tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72386981078543865102024-03-13T14:37:14.408-04:00Official Documents on Medjugorje and FAQS<b>This blog is a resource which focuses primarily on the diocesan point of view. It is being built with intent to collect and discuss documents originating from Diocese of Mostar-Duvno, as well as from the Holy See and the Order of Friars Minor. This site also serves as a portal which links to sources that look indepth at data (including scientific) and documentation</b>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-82719903382670154362014-01-19T05:20:00.001-05:002014-01-19T05:20:12.315-05:00Fr. Lombardi: Commission sends report on Medjugorje to CDF<div align="center">
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<a href="http://www.news.va/en/news/commission-to-submit-study-on-medjugorje">2014-01-18 Vatican Radio</a></div>
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(Vatican Radio) The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, confirmed on Saturday that the international commission investigating the events in Medjugorje held its last meeting on 17 January. The commission, created by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is presided by Cardinal Camillo Ruini.<br style="content: ' '; display: block; margin-bottom: 1.5em;" />The commission has reportedly completed its work and will submit the outcomes of its study to the Congregation.</div>
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Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-78199043971463335962013-11-16T11:19:00.003-05:002013-11-16T11:20:55.949-05:002013 CDF, twice to US Bishops on Medjugorje...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOTQkIp71IltgCGMJ6cubGNv4uYOE75Xb9dHT0TUKZ6fv66VrAu-JhsAyMR4fKP3HRxZ-HzESKSwyCbXun2uKYqfIkIoFL-069ovhF-KOFuA9Ruu3HIRJWHD0skTKWTZ3qfHsyC_t5Ek/s1600/MedjugorjeLetter+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmOTQkIp71IltgCGMJ6cubGNv4uYOE75Xb9dHT0TUKZ6fv66VrAu-JhsAyMR4fKP3HRxZ-HzESKSwyCbXun2uKYqfIkIoFL-069ovhF-KOFuA9Ruu3HIRJWHD0skTKWTZ3qfHsyC_t5Ek/s400/MedjugorjeLetter+-+Copy.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
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Here is the above letter, typed out in html.<br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">October 21, 2013</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">Apostolic Nunciature</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">United States of America</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">PN 3980</span> </blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">Reverend Monsignor Jenkins, </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">I write at the request of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who asks, that the Bishops of the United States be advised, once again, of the following (cf. my letter of 27 February 2013, of the same protocol number). Thus, his Excellency wishes to inform the Bishops that one of the so-called visionaries of Medjugorje, Mr. Ivan Dragičević, is scheduled to appear at certain parishes around the country, during which time he will make presentations regarding the phenomenon of Medjugorje. It is anticipated, moreover, that Mr.Dragičević will be receiving "apparitions" during these scheduled appearances. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">As you are well aware, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is in the process of investigating certain doctrinal and disciplinary aspects of the phenomenon of Medjugorje. For this reason, the Congregation has affirmed that, with regard to the credibility of the "apparitions" in question, all should accept the declaration, dated 10 April 1991, from the Bishops of the former Republic of Yugoslavia, which asserts: "On the basis of the research that has been done, it is not possible to state that there were apparitions or supernatural revelations." It follows, therefore, that clerics and the faithful are not permitted to participate in meetings, conferences or public celebrations during which the credibility of such "apparitions" would be taken for granted. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">In order, therefore, to avoid scandal and confusion, Archbishop Müller asks that the Bishops be informed of this matter as soon as possible. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">I take this opportunity to present to you my sentiments of profound esteem, and remain, </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">Sincerely yours in Christ, </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">+Carlo Maria Vigano</span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;">Apostolic Nuncio </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">_______________________
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<span style="color: #783f04;">Msgr. Ronny Jenkins<br />General Secretary of the USCCB<br />3211 Fourth Street NE<br />Washington, DC 20017</span></blockquote>
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Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-88830442934717544562013-04-07T19:50:00.002-04:002013-04-07T19:50:53.612-04:001997 Response of Bishop Peric on invalid confirmations in Capljina<div align="center">
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<b id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24615"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24614" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;">THE "CONFIRMATION" IN CAPLJINA AND THE "CHARISMA" OF MEDJUGORJE</span></b></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24607" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;"><b id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24613">Anonymous. </b>The <i id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24612">Slobodna Dalmacija </i>daily, of October 6, 1997, on page 4, published an article written by three journalists, that on Sunday October 5th, 1997, at the parish of Capljina in the diocese of Mostar-Duvno, an anonymous so-called bishop, from an anonymous country, anonymous diocese and of anonymous origin, held a "confirmation". Others add that he spoke German, and that a Franciscan, who is unlawfully present in Capljina, translated for him into Croatian. The hosts felt it unnecessary to present the unlawful "minister of confirmation" to the faithful, and the illegal guest didn't deem it essential to present himself either, except for the following: "I come to you from a far away, yet beautiful country. My homeland is more than a thousand miles from your lovely country and your beautiful city", as reported by the <i>SD</i>.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24610" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;">The holy sacraments are lawfully and legitimately conferred by the competent ministers who are united to the Church, according to the precepts of Canon Law, and who have a sincere intention, with the foreknowledge of the participants and the permission of the local bishop. Where there is force and deceit, there is no sacrament. We always invite the candidates for confirmation to be courageous witnesses for Christ, yet here the "minister of confirmation" himself has been hidden behind a veil of anonymity and secrecy!</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24662" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;"><b>Hired.</b> To such "shepherds", Jesus would say: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber" (<i>Jn</i> 10:1).</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24622" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;">The anonymous guest in Capljina did not enter the Church through the main doors, because for 15 months now, a brick wall has been built up in front of them blocking the entry of the legitimate pastors of the Church. This guest jumped in from the other side, rejecting every Christian tradition, all norms of courtesy and neglecting the specific law of the Church. They say he even carried the signs of the bishop's office, a mitre and crosier, which no normal bishop of the Catholic Church would ever do on the territory of another diocese without the express permission of the local bishop.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24624" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;"><b>Irresponsible.</b> If a bishop of the church is truly involved, then he surely knows in what kind of illegal activity he has fallen into with his illegitimate church "favour". Church law states that a bishop outside his diocese cannot administer confirmation without the "express or at least reasonably presumed consent of the local Ordinary" (can. 390). In this case, the <i>Slobodna Dalmacija</i> specifically published (<i>SD</i> October 3, 1997, p. 15), that the local Ordinary did not grant permission for confirmation in the parish of Capljina to any bishop or priest. A confirmation for the candidates of Capljina was held in June of last year. There was a confirmation this year as well in June, and another is scheduled during the school year. This anonymous guest certainly knows the norms of the Church. He even mentions the local bishop and his motives: "Your bishop has his reasons for not doing this and I do not wish to pass judgement on this". On the other hand, the guest says about himself: "I wish to emphasize that I too have my reasons for being here today in Capljina". He apparently also spoke with Rome: "I also tried in Rome to contribute towards finding a happy solution for this situation, but my efforts, for what I know, have remained unsuccessful". The unlawful stranger doesn't mention with whom he spoke, what he suggested and why his "efforts" have remained "unsuccessful". How can he then neglect the Holy See and do as he pleases in the areas of governance and the sacraments in another diocese and a different country?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;"><b>"Spiritually unhappy."</b> Yet the anonymous guest reveals a secret about himself. He only mentions one place that he is coming from: Medjugorje! From his words one understands that he is a regular visitor of Medjugorje: "I came to your homeland for the first time ten years ago. The reason for that each time I came home after visiting Medjugorje, I felt happier and more peaceful. But last year I came home quite sad and spiritually unhappy. The real reason for my uneasiness and great sadness were these walled-up doors of your church in Capljina. Even though this sign written in five languages speaks all for itself, I continued asking friends for more news on the situation" (<i>SD</i> of October 6th, 1997).</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24626" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;">After this type of testimony and actions of the "minister of confirmation", the Medjugorje fanatics should probably avoid warning the local bishop of the importance of separating the problem of Medjugorje from the problem of Capljina, the "case of Medjugorje" from the "case of Herzegovina!" This anonymous, irresponsible, hired, "unhappy spirit" wishes to solve the "case of Capljina" whilst coming from Medjugorje! He is coming to the aid of Franciscans who are unlawfully residing in Capljina, who are disobeying the Decree of the Holy See, neglecting the decisions of the Franciscan Order, and ignoring the norms of the local Church as mentioned in the distancing declaration of the "ad instar" provincial dr. fra Tomislav Pervan (<i>SD</i>, October 7th, 1997). The unlawful "Monsignor" of Capljina (that's how they say he was referred to in the canon of the Mass!) initially inspired by the spirit of Medjugorje with "peace and happiness", and then later on with sadness and great unhappiness, upon seeing that things are not going the way he and those who invited him would like them to go, is now working against unity, peace and order, against the regulations and canons of God's Church, and he's also abusing the sacrament of the Holy Spirit. Medjugorje transmitted the first "messages" 15 years ago, when in January 1982, the so-called "Madonna" through one of the "seers" got involved in a question of the jurisdiction of the local Church by defending some disobedient Franciscan chaplains and rebuking the local bishop Pavao, that he made a "reckless decision". The "seer" used an even harsher word in her description! And now, Medjugorje has spiritually inspired an unlawful "minister of confirmation" who goes to Capljina to dissolve Church unity and to deceive hundreds of candidates for confirmation.</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24649" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;"><b id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24651">Canonical and non-canonical.</b> On Sunday October 5, 1997, we were at Our Lady's national Shrine in Marija Bistrica. We participated in the enthronement ceremonies of the new Military Ordinary in the Republic of Croatia. Before this event, all the bishops participated in the solemn diocesan and episcopal celebrations in Pozega, Varazdin and Zagreb cathedral church. Everyone has delighted to witness these events occurring as they should, with the Papal Decree being read aloud, the crosier handed over and Mass beginning with the new bishop presiding. Yet what would have happened if a certain priest, religious or mayor of the city had jumped out of the crowd and grabbed the crosier from archbishop Bozanic or bishop Skvorcevic and said: "This is mine! This is my diocese!" Everyone would have remained breathless. The Police would probably have had to intervene and the sick person would have been sent to hospital. In Capljina, the sick person had a mitre on his head during Mass - even during the canon, if we are to believe the witnesses. St. Paul once said even to those he ordained, "Fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert..." (<i>Acts</i> 20, 29-31. "Wolves" from the outside and "heretics" from the inside! Hence, it is impossible not to react to such abuse, scandal and lawlessness!</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24643" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;">I truly feel sorry for the Catholic faithful of Capljina, especially those who are refugees and the candidates for confirmation, whose parents have constantly inquired: Will there be a confirmation? Will it be lawful and valid? We instructed the Christian consciences to follow the norms of the Church. A few listened and these deserve credit. We have no other choice than to await that the Peter of our days by his supreme authority, place the disorderly into order, and to pray that the Holy Spirit enlightens the pats(?) and hearts of all!</span></div>
