office when he exposed his genitals to and otherwise groomed a vulnerable adult (a formand under his authority).    Incidents of grooming included plying the vulnerable adult with gifts (even of an intimate nature such as a colorful athletic supporter), psychological manipulation by encouraging him to discuss his struggles with sexual temptation at length and by harassing him.

His indecent exposure to a vulnerable adult, in addition to being a sin against the Sixth Commandment, is a crime in New Mexico if intentional. If unintentional, his instructions to a man in simple vows that he take off his own pants and try on the pants the abbot was wearing are beyond imprudent and indicative of the sexual grooming the Abbot has long engaged in with this man and others.

Secondly, his denials under oath regarding his indecent exposure, purchase of gifts and sexual grooming constitute omissions to protect a cleric, in this case himself. Importantly, his use of the USCCB as a cudgel against me in order to discredit me and silence me is similarly an abuse of ecclesiastical process employed to stop me from reporting his sexual predations.”

In a sworn affidavit dated April 1, 2024, Br. B stated:

“Before he was elected abbot and was an official of MCID I witnessed several incidents of sexual grooming and activity practiced by Father Christian. I saw that he arranged to move Br. [P] who professed on […] from the novitiate to the room adjoining his own. This meant that Fr. Christian and Br. [P] shared a bathroom and had a connection between their cells behind an outer door. Twice in the subsequent two years I came to Fr. Christian’s cell after compline only to find Fr. Christian and Br. [P] in a compromised state.

On the first occasion, they were in Fr. Christian’s anteroom. Fr. Christian was wearing only gym shorts and no shirt or shoes. Br. [P] was wearing pajama bottoms. Fr. Christian’s hands were on both of Br. [P] shoulders, but they parted immediately upon my entering.

On the second occasion, the attire of both men was the same but they were clearly hugging when I entered. Fr. Christian explained that he “was giving Br. [P] a blessing.” He did not explain his obvious arousal. Shortly after that Br. [P] left the monastery for secular life.

Subsequently I came to know of Fr. Christian’s similar questionable relationship with Br. [M], also an Indian monk. When I confronted Abbot Christian with his homosexual grooming of Br. [E] in 2020, I reminded Abbot Christian that I had twice seen him improperly dressed with his hand on a junior, also improperly dressed, and that I was fully aware he had been sharing a room with Br. [M] on travels, and that Br. [M] had been seen partially unclothed in his cell at Sant’Ambrogio.

More recently, upon information and belief, Abbot Christian has been providing the young Br. [S] with many gifts and special privileges and traveling alone with him under the pretext of scouting out colleges in the U.S. Given his history of preying on swarthy young men in monastic life, Abbot Christian’s time alone with Br. [S] is setting off warning bells for me.”

Testimony of Br. E regarding sexual abuse:

“From December 12, 2018 (the date of his election) until my departure from MCID, Abbot Christian (Richard) Leisy was my religious superior. Throughout 2019 until my departure, I was quite aware that Abbot Christian’s relationship with me was inappropriate. In my opinion he was fixated on me.

When I would take a town trip, that is, for example, when I would be assigned as driver for the brother to go grocery shopping for the community, Abbot Christian would routinely call me four or five times to check up on me. This behavior was more than obvious to the brother I was driving.

He sought out my company very frequently and at inappropriate times. He gave me opportunities denied to other brothers, such as regularly going horseback riding with him when other brothers were working.

He encouraged me to speak at length and in detail with him about my struggles with masturbation. But when I would address sexual temptation with women, he would immediately cut me off.

Once when I told him I needed a pair of jeans, he took off his pants, asking me to try them on, and in so doing exposed his genitals to me. This was in his office attached to his bedroom.

He bought me unsolicited, intimate gifts. On or about September 23, 2021 Abbot Christian gave me the gift of a 2(x)ist blue and black athletic supporter. I thought the gift was creepy. A photograph of the gift is attached.

Because of his sexual attention, I felt very uncomfortable at MCID. Although I loved the life there and loved my brothers, I had to seek another monastery in which to live out my monastic vocation. It was very hard to leave MCID, but I knew I had to get away from Abbot Christian or my vocation would be in peril.

I witnessed many other acts on his part of racial hate, labor exploitation and sexual harassment. I knew well that he abused and humiliated people. I had to get away from that. Therefore it is my opinion supported by facts and my personal experience that Abbot Christian sought to sexually groom me.

