Sacred Scandal

SEASON 4: The Many Secrets of Marcial Maciel The Many Secrets of Marcial Maciel is a gripping investigative podcast uncovering the shocking life and crimes of Marcial Maciel, the founder and former leader of the Legion of Christ. Praised as a holy figure, Marcial Maciel lived a life of abuse, manipulation, and deception. Hosted by Elena Sada, a survivor and former high-ranking member of the organization, this series explores Maciel's rise to power, his extensive abuse, and his eventual downfall. SEASON 3: Nation of Saints In 1980, one man held together a fragile peace in the tiny nation of El Salvador: Archbishop Oscar Romero. When he is brutally and publicly assassinated on the pulpit, his murder starts a war that would leave 75,000 dead, and a million more displaced around the globe. Sacred Scandal season 3, Nation of Saints, follows host Jasmine Romero as she uncovers the holy war that followed the Archbishop's death, and led to an unsolved murder in her own family. SEASON 2: La Luz del Mundo Sacred Scandal, named one of Podtrac's Best New Podcasts of 2022, embarks on its second season, focusing on Mexico-based megachurch La Luz del Mundo (Light of the World). It tells the story of Naasón Joaquín García, a self-proclaimed apostle, who is currently behind bars after pleading guilty in June 2022 of sexually abusing girls from his congregation. Naasón is currently serving a nearly 17-year sentence, but maintains his innocence. Host and investigative journalist Roberta Garza explores Naasón's control over a multitude of devotees, some of whom now describe their experiences in the church as 'pure evil.' In this true-crime series, survivors share stories about this powerful religious leader and the alleged sexual abuse that followed, many relating to minors. SEASON 1: Two decades ago on a calm, dark Miami night, a nun was stabbed nearly 100 times on the grounds of a prestigious private academy and monastery, by student Mykhaylo Kofel. As investigators started asking questions around this Byzantine Catholic School and the gruesome murder, they found more than just her killer. In a search for answers that stretches into some of the most remote villages of Eastern Europe, they uncovered allegations of sexual abuse, secret letters to the Vatican and other mysteries of faith. Sacred Scandal unravels the fuller picture that came to light in the wake of this crime. Led by a former student, told by those who lived through the aftermath, and Kofel himself, the show pieces together a complicated narrative that, twenty years later, still has those closest to it questioning what they truly believe… including a man who's spent half his life in prison for the crime: “It's so unbelievable. It definitely wasn't me. I'm not a killer. No way. That's not me.” — Mykhaylo Kofel, 2021

Podcast Contacts

Name	Email	Title	Social Profiles	Location	Gender
Jasmine Romero		Co Host		New York City, NY, United States	Female
My Cultura And Iheartpodcasts

Podcast Details

Podcast

iheart.com

Latest Episode Date

2025-12-12 21:00:00

Episodes

Since

Jun 2022

Avg. Episode length

30 mins

Estimated listeners

49.7K / month

Has Sponsor

Apple Rating

4.4

Apple Review

742 (United States)

Has Guest

Yes

Podcast Network

My Cultura Network

Location

United States

Audience Type

Journalists, True Crime Enthusiasts, Social Activists, Political Analysts, Historians

Beats

True Crime, Miami

Guest List

Guest Name	Profession	Occupation	Episode	Episode Date
Hanif Abdurraqib	Poet	Award-winning poet, cultural critic, and author from Columbus, Ohio	Introducing Marketplace: Hanif Abdurraqib on what it means to “make it”	Jan 29, 2025
Roberto Lovato	Writer	Writer and professor	The Power of Telling Our Own Stories with Roberto Lovato	Aug 08, 2024
Marcella Arguello	Comedian	Salvadoran American comedian	Living a Dual Identity with Marcella Arguello	Aug 01, 2024
Vilma			The Gangs	Jul 18, 2024