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1365366473246_24648" style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;">Mostar, October 7, 1997</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;">+ Ratko Peric</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,Times;">bishop of Mostar-Duvno</span></div>
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Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-71963289709546374432012-12-31T13:16:00.000-05:002013-01-03T21:37:27.070-05:00Was a "cultus" permitted by the Church for "Our Lady of Medjugorje?"<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many images that come up<br />
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<i>"Our Lady of Medjugorje"</i></td></tr>
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Reviewing official documents on Medjugorje, do we find that a <b>public</b><i> cultus</i> (cult of devotion) has been granted in the name of <i><b>"Our Lady of Medjugorje?"</b> </i> Or, is the Church permitting merely private devotion according to the teachings of the Church, which would not include devotion i<i>n the name of</i> the alleged apparition, not yet deemed worthy of belief?<br />
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In the <a href="http://www.doctrinafidei.va/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19780225_norme-apparizioni_en.html">1978 norms that deal with discernment of presumed apparitions,</a> the Church sets up three stages (emphasis mine in bold; added emphasis underlined with my comments bracketed in red)<br />
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When Ecclesiastical Authority is informed of a presumed apparition or revelation, it will be its responsibility:<br />
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a) first, to judge <b>the fact</b> according to positive and negative criteria (cf. infra, no. I); <span style="color: #990000;">[See the document for criteria used. Note that fruits are not yet judged at this stage; rather, it is the events themselves that are examined.]</span> </blockquote>
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b) then, if this examination results in a <b>favorable</b> conclusion, <b>to permit some</b> <b><u>public</u> manifestation of cult or of devotion</b>, overseeing this with great prudence (equivalent to the formula, “for now, nothing stands in the way”) (pro nunc nihil obstare). <span style="color: #990000;">[Note the word "public" was used in reference to the cult of devotion permitted. ]</span><br />
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c) finally, in light of time passed and of experience, with special regard to the fecundity of spiritual fruit generated from <b>this <u>new</u> devotion</b>, to express a judgment regarding the authenticity and supernatural character if the case so merits. <span style="color: #990000;">[If a <i>cultus</i> is granted for a presumed apparition we would see approval to use devotions in it's name. Devotions like the Rosary belong to the patrimony of the Church and are recommended in the exhortation, </span><i><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19740202_marialis-cultus_en.html">Marialis Cultus</a></i>.]</blockquote>
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Let us go back to <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/zadar-declaration-1991.html">the 1991 <i>Zadar Declaration</i></a>, which, as of today, remains the official position of the Church. 19 bishops of the former Yugoslav Bishops' Conference said it cannot be affirmed that anything supernatural is connected with the phenomenon, and one bishop abstained from voting. Did the 1991 <i>Zadar Declaration</i> permit a public <i>cultus</i>? Here is a clue (emphasis mine in bold; added emphasis underlined):<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #073763; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Yet the gathering of the faithful from various parts of the world to Medjugorje, inspired by reasons of faith or other motives, require the pastoral attention and care,</span><strong style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"> first of all, of the <u>local Bishop</u> and <u>then</u> of the other bishops <u>with him</u></strong><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">, so that in Medjugorje and all connected with it, a healthy devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Mary </span><strong style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><u>according</u> to the <u>teachings of the Church</u> may be promoted</strong><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">. The Bishops will also provide special liturgical and pastoral directives corresponding to this aim. At the same time,</span><strong style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">they will continue to study all <u>the events</u> of Medjugorje through the commissions</strong><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
Before we move on to examine later communications on this point, let's look closer at the above paragraph from the <i>Zadar Declaration.</i> First, it acknowledges people are gathering in Medjugorje. It did not prohibit people from visiting, but it also did not grant a cult of devotion to the lady of Medjugorje. Rather, the devotion it wanted fostered was to be "according to the teachings of the Church."<br />
<br />
Where do we find explanation of what the Church considers, "a healthy devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Mary?" Once again, we can point primarily to <i><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19740202_marialis-cultus_en.html">Marialis Cultus - For the right ordering and development of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary</a>. </i>Any true devotee of Mary should carefully read this beautiful exhortation which sets out to:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: -webkit-left;"><span style="color: #660000;">"...dwell upon a number of questions concerning the relationship between the sacred liturgy and devotion to the Blessed Virgin (I), to offer considerations and directives suitable for favoring the development of that devotion (II) and finally to put forward a number of reflections intended to encourage the restoration, in a dynamic and more informed manner, of the recitation of the Rosary, the practice of which was so strongly recommended by our predecessors and is so widely diffused among the Christian people (III)"</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
If the 1991 Zadar Declaration had granted a <i>cultus</i>, we would have seen actions similar to those associated with <b><i>Our Lady of America</i></b>. <a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=7969">Cardinal Burke, upon reviewing the case for his canonical opinion on it's status, had this to say:</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrV8XGQVEUFelfFkUdESOcO181qTsPxtvePo3pUkEbV3Mpllkl9YucsOaOtJu_H42RnLDcH4PEkfA_Vwv4Ga6Rp3W4_v3rZfwrPD7i7EUG17clRCQFkK-xlv3bMcBP81-lG3pyXMfGVU/s1600/our-lady-of-america.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrV8XGQVEUFelfFkUdESOcO181qTsPxtvePo3pUkEbV3Mpllkl9YucsOaOtJu_H42RnLDcH4PEkfA_Vwv4Ga6Rp3W4_v3rZfwrPD7i7EUG17clRCQFkK-xlv3bMcBP81-lG3pyXMfGVU/s200/our-lady-of-america.jpg" width="129" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Lady of America</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Having reviewed the correspondence between Sister Mary Ephrem and her spiritual director of many years, Monsignor Paul F. Leibold, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, who later became the Bishop of Evansville and, then, Archbishop of Cincinnati, it is clear that the devotion, as proposed by Sister Mary Ephrem, received his approbation. In addition to the correspondence by which Monsignor Leibold declared the approval of the devotion, he also carried out the first of Our Lady of America's requests, made through Sister Mary Ephrem, namely, he had a medal struck with the image of Our Lady of America on one side and the coat of arms of the Christian family on the other.</blockquote>
Just to be clear, Cardinal Burke didn't grant the <i>cultus </i>since this belongs to the ordinary of the diocese; rather, he is saying that, by his actions, the former Archbishop of Cincinnati had permitted the cult of devotion. Signs of this included his approval of a devotion and the striking of a medal, among other things. Note that we do not see an opinion on the judgment of the alleged apparitions themselves; it is merely an acknowledgement that public devotion to <i>Our Lady of America</i> was granted by then Archbishop Leibold.<br />
<br />
To contrast this, we can look at <a href="http://www.shrineofourladyofgoodhelp.com/PDFs/decree_OurLadyofGoodHelp.pdf">Bishop Ricken's approval of apparitions, in 2010, of <b><i>Our Lady of Good Help</i></b></a>. Prior to that, it was in the same state as was Our Lady of America, with only a public cult of devotion approved.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNH13ZVNLE1JuBVx8U9otqwYQfPcEIcZk4NhbnQ3nfnZspXVr-1trv6YGjILzMzMsazBu77ih0COTuWrnQUfpFCKM8264lDnk2D2b8aLQGc10uorYpm6iSBTqeYS63YZKI91-ioZz9n2E/s1600/Bishop_David_L_Ricken_Shrine_of_Our_Lady_of_Good_Help_EWTN_US_Catholic_News_7_7_11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNH13ZVNLE1JuBVx8U9otqwYQfPcEIcZk4NhbnQ3nfnZspXVr-1trv6YGjILzMzMsazBu77ih0COTuWrnQUfpFCKM8264lDnk2D2b8aLQGc10uorYpm6iSBTqeYS63YZKI91-ioZz9n2E/s1600/Bishop_David_L_Ricken_Shrine_of_Our_Lady_of_Good_Help_EWTN_US_Catholic_News_7_7_11.jpeg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bishop Ricken at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Was a <i>cultus</i> permitted after the <i>Zadar Declaration</i>?</span></b><br />
<br />
Without a doubt, many point to a 1998 letter by then Archbishop Bertone to Mons. Gilbert Aubrey concerning pilgrimages to justify what they believe to be permission for a cult of devotion to "Our Lady of Medjugorje." In fact, such a title would be inappropriate to use since it was never granted by the Church, as we will soon see.<br />
<br />
At the bottom of t<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/are-pilgrimages-to-medjugorje-permitted.html">his collection of communications on pilgrimages</a> that flowed in the late 1990's, we will find the letter to Mons. Aubrey. On pilgrimages it says (emphasis mine in bold; added emphasis underlined):<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Finally, as regards pilgrimages to Medjugorje, which are conducted <b>privately</b>, this Congregation points out that they <b>are permitted <u>on condition</u> that they are not regarded as an authentification of events</b> still taking place and which still call for an examination by the Church.</blockquote>
<br />
Nothing here grants public cult of devotion, but merely tells people they may visit Medjugorje privately. Prior to that, in the same link we find a 1996 statement by then Vatican spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-Valls who offered this:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">The problem is if you systematically organize pilgrimages, organize them with the bishop and the church, <b>you are <u>giving a canonical sanction to the facts</u> of Medjugorje</b> ... This is different from people going in a group <b>who bring a priest with them in order to go to confession</b> ...</span> </span></blockquote>