I very much fear that Abbot Christian will retaliate against me for making this affidavit, and I request the court to keep this affidavit anonymous.”

Testimony of Br. D regarding sexual abuse and abuse of power:

“I, Brother [D], OSB, have taken exclaustration to take care of my health, because since Abbot Christian had been elected as an Abbot of the Monastery of Christ in the Desert, New Mexico, we, who are from the other nations, encountered great oppression and persecution, suffered greatly because of his racist administration. All of our American monks were given special care and favours, but we, who are from the other countries, were encouraged to leave the Monastery by words, actions, and emails. My room was broken. My things were thrown to the garbage. My college certificates and id card were burned. My computer was stolen and my hard disk was stolen from it. I was persecuted and given no bread when I was sick. I had surgery and I was given no good care. I was harassed sexually and forced to do labor, and even misguided sexually by many. Since that, I have been mentally ill, and unable to earn my food and shelter.

Abbot Christian [did] not support me financially even for the last two years, but he promised to send monthly support, but one of the brothers, Br. [M] blocked my monthly support. All of the monks who are Americans are seem to be devils and racist, and they have no spirit of Jesus, but the world and Money.”

In a sworn affidavit, Br. D stated:

“After my solemn vows and after the election of Abbot Christian Leisy in December of 2019, I functioned for some years as Bursar and member of the Senior Council. My life under Abbot Christian was very stressful because I saw how horribly he treated many brothers, especially the international brothers. I watched him reduce the monastery from 72 brothers to less than 20 in four years. He frequently said that the international brother only came for Green Cards, which was racist and insulting to all of us.

In 2021 Abbot Christian began to talk to me inappropriately about sexual things to me. He wanted to talk to me a lot about masturbation and gay pornography. [This] made me so uncomfortable that it pushed me into depression. Also in 2021 after speaking to me this way many times, he took off his clothes in his office (everything except his underwear) and asked me to massage his body. I hated to do it, but I did it. I felt powerless and used. I know I was not alone in this. I once walked in his office and saw him and Brother [S], both in their underwear in his office. Abbot Christian told me that “we were working on immigration.”

When retired Abbot Caedmon, who is Subprior, also began talking to me about masturbation and pornography (he encouraged me to masturbate weekly and watch pornography) I realized that the whole hierarchy of the monastery was sick. I was sick at heart about all of this. It really hurt my vocation and caused me to be depressed. When I told this to Abbot Christian, he said “You are mentally ill and nothing but a problem.” I just had to leave the monastery to preserve my moral life. I did not want to leave Christ in the Desert but the sickness of the abbot chased me away.”

Testimony of fellow monks concerning the death of Br. Dismas Sean O’Leary (2020) and other instances of medical neglect and elder abuse:

Br. B:

“Abbot Christian has always been made profoundly uncomfortable by illness. He does not like to deal with it or address it or be near it. Br. Dismas, after many years of service in Gambia both as a diocesan hermit and as a nurse running a dispensary for the poor, petitioned MCID to live among us as a claustral oblate. Having consulted the council and the chapter, Abbot Philip accepted Br. Dismas’ lifetime oblation as a claustral oblate. Shortly after the election of Xtn, Br. Dismas was diagnosed with cancer. At one point when he stayed a week at Christus St. Vincent, Abbot Christian had Br. Dismas’ few possessions packed in some bags, and when he was discharged from the hospital, Br. [C] drove him from St. Vincent’s to a cheap hotel in Santa Fe, saying he was not to return to MCID. Br. Dismas died three weeks later, alone, in a charity ward. May God spare Xtn the punishment due for that grievous sin!”

Br. F:

“During my time at CID, I saw sick and elderly monks suffering from medical neglect, and not being able to make critically necessary medical appointments because of the difficulty of travel, and arbitrary decisions of Abbot Christian. There was Brother Dismas, a cancer patient, who was taken unwillingly out of the monastery, dropped off somewhere in the Santa Fe area, and died shortly thereafter, deprived of medical care. There was Brother Bernard, legally blind, who was denied permissions to get time-sensitive eye injections in Santa Fe, while others were allowed to go to town without restrictions. There was also Brother Luis, who in his noble age wandered aimlessly around the monastery without the proper care, frequently covered in his own feces. He was found a few times outside, alone, and in extreme weather, but miraculously survived the “care” of his abbot. The lack of concern and care for these Brothers by the leadership of CID, and the retribution and retaliation I experienced when I tried to advocate for better treatment, was one contributing factor to the stress that led to my diagnosis of PTSD. When I say I need a medical leave of absence, it is because it is absolutely necessary.”

