From VIS (in my translation):
Communiqué of the Press Office of the Holy See:
International Commission for inquiry about Medjugorje
An international Commission for inquiry on Medjugorje has been set up at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under the presidency of Camillo Card. Ruini. The aforesaid Commission, composed of Cardinals, Bishops, experts and specialists, will work confidentially, submitting the results of their own study to the judgment of the Dicastery.
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
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since Sat., 25 Nov. 2006:
“…submitting the results of their own study to the judgment of the Dicastery.”
I think this is good…
If this is going to go on for “a good while” as Fr. Lombardi stated, I hope the CDF will take note of how the visionaries are being booked in Cathedrals, parishes, shrines, and chapels around the world where they have “visions” on Church property.
If official pilgrimages cannot be organized at the parish or diocesan level, how can anyone justify bringing an official “pilgrimage” to the people in this manner.
While I don’t believe this practice is in harmony with the 1991 Zadar Declaration, I also do not believe it is in harmony with the Church’s teaching on Marian devotion. I believe it is inappropriate to host any visionary, from any private revelation which has not been approved, on Church property.
Sorry – meant to provide link to CNA’s article which contains quotes from Fr. Lombardi
The Medjugorje ‘apparitions’ have heresies in the so called messages. I spotted this the very first time that I was asked to listen to an audio tape about it, when it was very new on the scene. Later I read a report by the bishop of the area and he pointed out many things about Medjugorje, including the heresy that I: a lay nobody had picked up immediately.
I pointed out this heresy to the person who asked me to listen to the tape. He saw that I was right, but thought that the people who had put the talk on the tape had incorrectly reported the message. They had not. They reported the so called messages with accuracy.
What about the ‘fruits of Medjugorje?” I have seen some of them, with some devotees, you cannot even point out any kind of problem with Medjugorje without them condemning you. No reasonable discussion is possible under these conditions.
They cannot explain away what you tell them, so they turn on you instead. Obviously attack is the best form of defense, when you can’t defend your case.
I would not be surprised if the Vatican is fed up with the damage that Medjugorje has done to the Church and wants to put an end to it.
Even if their report is unfavourable to Medjugorje, many devotees will probably keep going on with their Medjugorje fantasies and declare that the Church is misguided.
I acknowledge that many people go there and go to Confession. That is good but it has nothing to do with Medjugorje visions.
You can go to Confession in any Catholic Church. Why go to a place connected with such disobedience to the Church as Medjugorje.
*The aforesaid Commission, composed of Cardinals, Bishops, experts and specialists, will work confidentially, submitting the results of their own study to the judgment of the Dicastery.*
This is actually pretty good news, for those of us now ex-believers who can’t now believe that such a thing is possibly from Our Lady (again, my self-promotion: http://hospitallers.blogspot.com/2009/09/medjugorje-divine-intervention-or.html , but more than self-promotion–I’m unnamed and neither proud nor haughty that my words carry particular meaning, but rather amazed that I could be so duped, and now so against it. And, I must say, if the Church came out definitively in favor of Medjugorje, I would “turn” yet again! Such is my nature when it comes to Divine things. But really, in the case of Medjugorje, I should have listened to the Church first, and my heart, second, because now I really do believe it is a complete fraud.)
The “aforesaid” (I love that word; it gives it Importance!) commission will be led by some pretty good minds; very good news! John Paul II, was very attracted to Medjugorje. I can imagine Cardinal Ratzinger, in his German accent, saying, “Holy Father, these things are not tested, they are not yet finished, scandal will come upon the Church with too-hasty a decision, especially if you speak openly about it.”
But in any case, this “commission” (another word I love!) is the first of it’s kind–that I know of, and I have studied Medjugorje pretty in-depth–to really look into this phenomena; to dig-down into it; to look beneath the surface of the so-called healings, and super-good feel emanating from Medjugorje.
Because to believe in an apparition not really coming from Our Lady is really to disrespect Her, and make of Her something which is not true; when we should be praying to her (to pray for us to Christ) and respect Her for who She truly is: The one who leads us to Christ. Medjugorje, it seems to me, puts the focus on the “Gospa,” and not the Child Mary brought into the world. I think Mary, too, is appalled by Medjugorje.
I hope that whatever decisions are made lead people to a more profound appreciation for the object of our Faith, Jesus Christ.
why do i feel so sure that the answer that comes back from CDF will be vague, so that the pro-Medjugorje people and the anti-Medjugorje people will both claim victory?
*Even if their report is unfavourable to Medjugorje, many devotees will probably keep going on with their Medjugorje fantasies and declare that the Church is misguided.*
Indeed, which is why it’s time to nip it in the bud…
“why do i feel so sure that the answer that comes back from CDF will be vague, so that the pro-Medjugorje people and the anti-Medjugorje people will both claim victory?”
Not with Cdl. Ruini on the case. With someone else, maybe. The Holy Father chose wisely. I seriously doubt that Cdl. Levada would temper any verdict rendered by Ruini; if it is decisive, it will be confirmed and published as such.
I truly believe that the Holy Spirit can guide this commision as it goes about the business of determining whether or not Medjugorje should be “banned”. Until that time, perhaps it would be wise for everyone to just wait until an answer is provided. If an individual’s personal decision has been decided for them, great. And sharing personal opinions are great, too, within charity and reason. However, when I read comments with regard to Medjugorje there often seems to be an underlying tone of “I’m right, and those fools should come to their senses”. Whenever the Church has decided that a claimed apparition is false, they have not hesitated to announce same with promptness to protect the faithful of the Body of Christ. I have no idea if “Medjugorje” apparition claims are true or false. What I do know is that the Church has not made that pronouncement since it began in 1981, and has consistently allowed the pilgrimages made to the site by laypeople to continue. I have never gone there, and don’t intend to. However, I’m at least willing to wait until a decision comes from the commision before comment. To publicly indicate that I have some personal way of determining what they have not yet reached a conclusion on seems a tinsy bit presumptuous.
“However, when I read comments with regard to Medjugorje there often seems to be an underlying tone of ‘I’m right, and those fools should come to their senses’…”
I agree 100%. I await the judgment of Holy Mother Church on the matter.
Indeed, which is why it’s time to nip it in the bud…
I think it’s a little too late for that.
I hope this commission goes far wider than simply the content of the alleged messages. In particular, I hope it investigates the whole series of events which preceded the alleged apparitions, such as the establishment of an official Marian shrine at Hrasno, the reform of the diocese to bring in secular clergy (fully supported by the Vatican), and the rebellion against this by the Franciscans of Medjugorje. Many of us think that this motivated the alleged apparitions, and that it succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.