Note that in everything we have seen thus far, the statements have attempted to help people understand that facts and events are still being studied and care must be taken not to give the impression that the Church has granted canonical sanction. In fact, this is what is so contradictory in the behavior of certain bishops who have permitted visionaries of this unapproved apparition to have manifestations of visions in their own cathedrals, and in parishes or shrines in their dioceses. It leads people to believe that the alleged apparitions have been sanctioned by the Church. Put another way, such things lend credibility to a phenomenon not yet deemed worthy of belief, and not granted a public cult of devotion.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">CDF Responds to Bishops of the Region of Tuscany, Italy</span></b><br />
<br />
In 2007, bishops from Tuscany met with then Archbishop Angelo Amato who was the secretary for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (and now a member of the Medjugorje commission). They inquired about Medjugorje and the CDF secretary's response is captured in a fax they sent to the priests of the diocese. This is a cleaned up Google translation <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2010/03/2007-bishops-of-tuscany-advised-by-cdf.html">of the fax</a>:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v_K_o-MpnYo1s0QsABimbToG-DbPtcHJnX9VhVWeGvRj8-Kjedyz_CwwoRYD8_FP4FmOrRAWd7hyCP4UK3EJVth6u-vtIF3xriwpLtmA9EjMCdVr1Pdq8UGAk_mC-XuVBDuCHyNA9Sw/s1600/Tuscan+Bishops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8v_K_o-MpnYo1s0QsABimbToG-DbPtcHJnX9VhVWeGvRj8-Kjedyz_CwwoRYD8_FP4FmOrRAWd7hyCP4UK3EJVth6u-vtIF3xriwpLtmA9EjMCdVr1Pdq8UGAk_mC-XuVBDuCHyNA9Sw/s200/Tuscan+Bishops.jpg" width="136" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #073763;">During their "ad Limina" visit, the Bishops of the Region of Tuscany, from April 16-20, 2007, in a meeting at the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Secretary Monsignor Angelo Amato, who spoke to us of apparitions of Medjugorje, has invited us to make public <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=71">the homily the Bishop of Mostar, in order to clarify the religious phenomenon linked to this site</a>.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #073763;">In compliance with this invitation to make known, and pray, especially priests, to read it carefully and to learn the lessons necessary for the proper enlightenment of our faithful.</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #073763;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
The 2007 fax sent out to priests then duplicated what was in section III of Bishop Peric's 2006 homily in Medjugorje. Among the things that the secretary of the CDF wanted the bishops of Tuscany to convey by his recommendation for them to study that specific homily:<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I am truly grateful to the Holy Father the Pope, to John Paul II of blessed memory and to the reigning Benedict XVI, who have always respected the judgements of the bishops of Mostar-Duvno, of the previous as well as the current bishop, regarding the so-called “apparitions” and “messages” of Medjugorje, all the while recognizing the Holy Father's right to give a final decision on these events. The judgements of the bishops, after all the canonical investigations made thus far, can be summarized in these following points (emphasis mine in bold; added emphasis underlined; comments bracketed in red]:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
1 - Medjugorje is a catholic parish in which liturgical and pastoral activities are carried out, just as in all the other parishes of this diocese of Mostar-Duvno. <b>No-one except the official Church authorities is then authorized to attribute the formal title of “shrine” to this place</b>. </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
2 - On the basis of Church investigations of the events of Medjugorje, it cannot be determined that these events involve supernatural apparitions or revelations. This means that till now the Church has not accepted, neither as supernatural nor as Marian, any of the apparitions. <span style="color: #cc0000;">[He is deferring to the 1991 Zadar Declaration].</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
3 - Priests who canonically administer this parish of Medjugorje or those who come as visitors, <b>are not authorised to express their private views contrary to the official position of the Church</b> on the so-called “apparitions” and “messages”, during <b>celebrations of the sacraments</b>, neither during other <b>common acts</b> of piety, <b>nor in the Catholic media<span style="color: #cc0000;">[!!!]</span></b>. </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
4 - The Catholic faithful are not only free from any obligation to believe in the authenticity of the “apparitions” but they must also know that church pilgrimages are not allowed <span style="color: #cc0000;">[watch for the qualifier, "if"]</span>, whether official or private, individual or group, or from other parishes, <b><u>if they presuppose</u> the authenticity of the “apparitions” or if by undertaking them <u>attempt to certify these “apparitions”</u></b>. </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
This goes back to what then Archbishop Bertone said in his 1998 letter on pilgrimages. and on what Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in 1996.<br />
<br />
Even when the new commission was announced in 2010, we saw no approval for a cult of devotion, nor has there been anything even remotely resembling approval of a <i>cultus</i> since then.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion:</span></b><br />
<br />
A cult of devotion to <b><i>"Our Lady of Medjugorje"</i></b> has not been granted by the Church. Items and devotions bearing this title have been made illicitly, without approval by the Church, which is responsible for authorizing these things. This has contributed to confusion among the faithful for some 30 years. Likewise, priests and bishops permitting their own local <i>cultus</i> to <i>"Our Lady of Medjugorje"</i> do so ahead of the Church. How much more confusion is caused when they bring visionaries in to their parishes, shrines, and cathedrals to have public manifestations of visions to <i>"Our Lady of Medjugorje?"</i> It should leave us all that much more perplexed that any bishop in any other country would permit these things when no where in the regions making up the former Yugoslavia do we see bishops allowing them. Division at an ecclesial level can only give rise to division among the laity, as we have seen. <br />
<br />
I have laid out my understanding of the documents and I defer to the Church should further clarifications be offered that say otherwise. This is among the things I hope to see the Holy See address after the Holy Father pronounces his clear message on the question of Medjugorje.<br />
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Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-83435686642305585672012-12-29T13:13:00.001-05:002012-12-29T13:13:12.063-05:00A word of caution about "news" from pro-Medjugorje sites<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFccmimsNwm0H5pL50DGwydLh_wJ4UOG6bAU0NHCr2jVRzPg0U7BIOMjYOz85kG1Jl3ImYjXnYHoh3cBvDQ2sUNHIjO7UlwtegqMgCUiepBLskb1nDQFL_OpGUuBoEVlBP8kZTOZzgZ9A/s1600/pinnochio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFccmimsNwm0H5pL50DGwydLh_wJ4UOG6bAU0NHCr2jVRzPg0U7BIOMjYOz85kG1Jl3ImYjXnYHoh3cBvDQ2sUNHIjO7UlwtegqMgCUiepBLskb1nDQFL_OpGUuBoEVlBP8kZTOZzgZ9A/s1600/pinnochio.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<b>I've posted on this before, but I've cleaned it up some so it is easier to follow. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>One thing I have learned about "news" on Medjugorje from pro-Medjugorje sites</b> is that there is selective reporting and some sources take liberties with the words of Church officials. Below is one of the most offensive examples. It is found on the site of Medjugorje.hr, which is considered the official site of the phenomenon and copied into many english language websites and blogs. A March 2010 interview with the then Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Archbishop Alessandro D'Errico, broadcast by <i>Radio Mir</i> at the end of the 48th session of the Bishops' Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina, was twisted beyond belief. <br />
<br />
<b>To show you what lengths propagandists will go to</b>, I give you two points from that interview which I have broken into separate paragraphs for easier comparison. First, I give <a href="http://www.ktabkbih.net/info.asp?id=23361">the official Croatian by the BiH Bishops Conference</a>, followed by <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2010/04/archbishop-derrico-papal-nuncio-to-bih.html">a nearly literal translation of that version by Fr. Philip Pavic, OFM</a> (who was a translator in Medjugorje for the better part of a decade). The third thing offered will be <a href="http://www.medjugorje.hr/en/news/statement-of-apostolic-nuncio-to-bosnia-and-herzegovina-about-international-commission-for-medjugorje,2922.html">what Medjugorje.hr passed along to english language readers</a>. Emphasis is mine in bold.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Croatian from BiH Bishops Conference:</b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">Iz osobnoga iskustva, svakoga puta kada sam susreo Svetoga Oca imao je veliko zanimanje za <b>pitanje</b> Međugorja, <b>pitanje</b> u koje je upućen od samoga početka kada je bio prefekt Kongregacije za nauk vjere. Radi se o <b>pitanju</b> za koje on osjeća odgovornost kao vrhovni poglavar Crkve da izrekne jasnu poruku. </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;"> </span></span></blockquote>
<b>Fr. Philip Pavich, OFM translation: </b><br />
<blockquote style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From personal experience, every time I met the Holy Father he had great interest in <b>the question</b> of Medjugorje, <b>a</b> <b>question</b> to which he was directed from the very beginning that he became prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It deals with <b>a</b> <b>question</b> for which <b>he feels responsible as the supreme head of the Church to pronounce a clear message</b>.</span></span></blockquote>
<b>Medjugorje.hr: </b><br />
<br />
Note, that among other things, the word "question" (pitanje/pitanju in the Croatian) is missing in three places (emboldened above) in this first paragraph. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Whenever I would meet Holy Father, he was always very much interested in Medjugorje. He was involved in everything, starting with the time when he was Head of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He is aware that this is the issue of special importance, and he, as supreme authority of the Church, needs to give his precise statement about that matter.</span></span> </span></blockquote>
<br />
<b>How the second point is dealt with is just as curious</b>. Here is the Croatian from the BiH Bishops' Conference site. Note the grammatical period dividing the last two sentences.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: justify;">Sveti Otac osobno dobro poznaje i to mi je više puta rekao – dobro poznaje cijeli fenomen. Zna za velika dobra koje se čine na ovome području od strane svećenika, redovnika, franjevaca, laika. A druge strane pita se kako dolaze tako suprotstavljene informacije o tome fenomenu.</span> </span></blockquote>
Here is the translation by Fr. Pavich:<br />