Testimony of Br. F regarding medical neglect, elder abuse, retribution, and financial malfeasance:

“As a priest-monk at Christ in the Desert Benedictine Monastery in New Mexico, I am currently on medical leave of absence for the past three years. After enduring years of sexual and other forms of abuse, I was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which necessitated my medical leave. Last year, I was also diagnosed with cancer.

For reporting various abuses at the monastery, I have faced retribution and retaliation for years. Since the early days of 2019, I have been denied proper medical care. As of now, my monastery refuses to provide funds for my cancer treatment, other necessary medical procedures, even though they are permitted and, in some instances, required by Church law. My food and living expenses are also being reduced. It appears that my superiors are attempting to deprive me of my livelihood. I am not alone in this experience.

The Church’s legislation is unequivocal: in the event of an individual’s health being damaged due to the negligence of the Institute, they cannot be removed from the institution and must be provided with medical care and living expenses for the remainder of their life. This negligence has been substantiated. All individuals in my chain of command have either directly participated in or facilitated the concealment of abuses.

I am indebted to [my canon lawyer] approximately $4,000 in canonical bills, which my monastery has refused to pay despite its canonical obligation. Since my cancer diagnosis in April 2024, I have been awaiting the commencement of my cancer treatment, which is not covered by Medicaid, the sole insurance policy I possess. In contrast, the brothers at the monastery receive comprehensive medical coverage, and any additional expenses are directly covered by the community. However, my superiors have consistently refused to pay any amount exceeding what is covered by Medicaid.

For the past three years, I have been subjected to ostracism by Church authorities. While abusers are being shielded from accountability, I am being bullied and harassed; an ongoing struggle, which directly violates Church legislation and is detrimental to my health and safety. I am convinced that the only viable path to obtaining justice and financial support for my medical treatment is through a civil action… This would compel my abusers to seek a settlement. I have credible evidence suggesting that the monastery may leverage corrupted Roman officials to force me out of the monastery and leave me destitute in my old age.”

In a letter to the Dicastery for Consecrated Life, dated April 16, 2025, Br. F stated:

“Abbot Christian has not expressed any interest in the diagnosis and recommended treatment of my cancerous tumor. In one of his letters, he indicated that if I return to the place of abuse, he will determine where and what treatment I may be permitted. Please note that Abbot Christian is not licensed to practice medicine.

If all the issues that led to my permanent disability (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) are addressed in a satisfactory manner, my safety insured with various mechanisms, abusers are removed, and agreement is reached, I will be more than happy to return to the monastery of my profession.

None of the issues that led to my permanent disability have been addressed to date. Also, medical treatment of a victim of sexual assault cannot be contingent upon his return to the place of abuse, and submitting to further abuse.”

Testimony of Br F’s psychotherapist: conclusion of the official medical diagnosis:

“Fr. [F] exhibits symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and my clinical opinion is that the genesis or catalyst of this issue is from the 3 sexual assaults he suffered at CID Monastery. We have yet to be able to fully treat the symptoms due to his current chronic stress regarding returning to the Monastery – this stress is preventing the processing of the original trauma.”

Testimony of Br. F’s canon lawyer: letter to the cardinal prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life in Rome:

“I have included a mandate signed by [Br. F]. [Br. F] first appointed me as his advocate and procurator on August 5, 2022. However, this act was rejected as invalid by Abbot Christian Leisy on grounds that solemnly professed monks have given up the right to have an advocate. We therefore first request that Your Eminence uphold the right for [Br. F] to have canonical representation and accept this appeal we are making to Your Eminence on his behalf.

The present canonical issue is the refusal to extend [Br. F]’s medical leave of absence due to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) because of experiences in Christ in the Desert Abbey, despite him having fulfilled the requirements stipulated by Abbot Christian for an extension. [Br. F] was diagnosed with PTSD by Dr. [G] while at the monastery as a result of continuous various forms of abuse. His denial of legitimate medical treatment by his superiors led to his request for Medical Leave of Absence. Dr. [F]’s independent diagnosis fully supported [Br. F]’s request for this leave.

For the refusal of that remonstratio, we assisted [Br. F] in writing an administrative appeal to Abbot President Guillermo. The response that medical leave for longer than a year is impossible is contrary to the Constitution of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation and canon law; therefore, we drafted for [Br. F] a letter of hierarchical recourse.