<blockquote style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Holy Father personally knows it very well and he has told me that several times - he is well acquainted with the whole phenomenon. He knows about the great good that is being done in this region by the priests, the Franciscan friars, and the laity. And on the other hand he asks himself <b>how come there is information in such opposition to this phenomenon</b>.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<b>Here is the distortion by Medjugorje.hr.</b> At the end of the second paragraph, they insert a conjunctive adverb "therefore" that does not exist in the original. This helps to change the meaning at the end of the paragraph. The translation ultimately misleads people into thinking the Holy Father can't understand how so many people could be against Medjugorje.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">Holy Father is very much familiar with Medjugorje phenomenon; he even mentioned that to me personally. He is aware of huge amount of positive and good influence of local priests, religious, Franciscans, lay people, and <b>therefore, it is very difficult for him to perceive that there can be so many opposing information about the same matter</b>. </span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<b>I am perplexed</b> as to why a website, which is supposedly lending support to visionaries who claim to be seeing the Blessed Virgin Mary - a woman pure and inviolate - would resort to offering such untruths regarding the words of the Pope's representative to that country. I wrote to them in 2010 requesting they get their text in harmony with the official version released on the site of the BiH Bishops Conference, but my email was never acknowledged. I did, however, receive some emails which threatened to release slander about me. To my knowledge that never came to pass, but nothing would surprise me at this point. I doubt the Blessed Virgin Mary would be pleased with such tactics, but for some, the ends justifies the means and Medjugorje should be protected at all costs.<br />
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Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-62008809635521561932010-11-09T20:44:00.007-05:002017-05-26T20:43:02.997-04:00The 1975 Decree - Romanis Pontificibus (Herzegovina Case)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In many books, websites, and other media on the alleged apparitions of Medjugorje, there is discussion of something referred to as the <em>"Herzegovina Case".</em> It has also been referred to as the <em>"Herzegovina Affair","Herzegovina Question"</em> and <em>"Herzegovina Conflict".</em> It is more loosely expressed in blogs, forums, and comment boxes as <em>"the rift between the local bishop and the franciscans"</em> (not an accurate expression by any means).</div>
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It concerns the distribution of parishes between Franciscans of the Herzegovina Province, and diocesan clergy of Mostar-Duvno as laid out in the 1975 decree, <em>Romanis Pontificibus.</em> The name of the decree has been discussed, but in the English speaking world we have not seen the actual document, until today.<em> </em>This is not so much a conflict between those local franciscans and the local bishop, but a matter between members of that province of franciscans and the Holy See itself.<br />
<br />
It should be noted, that most franciscans have been cooperating. Others, however, resisted unto usurping - quite forcibly - several parishes in the late 1990's, ultimately leading to their removal from the Order of Friars Minor, and <em>"a divinis"</em> suspensions. <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/05/february-20-1999-decree-romanis.html">On February 20, 1999, <em>Romanis Pontificibus</em> was definitively implemented</a> by the then Vicar General of the OFM, Br. Stefano Ottenbreit and Msgr. Ratko Peric of Mostar-Duvno. The Papal Nuncio at the time, Msgr. Mario Cassari, represented the Holy See.<br />
<br />
Still, a number of Franciscans of the Herzegovina Province refused to sign a declaration of obedience, incurring other penalties.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Parish Breakdown in Mostar-Duvno</span></strong><br />
<br />
It is helpful to see these numbers today, as you read what is below. Using data from pages at the diocesan website, I know in <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?menuID=54">Mostar-Duvno</a>, the Franciscans of the Herzegovina Province are responsible for 30 of the 66 parishes, with the rest in the hands of diocesan priests. <br />
<br />
Bishop Peric is also the apostolic administrator for the ancient diocese of <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?menuID=55">Trebinje-Mrkan</a>, which has 16 parishes run by 32 diocesan priests (the franciscan custody does not reach into Trebinje-Mrkan).<br />
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<hr />
THE DECREE ROMANIS PONTIFICIBUS <br />
CEP, 1975-06-06 <br />
THE SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF PEOPLES<br />
OR PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH<br />
<br />
Prot. N. 2021/75<br />
DECREE<br />
by which the question pending in the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno is decided. <br />
<br />
Roman Pontiffs, ever solicitous for the good of souls, have always taken care, whenever local Churches sufficiently developed their own structures and the conditions of circumstances and times permitted, not only to establish everywhere the sacred ordinary hierarchy, but also, as the usual order of canon law directs, to entrust the same Churches to diocesan clergy.<br />
<br />
Thus in the previous century in Europe, Pope Pius IX restored the episcopates in England, Wales, and Holland, while Pope Leo XIII established local Churches in Bosnia-Herzegovina and entrusted them to residential bishops. This same Pope, by the apostolic constitution Ex hac augusta of [5 July] 1881, erected the ecclesiastical province of Vrhbosna, which also contained Herzegovina, and appointed a residential bishop for the diocese of Mostar, to which he joined the ancient title of Duvno.<br />
<br />
In these regions, which are the witnesses of so great a faith, that fire which Christ came to set upon the earth, although there were great dangers, remained always kindled, which accomplishment came about especially from the praiseworthy zeal and apostolic spirit of the Friars Minor, who for so many years, while bearing many hardships, brought about the expansion and strengthening of the Kingdom of Christ among the local people.<br />
<br />
Through the Constitution we mentioned above, the same Vicar of Christ, fully aware of the particular situation in Herzegovina, and wanting to provide for the further devolvement of that Church, the care of which was entrusted at that time to the Friars Minor, advised the bishop of Mostar of his responsibility to establish a substantial and suitable diocesan clergy to whom would be entrusted the care of souls as is customarily done in all places wherein the sacred hierarchy has been established. Thus, from the advice of Pope Leo XIII of venerable memory, the diocesan clergy of the Church of Mostar-Duvno began to be developed and has been blessed with a providential increase in vocations especially in these more recent years.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, in the ecclesiastical province of Vrhbosna it seems that a certain doubt remains concerning mutual relations between the diocesan and the religious clergy and indeed great difficulties have arisen, especially in the Diocese of Mostar.<br />
<br />
On account of these difficulties, which had also arisen elsewhere, the Holy See issued important norms, such as the apostolic constitution Romanos Pontifices, given by the same Pope Leo XIII to England in 1881, which was later, in the wake of clear and generous fruits, extended to several other regions. The teaching expounded in this Constitution and the norms contained in it, as well as others, rely on other pontifical prescripts laid down after the Council of Trent as promulgated by Pope Benedict XIV in 1744 in the apostolic constitutions Firmandis and Cum nuper charissimus, now belong to the common law of the universal Church.<br />
<br />
These rules therefore apply to the ecclesiastical province of Vrhbosna, even more so because time has proven them to be of the greatest benefit to souls and they among others, were either directly or indirectly received by Vatican Council II.<br />
<br />
As for what expressly applies to the diocese of Mostar-Duvno, the agreement which in 1899 the local Ordinary and the religious Order of Friars Minor entered into and which in the same year the Holy See confirmed, remains in full effect, unless this decree establishes otherwise and always with due regard for the right of the Holy See to make other provision. Furthermore the decision of the Sacred Congregation “for the Propagation of the Faith” issued 26 March 1965, by which the rescript concerning the assignment of parishes “freely by the Holy See” granted by the Congregation of the Council in 1923 was declared entirely extinct, abrogated and devoid of all authority, and remains in force, as does the decree which the Pontifical legate in Yugoslavia, at the mandate of the same Sacred Congregation “for the Propagation of the Faith”, issued on 13 November 1967.<br />
<br />
No one can in the future invoke any privilege concerning pastoral ministry, acquired in any manner, unless it will have been obviously provided for in this decree and thus indeed will be plainly consistent with this document and the particulars established in it.<br />
<br />
The theological rationale for the norms of which we have made mention up to this point are contained in the general ecclesiological teaching of Vatican Council II, which indeed teaches that “bishops by divine institution have succeeded to the place of the apostles, as shepherds of the Church,” (LG 20, cit. om.). This too refers to them: “from the Lord, to whom was given all power in heaven and on earth, [bishops receive] the mission to teach all nations and to preach the Gospel to every creature” (LG 24). And likewise “individual bishops, who are placed in charge of particular Churches, exercise their pastoral government over the portion of the People of God committed to their care” (LG 23b).<br />
<br />
Moreover, “It is the bishop's role, as the ruler and center of unity in the diocesan apostolate, to promote missionary activity, to direct it and to coordinate it but always in such a way that the zeal and spontaneity of those who share in the work may be preserved and fostered. All missionaries, even exempt Religious, are subject to his power in the various works which refer to the exercise of the sacred apostolate” (AG 30b).<br />
<br />
Because the pastoral task of the Church is ordinarily conducted through the institute of parishes, for this reason the second Vatican Council set forth a general principle that applies to their overall governance. Thus in the decree Christus Dominus 32 it states that “the same concern for souls should be the basis for determining or reconsidering the erection or suppression of parishes and any other changes of this kind which the bishop is empowered to undertake on his own authority.”<br />
<br />
It belongs to the Ordinary of the place to provide for the governance of parishes. Yet the aforesaid decree (CD 35, 1b) exhorts the moderators of religious institutes to offer their assistance to bishops, even by taking up, for a time, the care of parishes.<br />
<br />
About the care of parishes entrusted to religious even exempt, the following points from the same decree should be recalled: “All Religious, exempt and non-exempt, are subject to the authority of the local Ordinaries in those things which pertain to the public exercise of divine worship-except where differences in rites are concerned-the care of souls, the sacred preaching intended for the people, the religious and moral education of the Christian faithful, especially of the children, catechetical instruction and liturgical formation. They are subject to the local Ordinary also in what pertains to the decorum proper to the clerical state as well as in the various works which concern the exercise of the sacred apostolate” (CD 35, 4).<br />
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To this same end, the general principle is confirmed in the aforesaid decree of the Council by which a bishop must be led in ordering parish activity, in that “the parish exists solely for the good of souls” (CD 31b). In the light of this outstanding principle the bishop brings about necessary modifications by his own authority, as is confirmed in the Motu proprio [of Pope Paul VI] Ecclesiae Sanctae (cf. I, 21, 3): “The bishop of the diocese on his own authority can establish or suppress parishes or change them in any way after consultation with the council of priests”, so that even if some rights are perhaps acquired by others, they should be suitably comported to these points.<br />
<br />
It follows from what has been said before that it seems most opportune for the same decree to say (in CD 35, I): “All Religious should always look upon the bishops, as upon successors of the Apostles, with devoted respect and reverence. Whenever they are legitimately called upon to undertake works of the apostolate, they are obliged to discharge their duties as active and obedient helpers of the bishops”. This norm, as is obvious, indeed applies even more to those religious to whom the care of parishes is entrusted.<br />
In other respects, it is proper that one be mindful of the exemption, “by which Religious are called to the service of the Supreme Pontiff or other ecclesiastical authority and [are] withdrawn from the jurisdiction of bishops”, not in such a way, obviously, as to interfere with the Supreme Pontiff making dispositions concerning religious “for the good of the universal Church”…, and neither taking away from the fact that “[t]his exemption, however, does not exclude Religious in individual dioceses from the jurisdiction of bishops in accordance with the norm of law, insofar as the performance of their pastoral office and the right ordering of the care of souls requires.”<br />
<br />
Such an exemption “refers chiefly to the internal order of their communities so that in them all things may be properly coordinated and the growth and perfection of the Religious common life promoted” (CD 35, 3).<br />
Thus, “[f]or a grave reason any member of a Religious institute can be removed from the position assigned to him either at the will of the authority who made the appointment, after he has advised the Religious superior, or at the will of the superior after he has advised the one who made the appointment. In this matter the superior and the authority are legally equal and the action of the one does not require the consent of the other, nor is the one bound to make known to the other the reason for his judgment, much less prove it, though recourse to the Apostolic See, in devolution, remains open” (Ecclesiae Sanctae, I, 32).<br />
But the juridical observations which we have set-out up till now are informed by pastoral solicitude also; for the good of souls requires that between religious members and diocesan clergy “[a] well-ordered cooperation is to be encouraged between various religious communities and between them and the diocesan clergy. There should also be a very close coordination of all apostolic works and activities which especially depend upon a supernatural attitude of hearts and minds, rooted in and founded upon charity. The Apostolic See is competent to supervise this coordination for the universal Church; sacred pastors are competent in their own respective dioceses” (CD 35, 5).<br />
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The desired cooperation and coordination of this sort will be well advanced if, canonical rules having been observed, there are included priests from both clergies among the members of the various groups that are in the diocese, in the way suggested for presbyteral and pastoral councils in Ecclesiae Sanctae /I, 15-16/.<br />
The end therefore, for which reason this decree was issued, is connected with that task of sanctifying proper to the Church, and it can in no way be attained except in virtue of that supernatural attitude of hearts and minds, which is rooted in and founded upon charity (CD 35, 5). The call to fraternal conversion and reconciliation most insistently propels [one] toward this. In it, according to the words of the Supreme Pontiff there is posited one of the outstanding propositions of the Holy Year (cf. bulla Apostolorum Limina): The grace of conversion and reconciliation which is proper to the sacred celebrations of the Jubilee provides the most crucial foundation of juridical norms and confirms that apostolic efficacy which is expected from their performance. By the hope of this grace the diocese of Mostar-Duvno will, beyond any doubt, proceed by great strides towards its own ecclesial renewal, and the full cooperation of diocesan and religious priests, participants in the one priesthood of Christ will be formed into a whole along with all the Christian faithful [united] with their holy Pastor.<br />
<br />
Therefore this Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples or Propagation of Faith, attentive to documents either issued by the Ecumenical Council Vatican II or promulgated by the Apostolic See for their execution, and all things being maturely weighed, having heard all those with an interest in them, and also with the consent of the Council for the Public Affairs of the Church and of the Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes, decides and establishes this which follows concerning the assigning, distribution, and division of parishes, always with due regard of the Holy See to make other arrangements on the account of changes in circumstances, which might happen:<br />
<br />
1. Attentive to the mutual agreement between the two parties with an interest here, and in consideration of the merits which the Friars Minor of the Province of Herzegovina have secured for themselves, the Holy See accepts that it be taken as a general rule that half of the faithful of the diocese of Mostar-Duvno remain entrusted to the pastoral care of the same religious, while the other half entrusted to diocesan clergy.<br />
This apportionment - once there will be an equal number of the faithful entrusted to each party, according to this generally set-out plan - will remain legitimate in the future.<br />
<br />
2. After the execution of this decree and until other norms are established, before the local Ordinary proceeds, for the good of souls and while respecting the laws to be observed, with regard to new dismemberments or divisions of parishes entrusted to the care of the Franciscan Fathers, he must consult the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples or Propagation of Faith.<br />
<br />
3. With the derogation from the decision given in 1965 by the [Sacred] Congregation for the Propagation of Faith having been made, and with due consideration of the mutual agreement concerning this matter between the two parties, the pastoral care of the parishes in Izbično, Klobuk, and Kongora, is entrusted to the Friars Minor of the Province of Herzegovina.<br />
<br />
4. The Franciscan Fathers, within one year from the day of the promulgation of this decree, must hand over to the diocesan clergy the parishes of Blagaj, Jablanica, Ploče, and Nevesinje.<br />
<br />
5. Likewise with the decision given by the [Sacred] Congregation for the Propagation of Faith in 1965 having been derogated, the parish of Čitluk is entrusted to the pastoral care of the Friars Minor of Herzegovina.<br />
But, according to this same decision of the [Sacred] Congregation, the entire pastoral care of the parish of Čapljina, with no part of its territory being taken away, must be transferred within a year from the Franciscan Fathers to the diocesan clergy. The Ordinary of Mostar-Duvno will reimburse the Province of the Friars Minor of Herzegovina the costs undertaken by the Franciscan Fathers for the building of their religious residence, but not the costs for constructing the church of the parish.<br />
<br />
6. The Parish of Mostar, up to this point wholly entrusted to the pastoral care of the Friars Minor, according to the mutual agreement of the two parties concerning this, will be divided within one year and in the territory taken, in the meantime, there will be constituted a cathedral parish which will be entrusted to the diocesan clergy.<br />
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7. Likewise from the parish of Humac, which up to now has been wholly entrusted to the pastoral care of the Friars Minor, territory will be separated in which, in the meantime, there will be erected, within one year, according to the agreement of the two parties concerning this, parishes Crveni Grm-Prolog and Zvirić-Bijača, to be entrusted to the diocesan clergy.<br />
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As for what applies to the parishes in Crnač, Grude, and Mostarski Gradac, there still applies the decree issued by the apostolic delegation in Yugoslavia on 13 November 1967, which still retains its obligatory force according to the norms concerning this issued by the [Sacred] Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. As for the full execution of the decree, the Holy See permits that the manners and rationales be preserved which are contained in the documents which are separately redacted.<br />
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To bring about all these things, the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples or Propagation of the Faith establishes [the following] executors. From one side, His Excellency Peter Čule, bishop of Mostar-Duvno, together with his coadjutor [bishop with right of succession], His Excellency Pavao Žanić, titular bishop of Edistiana; and from the other side, the Reverend Father Constantine Koser, minister general of the Order of Friars Minor, granting to them the necessary and opportune faculties, with the obligation on their part of transmitting to the same Sacred Congregation as soon as possible a copy of the act of the completed execution. <br />
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The same Sacred Congregation confirms His Excellency Stephan László, bishop of Eisenstadt, as Apostolic visitor to Herzegovina for referral and, if there is need, for providing, while it associates with him in the same task the Reverend Father Vladimir Vlašić, S.J., rector of the interdiocesan minor seminary of Zagreb.<br />
<br />
Our most holy father Pope Paul VI, in an audience granted on 5 June 1975 to the undersigned cardinal prefect, held the present decree ratified in all respects and confirmed it and ordered it to be given public effect not withstanding anything to the contrary even if worthy of special mention.<br />
<br />
Given in Rome, from the halls of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples or Propagation of Faith, on 6 June 1975. <br />
<br />
Agnellus Cardinal Rossi,<br />
Prefect <br />
<br />
[Duraisamy Simon] Lourdusamy,<br />
Secretary <br />
<br />
The official translation in Croatian published in: Glas Koncila, 14/1975, p. 4.<br />
The original Latin published in: Acta Ordinis Fratrum Minorum, Roma, II/1989, pp. 85-89.<br />
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English translation: Edward N. Peters, JD, JCD <br />
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<strong>Further reading:</strong><br />
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</div>
<ul>
<li>(2004) <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/truth-both-frees-us-and-binds-us-by.html">The Truth both Frees and Binds Us</a> (Bishop Peric goes into greater detail about the scandalous activities of the ex-Franciscans and how this plays into Medjugorje)</li>
</ul>
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<li>(2010) <a href="http://te-deum.blogspot.com/2010/07/homily-of-papal-nuncio-to-bosnia.html">Homily of Apostolic Nuncio to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Archbishop Alessandro D'Errico</a> (given on the Feast of St. Bonaventure upon <a href="http://te-deum.blogspot.com/2010/07/franciscan-named-as-auxiliary-bishop-in.html">the naming of Marko Semren, OFM to the rank of auxiliary bishop in Banja Luka</a>. In the last part of the homily, after discussing the virtues of St. Bonaventure, he gets into an interesting exhortation:<span style="color: black;"> </span><em><span style="color: black;">"<span style="color: #783f04;">Yet I still can not conceal that the Holy See, and indeed the Holy Father himself personally today is seeking an<strong> extra effort</strong>, asking for greater attention to certain painful questions, mostly inherited from the past.....")</span></span></em></li>
</ul>
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Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-72720377677934636962010-11-02T13:28:00.000-04:002010-11-02T13:28:01.718-04:00Temporary Note: Links to be UpdatedItalian researcher, Marco Corvaglia, who has a rather extensive selection of works in English, has recently changed his web address. You will see many links in my sidebar which have (Marco Corvaglia) after the title. These were to his site. <br />
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I need to udpate these. You can see a complete list at his site (see the right sidebar when you get there):<br />
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<a href="http://www.marcocorvaglia.com/medjugorje-en/home.html">http://www.marcocorvaglia.com/medjugorje-en/home.html</a><br />
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I will update my sidebar links within a week or so. Until now, go directly to his page for English language readers. <br />
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Note also that he has a French available, and obviously.... Italian. <br />
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I will delete this temporary post after links have been updated in my sidebars.<br />
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***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***</div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-31316057012120275782010-09-25T15:10:00.001-04:002014-01-19T05:18:19.077-05:00Should bishops allow "seers" of Medjugorje to speak in their dioceses?<br />
Note: In 2013, <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2013/11/2013-cdf-twice-to-us-bishops-on.html">the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith sent a letter to US Bishops</a> reminding them not to permit visionaries to speak on Church property while the investigation is ongoing.