We request Your Eminence to affirm that psychological care, which in the evaluation of a certified professional necessitates a continued separation from the community, is a valid reason for an extension of medical leave according to canon 665. We also request that attempting to force a solemnly professed monk to petition for exclaustration against his will be confirmed as contrary to canon law (can. 59). Furthermore, as it may be reasonably concluded that the next step of action would be the dismissal of [Br. F] on the grounds of disobedience, that it is illegitimate for a Religious to be dismissed for receiving medical care for a condition which was a direct result of life in the community (cf. can. 689 2). It should also be noted that forcing [Br. F] to return to such an environment where he experienced abuse, causing his current diagnosis of PTSD, seems to be a cruel maneuver, only geared at furthering harm to him and inhibiting any possibly recovery.

Although the refusal of the extension of medical leave was appealed and is now in hierarchical recourse, [Br. F]’s sustenance and allowance for medical care have been reduced without forewarning. His financial support has long been a matter of contention, which has negatively impacted his psychological health during his leave. We therefore also ask that it be confirmed that while his medical leave is being appealed, he has the right to uninterrupted financial support as previously agreed upon, together with the support necessary for the payment of his medical care. It is also requested that [Br. F]’s psychological care with Dr. [F] be confirmed as legitimate and should be free from interference from Abbot Christian or others contracted by him.

We would also like to bring to Your Eminence’s attention that there may be grounds for a Vos estis investigation. When [Br. F] wrote to Abbot President Guillermo on June 30, 2022, he specifically invoked Vos estis and attached to that letter a copy of a letter he had written to Abbot Christian on June 10, 2021, in which he specifically complained of sexual harassment which had gone unaddressed. In our October 14, 2022, letter to Abbot Christian, we requested information on the status of any investigation into the complaints [Br. F] had submitted to Abbot Christian. We did not receive a response, as Abbot Christian rejected our right to communicate with him. We are gravely concerned by the apparent lack of action to complaints of abuse, the rejection of [Br. F]’s right to canonical representation, the diminishment of his sustenance which jeopardizes his ability to pay his psychologist and our office, and this subsequent attempt to expel the complainant from the monastery.”

Nov. 7, 2023, letter of Br. F’s canon lawyer to the cardinal prefect of the Dicastery for Consecrated Life in Rome:

“[Br. F] has consulted with three (3) civil lawyers who, pro bono, explained to him his civil rights and pointed out various Federal and State laws that have been violated in his case. They also explained to him that by violating these civil laws, the matter at hand has been shifted from canonical to the civil law sphere of competence. Civil action seems to be inevitable at this time. [Br. F] does not wish to take this route, but as the situation continues to deteriorate further over the last few years and hostilities continue, with no constructive communication from Abbot Christian Leisy, and with the decision from your Dicastery delayed indefinitely, he is coming to the realization that civil action is the only way to protect his health, his life, and to create a resolution to this egregious situation.

We are not licensed to speak regarding his civil legal matters, but he has raised grounds of violation of his medical privacy, violation of his personal privacy, blatant discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual and physical assaults, retribution and retaliation, death threats, conspiracy to cover up assaults and abuses, conspiracy to commit further abuses, and gross negligence (possibly criminal negligence) leading to the loss of his health, to name just a few. These are serious matters which a civil court may grant standing.

If an ecclesiastical remedy is refused or decision is postponed indefinitely, [Br. F] will pursue a civil remedy, as is his civil right, under the laws of the United States of America. [Emphasis in the original].”

March 10, 2025, letter of Br. F’s canon lawyer to the Dicastery for Consecrated Life in Rome, after Abbot Christian claimed hearing rumor that the case had been archived:

“[Br. F]’s case and the concerning medical is still suspended by the hierarchical recourse submitted to this Dicastery. Even if someone told someone else that the case was archived, that is not sufficient to close the case. We must admit that the delay by this Dicastery in rendering a decision on these important matters have been perplexing since archiving a case without a decision is surprising, and the fact that we all must learn about this through the proverbial grapevine is shocking. Please understand that these issues must be resolved by this Esteemed Dicastery before any other action is applied to [Br. F].