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Below this line is the original post.<br />
<hr />
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<br />
We need to break this question down. <br />
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The second question, with it's many parts, needs to be answered first, in order to comprehend the answer to the first question. Here are the two questions together:<br />
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1) If public speaking engagements by Medjugorje "seers", along with public "visions", and devotions, medals, statues based on "Our Lady of Medjugorje", etc. are prohibited by the Ordinary of Mostar-Duvno, should bishops in other dioceses permit these things in their territory?<br />
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2) Multi-part question:<br />
<blockquote>
a)Does Bishop Peric have authority to prohibit those things stated above?</blockquote>
<blockquote>
b)If "yes", what gives him that authority? </blockquote>
<blockquote>
c)Has Bishop Peric issued prohibitions/directives?</blockquote>
<blockquote>
d) If so, is there proof that the Holy See supports him in these prohibitions/directives and are they meant to be honored in other dioceses? </blockquote>
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<hr />
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Now I will answer these starting with #2 - the question of Bishop Peric's authority to make certain prohibitions/directives:<br />
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<b>2a) Does Bishop Peric have authority to prohibit those things listed in question 1, above?</b><br />
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Yes. Bishop Peric has this authority on these pastoral matters in Medjugorje. He also has responsibility to ensure that liturgical activity in Medjugorje is in harmony with the teachings of the Church on liturgy. <br />
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*<br />
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<b>2b) What gives him this authority?</b><br />
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The <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/zadar-declaration-1991.html">1991 Zadar Declaration</a> which remains in effect (N<em>ota Bene</em>: The announcement of a new commission does not abolish this declaration). <br />
<br />
It states,<i></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i>"....Yet the gathering of the faithful from various parts of the world to Medjugorje, inspired by reasons of faith or other motives, require <b>the pastoral attention and care</b>, first of all, <b>of the local Bishop</b> and then of <b>the other bishops with him</b>, so that <b>in Medjugorje</b> and <b>all connected with it</b>, a healthy devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Mary <b>according to the teachings of the Church may be promoted</b>. The Bishops will also provide <b>special liturgical and pastoral directives</b> corresponding to this aim...."</i> </blockquote>
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A few notes on the above: <br />
<br />
- While subsidiarity - driving decision-making down to the lowest level of authority - is often discussed in context of the Church's social teachings, we can also see it at work here. The bishop's authority was not stripped by the 1991 Zadar Declaration, but reinforced. The declaration says, "first and foremost" with regards to the local bishop. <br />
<br />
- Subsequent communications, <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/are-pilgrimages-to-medjugorje-permitted.html">such as those concerning pilgrimages</a>, have all referred back to the 1991 Zadar Declaration. <br />
<br />
- The 1991 Zadar Declaration then encourages collegiality when it says <i>"and the other bishop's with him"</i>. <br />
<br />
- It gives him authority over what happens pastorally not only in Medjugorje, <strong>but in all connected with it</strong>. <br />
<br />
- The declaration makes clear that it wants a healthy devotion to the BVM according to the teachings of the Church. The teachings of the Church on Mary, specifically referencing <i><a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vatican.va%2Fholy_father%2Fpaul_vi%2Fapost_exhortations%2Fdocuments%2Fhf_p-vi_exh_19740202_marialis-cultus_en.html&ei=djudTLP_KIzungfblcSQDQ&usg=AFQjCNGP6MzL2r2QOmrrqhpPP9Fu_RjhOA">Marialis Cultus</a></i>, encourages time-tested, approved devotions. Above all, it does not include devotions based on unapproved private revelations. <br />
<br />
- It is illicit, and a form of liturgical abuse, to promote unapproved private revelations, during liturgical activities. The 1991 Zadar Declaration merely reinforces what is proper in the liturgy when it says, <i>"The Bishops will also provide <b>special liturgical and pastoral directives</b> corresponding to this aim..."</i><br />
<br />
<em>*</em><br />
<br />
<b>2c)Has Bishop Peric issued prohibitions and directives?</b><br />
<br />
Yes. Most notably are those which came at the end of his <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=71">1996 homily in Medjugorje</a>. It's too much to quote in full here, but in part, he said:<br />
<br />
<i>Therefore I responsibly call upon those who claim themselves to be “seers”, as well as those persons behind the “messages”, <b>to demonstrate ecclesiastical obedience and to cease with these public manifestations and messages in this parish</b>. In this fashion they shall show <b>their necessary adherence</b> to the Church, <b>by neither placing private “apparitions” nor private sayings before the official position of the Church</b>. Our faith is a serious and responsible matter. The Church is also a serious and responsible institution!</i><br />
<br />
So, he explicitly prohibits these things in the parish of St. James. <br />
<br />
If they cannot do these things in the parish of St. James, common sense would dictate that he is not going to permit them to have them in any other parish in the diocese. <br />
<br />
In fact, isn't it interesting that you don't see the Medjugorje "seers" given a platform in any parish or cathedral in the entire country of Bosnia & Herzegovina (BiH)? What you see demonstrated here are, <i>"the other bishops with him".</i> This includes not only BiH, but Croatia, which makes up a large part of the former Yugoslavia. <strong>So, in 29 years, the "seers" of Medjugorje have not been given public speaking engagements, nor have they been allowed to have "visions" on Church property in the former Yugslavia, or in BiH and Croatia today. More on that in a moment...</strong><br />
<br />
<strong></strong>Bishop Peric also re-iterated more formally his directives, which he is authorized to give, and added some, in 2009 (see <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/10/september-26-2009-statement-of-bishop.html">part 3 here</a>). <br />
<br />
With regards to statues and devotions, <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ewtn.com%2Flibrary%2FBISHOPS%2FZANICMED.HTM&ei=Nj-dTIC6KNP9nAf1-sWDDQ&usg=AFQjCNH7wV1nhg4oM2YqLGUkEiE1t3UBkQ">that was was denied in 1985 by Bishop Zanic</a> when he explicitly ordered these things to be put away, as well as called for the "messages" to cease and the "seers" head off into privacy. This was the first real evidence that the cult-following was not only not approved, but denied!<br />
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*<br />
<br />
<strong>2d) Does the Holy See support him in these directives and prohibitions. Is there proof? And should it be taken seriously by other bishops with regards to their having a platform in other dioceses?</strong><br />
<br />
The Holy See supports him in all that was said in his 2006 homily with regards to Medjugorje. In fact, we see that the CDF interprets it in a way that makes it applicable in other dioceses.<br />
<br />
What is the proof? <br />
<br />
<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2010/03/2007-bishops-of-tuscany-advised-by-cdf.html">This 2007 fax from the Bishops of Tuscany to the priests of the diocese concerning Medjugorje</a> instructing them to read that same 2006 homily by Bishop Peric. <br />
<br />
What does the fax say? (crude google translate version here)<br />
<br />
<i>During the visit "ad Limina" of the Bishops of the Region of Tuscany, in the period 16/20 April 2007, we had a meeting at the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Secretary Monsignor Angelo Amato, who speaks to us of apparitions of Medjugorje, has invited us to make public the homily the Bishop of Mostar, in order to clarify the religious phenomenon linked to this site. <br />
<br />
In compliance with this invitation to make known, and pray, especially priests, to read it carefully and to learn the lessons necessary for the proper lighting of our faithful.</i> <br />
<br />
In <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=366">a 2009 homily</a>, Bishop Peric stated publicly, that Cardinal Levada told him that this is how all inquiries are handled on Medjugore by the CDF now. <br />
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<hr />
<br />
<br />
Now we turn to Question #1:<br />
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<blockquote>
<strong>1) If public speaking engagements by Medjugorje "seers", along with public "visions", and devotions, medals, statues based on "Our Lady of Medjugorje", etc. are prohibited by the Ordinary of Mostar-Duvno, should bishops in other dioceses permit these things in their territory?</strong></blockquote>
But not before looking at the subject of pilgrimages, which applies...in reverse.<br />
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We all know that pilgrimages are permitted. However, there are conditions attached though - very specific conditions. They are not permitted to be organized at the parish or diocesan level. In chronological order we have this explained by Vatican officials.<br />
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In Prot. No. 154/81-01985, dated March 23, 1996, then <b>Archbishop Bertone</b> stated....<br />
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<i></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i>official pilgrimages to Medjugorje, understood as a place of authentic Marian apparitions, <b>are not permitted to be organized either on the parish or on the diocesan level</b>, because that would be in contradiction to what the Bishops of former Yugoslavia affirmed in their fore mentioned Declaration</i></blockquote>
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Then Vatican Spokesman, <b>Joaquin Navarro-Valls</b> added in August of 1996: <br />
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<i></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i>The problem is if you systematically organize pilgrimages, organize them with the bishop and the church, <b>you are giving a canonical sanction to the facts of Medjugorje</b> ... This is different from people going in a group who bring a priest with them in order to go to confession...</i></blockquote>
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And, finally in Pr. No 154/81-05922, dated May 26, 1998, then Archbishop Bertone again responds, this time to Msgr. Gilbert Aubry: <br />
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<i></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i>Finally, as regards pilgrimages to Medjugorje, which are <b>conducted privately</b>, this Congregation points out that they are permitted <b>on condition that they are not regarded as an authentification of events</b> still taking place and which still call for an examination by the Church.</i></blockquote>
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(All of these communications are collected in one blogpost here: <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/are-pilgrimages-to-medjugorje-permitted.html">Are pilgrimages permitted to Medjugorje or not?</a><br />
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One last thing we need to understand is what it means when +Bertone stated with regards to private pilgrimages where are permitted..., <br />
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<i></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i>"...on condition that they are <strong>not regarded</strong> <strong>as an authentification of events</strong>"</i></blockquote>
<br />
This means that even if giga-billions of people visit Medjugorje each year, they are not considered/regarded as a sign of authenticity of "events". No matter how much people want to force the issue with large number of people, large numbers of vocations, and conversions, this is not how the Church discerns authenticity of private revelations. This word "events" is used to basically describe the <em>who, what, where, when </em>and <em>how</em> of the actual "apparitions" and all related to it. That comes first in discernment. <br />
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<b>In other words, if a giga-billion people showed up to watch a woman sawed in half in a box by a magician, the giga-billion people being there does not make what appears to be true, an objective reality. </b><br />
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<strong>FINALLY, THE ANSWER TO QUESTION 1</strong><br />
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It is reasonable to conclude that <strong>if pilgrimages are not permitted to be organized on a diocesan or parish level, then the parish or diocese ought not be bringing the pilgrimage to the people</strong>. It has the same effect on people that an organized pilgrimage would have: <strong>It lends credibility to the unapproved "apparitions", in the minds of the faithful. </strong><br />
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<strong>It's a break with tradition and it is against collegiality</strong>. Are there any other private revelation in the history of the Church where bishops around the world simply decided to host "seers" in parishes, shrines and cathedrals who are forbidden to have public events on Church property in the diocese of origin?<br />
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<strong>How is it, that when the "seers" of Medjugorje are given a platform, outside of Mostar-Duvno, at a diocesan cathedral, or a parish, or a popular shrine, these priests and bishops are not, <em>"....giving a canonical sanction to the facts of Medjugorje"?</em> </strong> (referencing what Joaquin Navarro-Valls said earlier on pilgrimages)<br />
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It is relativistic to make exceptions for Medjugorje because of the wave of enthusiasm. <br />