Until a response is received clarifying the status of [Br. F]’s hierarchical recourse and rendering a decision, all sustenance must be distributed to [Br. F] and without delay. Furthermore, CID is responsible for covering the extraordinary expenses associated with [Br. F]’s medically necessary healthcare, consistent with their policy for any other monk of the monastery. If there were any inquiries regarding his diagnosis or cancer treatment plan, CID was encouraged to address these with our office so we can provide the relevant information permitted by law. Unfortunately, no such inquiries have been made by CID to date.

For all the above reasons in iure et in facto we respectfully ask the Dicasterium pro Institutis Vitae Consecratae et Societatibus Vitae Apostolicae for the following:

– Render a decision on the previously submitted Recourse to this Dicastery concerning CID’s responsibility to pay [Br. F]’s medical expenses;

– Render a decision on the previously submitted Recourse to this Dicastery concerning the extension of [Br. F]’s medical leave of absence;

– Ensure all sustenance payments are distributed to [Br. F] promptly and without delay;

– Ensure that moving forward, CID must cover the extraordinary expenses associated with [Br. F]’s medically necessary healthcare, consistent with their policy for any other monk of the monastery, again promptly and without delay; and

– Ensure that all canonical expenses associated with [Br. F]’s representation are covered promptly, in accordance with canon 1738; and

– Finally, we respectfully request that CID and the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation be ordered to provide a formal explanation regarding the discrepancies, double standards, and procedural irregularities highlighted in [Br. F]’s prior Remonstratio and this instant recourse as [Br. F] continues to be affected daily by the decisions issued in his situation.”

Homosexual coup at Christ in the Desert

In addition to the above allegations and corroborating testimony leveled against Abbot Christian for homosexual abuse, sexual harassment, medical neglect, elder abuse, and retaliatory withholding of financial support from monks of his community, Abbot Christian has also placed in power within the monastery other known homosexuals, in what members of the abbey have characterized as a “homosexual coup”.

The following are the more egregious cases included in the testimony of the monks of CID.

Testimony against Subprior Caedmon John Holmes:

“The current Subprior or third in charge of MCID, Abbot Caedmon Holmes, was discharged from his monastery in Rhode Island in 2016 upon the demand by the Portsmouth Abbey School Board because he was found to be habitually masturbating to on-line pornography featuring male youths. He was ordered removed from the Campus of Portsmouth Abbey Prep School because of the lay board’s fear that he would cause further harm to the boys of their school. An investigation paid for by Portsmouth Abbey conducted by Attorney Mary Hogan determined that there is insufficient evidence that Fr. Caedmon committed any criminal acts against children. Abbot Christian, despite being informed of Fr. Caedmon’s background by an attorney in February of 2019, that same month placed Fr. Caedmon in charge of the young monks of the monastery as Novice Master.”

Testimony against Br. Leander Hogg:

“The current Junior Master and Senior Council Member of MCID, Leander Hogg, was removed by his superiors from La Soledad Monastery in San Miguel Allende, Mexico in 2011 for repeatedly fondling the novices’ genitals there (while blaming his poor eyesight for his misplaced hands) and for accumulating gay pornography on the monastery’s sole common computer, located in the monastery library. So frequent was this behavior before his expulsion that his activities were known as “library sessions” among the young men in formation at the monastery.

Because of the more unforgiving climate of Mexico regarding such deviant sexual behaviors, the superior of that monastery demanded that Br. Leander removed immediately and without any publicity.

Apparently the behavior exhibited in Mexico is a long-standing one on the part of Br. Leander. In both the original monastery he entered, Farnborough Abbey in England, and its break-away houses, Alton and then Oulton, he was accused of similar behavior and sexual activity with young males. In February of 2019 Abbot Christian placed Br. Leander in charge of the young monks of the monastery in simple vows.”

Testimony against Fr. John Mary Sweeney:

“Fr. John Mary Sweeney, the lead advisor to and chief confidant of Abbot Christian, was removed from the priesthood for performing exorcisms on teenaged girls during which he sexually molested them. According to one of his victims, Fr. John told her in the Sacrament of Confession that she was possessed by devils, and needed an Exorcism, which he would conduct privately with her. Referred to in the press for the last ten years as a “disgraced former priest,” and despite Abbot Christian’s direct knowledge of Fr. John’s past for over ten years, Fr. John continued to celebrate Mass at the monastery until 2020, long after he had been laicized or removed from the priesthood by decree of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.”