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I'm afraid the same wave of enthusiasm has led to consequentialism, as well, whereby certain Church leaders believe it is inauthentic, but want to squeeze every vocation and conversion they can out of it. That is noble. But it is also justifying the means to gain an end. <br />
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Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-7413936332020624252010-09-09T17:01:00.000-04:002010-09-09T17:01:00.451-04:002005 Article about Cardinal Bertone on Medjugorje - Is he a skeptic?This is a partial translation from Italian of an article which ran in <em>Corriere</em> in 2005 (<a href="http://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Cronache/2005/02_Febbraio/24/medjugorje.shtml">original source</a>). In it, we learn about an experience that Cardinal Bertone had with angry "Medjugorjeans" after he dared to voice his own skepticism.<br />
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<blockquote><span style="color: #073763;">...<strong>the ultra-Marians who heard him speak on Bruno Vespa's "Door to door" a few evenings ago</strong> <strong>weren't happy to hear his skepticism about the apparitions of Civitavecchia and Medjugorje</strong>, and fired back point-blank, by mail or the microphones of <strong>God: "Unseemly and offensive reactions of faithful and priests who describe themselves as 'Medjugorjean'", the Cardinal censured on Monday: unacceptable attacks "even from Radio Maria, certainly <em>not compatible</em> with the promoters of <em>authentic Marian devotion</em>".</strong></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><strong>Probably no one would have noticed the dispute, if Bertone had not decided to make it public.</strong> "A priest was first to point out what happened Friday evening on Radio Maria," the archdiocese explained. At 9 p.m., ninety minutes live with listeners, with the director of the much-followed Marian station, Fr. Livio Fanzaga... "Bewildered" is the most frequent word from the speakers: how is it possible that an archbishop goes on Rai Uno to say, for the Church, at this moment, there was no supernatural event at Civitavecchia or at Medjugorje either? In reality, Bertone knows what he's saying: Ratzinger's right hand, professor of canon law, and prelate, sent by the Pope to Fatima for Sr. Lucia's funeral, he's followed all the investigation on the apparitions in Herzegovina, and knows the story of the statue of Mary weeping blood in Lazio. He doesn't deny the right to pray to the Virgin in places where she's not present, but <strong>he "deplores the excesses of fanaticism, such as the events in various churches, in which they promise the possibility of being present at an apparition of the Madonna on March 18 at a scheduled time".</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">The clouds burst. The devotees of miracles break out on the radio and in two weeks of mail to the curia in Genoa: "We don't agree in the least with what was said about the apparitions being programmed like a show" (Aldo); "Bertone said he never met the seers in person, or least not to his knowledge" (Efisio); "Cardinal Bertone wasn't clear about anything"; "the journalist Socci knows more about it than him"; "the place to make such arguments isn't a TV set: I don't think Vespa's show is the Cathedral of St. Peter" (salomone@mediacomm.it)... On Civitavecchia they brought in a former bishop, Girolamo Grillo, who commented venomously: "If Bertone had read my dossier, he would have learned that I never spoke of supernatural events or inexplicable events, so that the Archbishop of Genoa would have to take the lid off the hot water".</span><br />
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</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #073763;">In faithful Genoa, they're with the archbishop, even among the rebellious priests unpopular at the curia. "The Doges dedicated their acts to the Madonna; the Virgin was crowned here as 'Queen of the City'," says Fr. Andrea Gallo, friend of De André and of the poor. "But the tradition is more sober: to the Madonna della Guardia, where there was an apparition, the Genovese came secretly, preferably by night. I haven't been to Lourdes either, not at all. <strong>The cardinal is right to take this up with Radio Maria: they're hammering away at propaganda; it's a crusade. But what do we expect to get from it? If I tell young people to use a condom, I'll be hauled in front of an ecclesiastical court. If they use the Madonna to ask for money, nobody does anything. That station is a hot potato. It's not the voice of Mary, because it benefits from a certain fanaticism, a little like the /maghetti/ on TV who get rich off people's suffering".</strong> Less severe is Fr. Gianni Baget Bozzo, a collaborator of Radio Maria: "The Church is not obliged to accept a miraculous fact, and regarding Medjugorje, <strong>Bertone is saying the legitimate things that the bishop of Mostar also says</strong>. It's too much that they are so attached to it. But they are right to some extent..." Who? "The people who go to Medjugorje or Civitavecchia. Probably it's not really true. But why discourage people who basically just want to pray to Our Lady?"</span></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQtRRlaRXpt0zud8lH-bGSbvmes6gGT5cF20OAJh1KZUz3aGL8R4hHnuZTiBmGIqQD8vUAGAmao5BnLLHSrKdMO4j7uc5EriBQXnbB2Y77w48ablmy5MubBnH2yEF3FyE0-KSC1q4Vpk/s1600/Peric+Bertone+Small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQtRRlaRXpt0zud8lH-bGSbvmes6gGT5cF20OAJh1KZUz3aGL8R4hHnuZTiBmGIqQD8vUAGAmao5BnLLHSrKdMO4j7uc5EriBQXnbB2Y77w48ablmy5MubBnH2yEF3FyE0-KSC1q4Vpk/s320/Peric+Bertone+Small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://te-deum.blogspot.com/2010/02/consecration-of-archbishop-rajic.html"><em>Cardinal Bertone (left) with Bishop Peric in Mostar in January 2010</em></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Many thanks to <a href="http://archive.gabrielmass.com/">Richard Chonak</a> for this translation.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div align="center"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***</div></div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-91716027718121400482010-04-13T07:02:00.007-04:002010-04-13T21:32:39.924-04:00Croatian Bishop's Conference Official Bulletin - Glas Koncila - Common Question on "Pilgrimages" to MedjugorjeRecently looking through articles at the official bulletin of the Croatian Bishop's Conference -<em> </em><a href="http://www.glas-koncila.hr/portal.html"><em>Glas Koncila</em></a> (Voice of the Council), I found this question and answer among the "Common Questions" (<a href="http://www.glas-koncila.hr/portal.html?catID=6&conID=519&act=cat">Opća pitanja</a>). I wrote to <em>Glas Koncila</em> asking them if they could provide a date when this went onto the website. It seemed as if the question was written on April 9th, but a few days later, it read April 12 (meaning the date shown was the current date). I got quick response from <em>Glas Koncila</em> that it appeared in the February 2001 issue. The fact that this particular question remains on the website, means they are still receiving these sorts of questions, thus "common" (or FAQ). <br />
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It is offered here in English, not only as a record, but because it contains good information in general about the nature of pilgrimages (what may be defined as a pilgrimage and what may not), who can organize them, and what should and should not happen on them. Another interesting question is answered within this one on vegetarianism.<br />
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My emphases in bold. Summary and notes at the bottom.<br />
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Here is a translation of: <a href="http://www.glas-koncila.hr/portal.html?catID=6&conID=359&act=show">Doživjela sam duhovni teror na putu za Međugorje; zar crkvena vlast to ne može spriječiti?</a>. <br />
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<blockquote><strong><span style="color: #073763;">I experienced spiritual terror on the way to Medjugorje; can’t church authorities prevent that?</span></strong><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><strong>[Full Question]</strong><em>On a bus going to Medjugorje I experienced surprise and scandal. On the way a lady guide, who leads such pilgrimages as a private person, allegedly healed sick people by the laying on of hands and cast out evil spirits from some of them. The scenes were in bad taste. Some of the passengers on whom she carried out her rituals went into an obviously abnormal state, but for her that was a sign that the Devil had really gone out of them.</em></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><em>Among the passengers there happened to be some vegetarians who requested a meal without meat. The guide in front of everyone insultingly accused them of being heretics, followers of Sai Baba and similar non-Christian sects. She herself at the same time wore us out with her smoking. </em></span><br />
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<em></em></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><em>Don’t church authorities have control over such cases? </em></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
<em></em></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><em>A female reader</em></span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><strong>[Glas Koncila]</strong>The case is indeed disturbing and urges certain clarifications. The person involved <strong>may not be considered the leader of a pilgrimage</strong>, nor may trips like that such as she organizes <strong>be called pilgrimages</strong>. Real pilgrimages <strong>must be within the organization of a church institution or association</strong>.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">When talking about Medjugorje, it is understood that every believer alone or in a group can go there to pray, but <strong>motivated only by personal devotion</strong>. Church authorities <strong>have not confirmed the authenticity of the apparitions</strong> taking place there and <strong>church institutions can not invite the faithful on pilgrimage for the reason of Our Lady’s apparitions</strong>. There are no such problems when it comes to pilgrimages to other recognized Marian churches, for example, Marija Bistrica, Trsat, Aljmaš and others which have been declared to be Marian shrines and holy place where the faithful can pray <strong>and receive the gifts of grace</strong>, even though at those places there was <strong>neither recognized nor disputed apparitions</strong>.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">We can not close our eyes to the fact that many believers from our homeland and from the world are going to Medjugorje <strong>as though on pilgrimage</strong> believing in the apparitions of Our Lady there.<strong> No one can forbid that to them nor call it a sin; it is always possible for devout prayers to bear good fruit.</strong> But for the reasons mentioned above,<strong> those cannot be an official pilgrimages that church representatives would lead</strong>. Therefore, it is indeed possible that self-styled organizers set to work and lead those kind of pilgrimages.<strong> Some of them without any kind of supervision of church authorities, as witnessed in the above example, can behave altogether arbitrarily, in bad taste and inappropriately spiritually terrorize the faithful who have trusted them.</strong> Obviously, those who wish to go to Medjugorje <strong>for devotional reasons</strong> <strong>should be warned not to accept any kind of spiritual guide during the journey</strong>. If some travel agency arranges that kind of trip because there are those who are interested, that cannot be forbidden to it, but even it does not have the right to arrange any kind of spiritual leader. The faithful, if it is appropriate,<strong> can also pray customary prayers together on the way, but in no way accept extraordinary acts of alleged healings and exorcisings of the Devil.</strong> When they reach their goal, they can participate in the devotions that the local spiritual caregivers lead,<strong> assuming that they are under the supervision of higher church authorities and that they are acting in accordance with church regulations</strong>.<strong> If they notice something quite otherwise, they should refrain from it.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #073763;">This is also an opportunity to recall that our bishops, while once admitting that they did not find evidence for official recognition of the apparitions, were still,<strong> independent of that</strong>, determined, to provide the faithful who come there <strong>the ability to perform appropriate devotions</strong> and have reception of the sacraments and that is <strong>why the church authorities should help and keep control</strong>. <strong>Should it come to a serious implementation of that second part of the decision of our bishops, maybe one could find a way to prevent really scandalous cases like the one you experienced.</strong> <strong>It is a particularly crude abuse of devout intentions and could scandalize the well-meaning faithful and show our faith in the most ugly and corrupt light to those who are not of the faith.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;">As for vegetarianism, it must be said that there are also vegetarians among the most orthodox, that it is not a religion but a discipline of living, indeed a kind of permanent abstinence that should be commended even if we ourselves do not wish to undertake it. As long as religious parties do not find legally acceptable and appropriate precautions feasible, such would-be pilgrimages will be possible in which it will be able to experience also such deviant people who obviously have no basic knowledge of Catholic faith and spirituality.<em> [Private translation by Fr. Philip Pavic, OFM]</em></span></blockquote><br />
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<strong>Note:</strong> The Croatian Bishop's Conference speaks in a way that reflects the fact that the bishops of Croatia and BiH were once one conference in the former Yugoslavia. Hence, the language: <em>"Should it come to a serious implementation of that second part of the decision <strong>of our bishops</strong>, maybe one could find a way to prevent really scandalous cases like the one you experienced."</em><br />
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<strong>Main points with additional notes</strong><br />