Testimony against Fr. Milton Walsh:

“Milton Walsh is a restricted secular priest of San Francisco. He is a respected author in conservative circles, and has written many solid works. He held responsible positions in the past, including rector of the cathedral, until his admission that he fondled a 13 year old boy resulted in his restriction. He is a close friend of Archbishop Wester. He spent six months at the monastery as an observer before departing. He provided the written plan of action to Archbishop Wester whereby the monastery would be improved by expelling the international monks… The Extraordinary Visitation instructed Abbot Christian that Fr. Milton may not return to MCID.”

Retaliation of Abbot Christian and the expulsion of the international monks

One of the stunning accomplishments of the homosexual coup at Christ in the Desert is the effective expulsion of nearly all international monks of the community, who had been welcomed by the previous abbot over many years following missionary work abroad. These international vocations had revived the previously struggling monastery and swelled its numbers to nearly 80 monks. Under Abbot Christian, however, within just five years, more than 60 monks of the once flourishing abbey were dismissed in a systematic plan to rid the community of non-Americans.

Testimony of Br. P regarding the expulsion of the international monks at CID:

“It is my opinion that Abbot Christian does not have the psychological maturity necessary to function as a father to our community. He has routinely made discriminatory decisions based on the national origins of brothers and has repeatedly broken canon and civil law. Because of the decisions of his abbacy and the unwelcoming attitude he has created in our community, we have lost 35 of the 70 men who were part of this community as of December 12, 2018. If he continues in office for any length of time we will lose a further 20 men. He has not cultivated a single vocation since he became abbot. For his own good and the good of the community he must step down as abbot.”

Testimony of Br. B:

“As the whole Subiaco Cassinese Congregation is aware, in the five years of his abbacy, Abbot Christian has greatly, even perhaps fatally, damaged the Monastery of Christ in the Desert by using racist measures to depopulate the monastery, reducing it from 72 monks to 15.   That is why it is now referred to as Crisis in the Desert. He has not had a single vocation in five years, and he has repeatedly engaged in detraction against the men he pushed out so that they could not enter other religious institutes or become secular seminarians or function in other dioceses.   Moreover, he has preyed upon various brothers using the resources of the monastery and the Church to further his ends. In all he has crushed the vocations of some fifty, mostly young, men.  This has caused great harm to individual souls and to the Church.

I believe American protocols require that the credibly accused prelate relinquish his office during the period of the investigation of such allegations.  I know the allegations to be credible. Abbot Christian and his agents (to include Abbot Cuthbert Brogan) must be forbidden from contacting the affiant/victim or his superiors. As a whistleblower, I must also be afforded protections against retribution.”

Significantly, all of the whistleblower monks who have come forward and submitted testimony to Rome, or who have spoken directly with Lepanto, have stated their fear of retribution from Abbot Christian. Some of these monks still depend on the abbot for financial support while residing outside the monastery. All who have brought forth testimony are in some way already suffering the consequences of confronting him for abuses endured within the abbey’s walls.

Stonewalling by Ecclesiastical Authorities

Despite formal complaints in the form of Vos estis files being submitted to ecclesiastical authorities, to date little has been done concretely to rectify the situation of abuse and scandal at Christ in the Desert Abbey. The competent religious authorities within the Benedictine Order, the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Vatican Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the Vatican Dicastery for Consecrated Life, as well as the Archbishop of Santa Fe and the Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., have all been made abundantly aware of the numerous counts of abuse that are alleged to have taken place under Abbot Christian Leisy at Christ in the Desert.

In August 2024, following a canonical investigation conducted by the Benedictine Order, Abbot Guillermo, then President of the Subiaco Cassinese Congregation, of which Christ in the Desert is a member abbey within the Order, submitted a report to the Dicastery for Consecrated Life substantiating the allegations of abuse. Nearly nine months later, and no adjudication of the matter by the Dicastery has been forthcoming.

As indicated in several of the cases submitted to Rome, Abbot Christian has obstructed proper investigation of abuse by refusing to recognize or communicate with canon lawyers and by maligning victims who have spoken up. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, to whom it properly falls to investigate cases of sexual abuse committed by an Abbot, has simply refused to acknowledge anything of the Vos estis complaints filed against Abbot Christian. Cardinal Fernandez, while Prefect of this Dicastery, has been a notable proponent of granting blessings to homosexual “couples”.

The Dicastery for Consecrated Life has, for its part, long delayed in moving the several cases forward, even refusing for some time to recognize the legitimately deputed canonical representative of one of the victims.