<ul><li>Trips to Medjugorje by individuals or groups are not considered pilgrimages since the phenomenon is not recognized as authentic, nor has the site been approved as a "shrine" or "sanctuary" such as other places named. Church institutions and associations, or those going as representatives may not lead group visits.</li>
<li>Individuals or groups may go to Medjugorje<em> "motivated only by personal devotion".</em> </li>
</ul><blockquote><ul><li><a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/1987-press-release-by-cardinal-kuharic.html">In 1987 Cardinal Kuharic</a> stated in the Glas Koncila: <em>"it is not permitted to organize either pilgrimages or other religious manifestations <strong>based on an alleged supernatural character attributed to Medjugorje's events</strong>."</em></li>
<li>On March 23, 1996 (Prot. No. 154/81-01985), then Archbishop Bertone wrote: <em>"...official pilgrimages to Medjugorje, <strong>understood</strong> <strong>as a place of authentic Marian apparitions</strong>, are not permitted to be organized either on the parish or on the diocesan level..."</em></li>
<li>On August 21, 1996, then Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls explains why: <em>"...The problem is if you systematically organize pilgrimages, organize them with the bishop and the church, <strong>you are giving a canonical sanction to the facts of Medjugorje ...</strong>"</em></li>
<li>Finally, on May 26, 1998 (Pr. No 154/81-05922) Archbishop Bertone writes:<em> "...they are permitted <strong>on condition that they are not regarded as an authentification of events</strong> still taking place and which still call for an examination by the Church..."</em> </li>
</ul></blockquote><ul><li>It may not be forbidden or considered sinful for people to visit Medjugorje, as though on pilgrimage. [many who do this are unaware of the distinction, some being misled by tour companies and promoter sites].</li>
<li>Devout prayers of visitors is what bears fruit (along with the Sacraments, as pointed out later)</li>
<li>Since the current status of Medjugorje does not permit official pilgrimages organized by representatives of Church institutions or associations, other private organizations may be leading them.</li>
<li>These tour guides are not under any kind of supervision by Church authorities. </li>
<li>Advises against getting involved with "spiritual guides" on such tours.</li>
<li>Customary prayers may be prayed along the way (this means devotions according to the teachings of the Church, such as the Rosary, and other approved prayers).</li>
<li>Those visiting should not accept, <em>"extraordinary acts of alleged healings and exorcisings of the Devil"</em></li>
<li>Upon arriving in Medjugorje, visitors may participate in devotions led by local spiritual caregivers, <em>"assuming that they are under the supervision of higher church authorities and that they are acting in accordance with church regulations."</em> And, they should refrain from anything to the contrary. This goes back to the authority given to the local bishop in the 1991 Zadar Declaration when it said (my emphases in bold; comments bracketed in red):</li>
</ul><blockquote><blockquote><span style="color: #351c75;">Yet the gathering of the faithful from various parts of the world to Medjugorje, inspired by reasons of faith or other motivesrequire the pastoral attention and care, <strong>first of all, of the local Bishop and then of the other bishops with him</strong>, so that <strong>in Medjugorje and all connected with it</strong>, a healthy devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Mary <strong>according to the teachings of the Church</strong> may be promoted</span><span style="color: #cc0000;"> [Note:</span> <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19740202_marialis-cultus_en.html"><em>Marialis Cultus</em></a> <span style="color: #cc0000;">does not have a provision for devotions based on alleged apparitions which have not gained approval at any level of the Church. Hence, devotions based on the alleged apparition, which have not been approved for use by ecclesial authority, are not in harmony with the teachings of the Church].</span> <span style="color: #351c75;">The Bishops <strong>will also provide special liturgical and pastoral directives corresponding to this aim</strong>. At the same time, they will continue to study all the events of Medjugorje through the commissions. </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">[Bishop Peric has provided pastoral and liturgical directives</span> <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/10/june-12-2009-prot-6482009-6492009.html">here</a>, <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=366">here</a>, <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=71">here</a> <span style="color: #cc0000;">and</span> <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2010/03/june-10-2004-excerpt-of-confirmation.html">here</a><span style="color: #351c75;"> among other places, and his 2006 homily (third link) </span><a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2010/03/2007-bishops-of-tuscany-advised-by-cdf.html">was acknowledged by the CDF when it advised the Bishops of Tuscany to share it with priests of the diocese</a>.]</blockquote></blockquote><ul><li>Independent of the question of authenticity, which was never acknowledged to date and is a question now being handled by the new commission, the Croatian Bishops again acknowledge the second part - the ability of people to go there for devotions. </li>
<li> The Croatian bishops then affirm the authority of the local bishop when they say, <em>"...the church authorities should help and keep control...."</em> and then in pretty strong terms point out: <em>"Should it come to <strong>a serious implementation of that second part of the decision of our bishops</strong>, maybe one could find a way to prevent really scandalous cases like the one you experienced" </em></li>
<li>Points to the fact abuses such as the one depicted in the question,<em> "could scandalize the well-meaning faithful and show our faith in the most ugly and corrupt light to those who are not of the faith"</em></li>
</ul><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***</div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-4976395584676064282010-04-11T10:13:00.005-04:002012-12-29T10:54:03.832-05:00Archbishop D'Errico, Papal Nuncio to BiH, discusses new commissionBelow is a translation by Fr. Philip Pavic, OFM of the text from an interview that took place following news of the new commission on Medjugorje <a href="http://www.ktabkbih.net/info.asp?id=23361">as that text appears in Croatian on the BiH Bishop's Conference website</a>.<br />
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<strong>I make this clarification because medjugorje.hr is providing two different Croatian texts on it's own website in different places</strong> (<a href="http://medjugorje.hr/hr/novosti/apostolski-nuncij-u-bih-o-medunarodnom-povjerenstvu-za-medugorje,2918.html">one is the full interview</a> - which matches what is on the BiH Bishop's Conference website - and <a href="http://medjugorje.hr/hr/trazi/?q=d'errico">the other is shortened for just the portion on Medjugorje</a> and this does NOT match the full length interview. The text in the shorted version is questionable and it appears that this is the one which used for other languages, including English). The Croatian text in the truncated version <strong>does not match the text provided in Croatian at the bishop's conference website, nor in the full interview provided in Croatian on medjugorje.hr!</strong> <br />
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At the very bottom of this post, I bullet some key contrasts between the two Croatian texts. For example, there is a big difference in saying, "<em>the Holy Father is interested in Medjugorje"</em> (short version) and, "<em>the Holy Father is interested in the question of Medjugorje"</em> (full interview). The word "question" is conspicuously missing in several places within the shortened version, among other strange things I noted.<br />
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Without further delay, here is the translation of the text as it appears on the Bishop's Conference website:<br />
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<blockquote>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>[Interviewer]</strong> Three days ago the Holy See established the International Commission for Medjugorje. How do you see that event? </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>[Abp D'Errico]</strong> Obviously, that also is a great sign of hope because it tells us one thing - the great attention that the Holy Father Benedict XVI pays to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and especially the Catholic community in the country and the questions being discussed within this community. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>From personal experience, every time I met the Holy Father he had great interest in the question of Medjugorje, a question to which he was directed from the very beginning that he became prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It deals with a question for which he feels responsible as the supreme head of the Church to pronounce a clear message. </strong></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>The Holy Father personally knows it very well and he has told me that several times - he is well acquainted with the whole phenomenon. He knows about the great good that is being done in this region by the priests, the Franciscan friars, and the laity. And on the other hand he asks himself how come there is information in such opposition to this phenomenon.</strong></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #274e13;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">For that reason he wanted to establish this commission which is on an especially high level to obtain a complete picture of it by persons who are highly qualified. So from different parts of the world he has invited cardinals, bishops, experts and expert witnesses to be part of this commission. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #274e13;">It was announced that the president of this commission will be Cardinal Ruini, a Cardinal of great prestige and of high qualification, who as everyone knows is very close with the Holy Father and not only since he is the Pope. He is always very close to the Holy Father. Cardinal Ruini also knows B-H very well, especially since the time of the war when he was President of the Italian Bishops' Conference. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #274e13;">One interesting and special thing that tells about the great solidarity of the Holy Father with this land and this community is the fact that he could announce the commission and finish the question with it. But, because of the respect he has for the communities in B-H he wanted the announcement of this commission to be simultaneous, both in the Vatican and in Mostar. In Mostar because obviously Medjugorje is located territorially in the boundaries of the diocese of Mostar. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #274e13;">I am well aware that the media have talked about this commission for quite a while. A great suspense has been created. Today we can say that we are satisfied and grateful to the Holy Father for this attention that he wanted to show toward Mostar and toward our Catholic communities. Thus, in the name of the Holy Father I announced this important decision of the Holy Father to the bishops at the same time that the news was also announced in Rome. It is clear to us that the work of this Commission will be very demanding and I would like to invite all our communities to commend the work of the Commission to the patronage of St. Joseph whose feastday we will celebrate and to Mary, Mother of the Church, who are the patrons of Mostar.</span></blockquote>
Here is the Croatian used for the translation, <a href="http://www.ktabkbih.net/info.asp?id=23361">as it appears on the bishop's conference website</a> (white space added for easier reading to match the above):<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #351c75;"><strong>Prije tri dana Sveta Stolica utemeljila je međunarodno povjerenstvo za Međugorje. Kako gledate na taj događaj?</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">[D'Errico]Očito i to je veliki znak nade jer nam kaže jednu stvar - veliku pozornost koju Sveti Otac Benedikt XVI. posvećuje Bosni i Hercegovini i posebno katoličkoj zajednici u zemlji i pitanjima koja se raspravljaju unutar ove zajednice. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Iz osobnoga iskustva, svakoga puta kada sam susreo Svetoga Oca imao je veliko zanimanje za pitanje Međugorja, pitanje u koje je upućen od samoga početka kada je bio prefekt Kongregacije za nauk vjere. Radi se o pitanju za koje on osjeća odgovornost kao vrhovni poglavar Crkve da izrekne jasnu poruku. </strong></span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>Sveti Otac osobno dobro poznaje i to mi je više puta rekao – dobro poznaje cijeli fenomen. Zna za velika dobra koje se čine na ovome području od strane svećenika, redovnika, franjevaca, laika. A druge strane pita se kako dolaze tako suprotstavljene informacije o tome fenomenu. </strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Zato je želio ustanoviti ovo povjerenstvo koje je na posebno visokoj razini da bi stekao cjelovitu sliku o tome od strane osoba koje su vrhunski kvalificirane. Tako je s raznih strana svijeta pozvao kardinale, biskupe, stručnjake i vještake da budu dio ovog povjerenstva. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Najavljeno je da će predsjednik ovoga povjerenstva biti kardinal Ruini, kardinal od velikoga prestiža i velikih kvaliteta za kojega svi znaju da je vrlo blizak sa Svetim Ocem i to iz vremena ne samo dok je papa. Vrlo je blizak Svetome Ocu oduvijek. Kardinal Ruini također dobro poznaje BiH, posebice iz vremena rata kada je bio predsjednik Biskupske konferencije Italije. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Tada je odredio da talijanska Crkva i Biskupska konferencija bude prisutna velikim ‘interventima’ solidarnosti u korist svih naroda u BiH. Jedna zanimljiva i posebna stvar koja govori o velikoj solidarnosti Svetoga Oca za ovu zemlju i ove zajednice je i u tome da je mogao najaviti povjerenstvo i da stvar s time završi. No, zbog poštovanja koje ima prema zajednicama u BiH želio je da najava ovoga povjerenstva bude istodobno, u zajedništvu u Vatikanu i u Mostaru. U Mostaru jer je očito da se Međugorje nalazi teritorijalno na području biskupije Mostar. </span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Znam dobro da su mediji o ovome povjerenstvu govorili poodavno. Stvoreno je veliko očekivanje. Danas možemo kazati da smo zadovoljni i zahvalni Svetome Ocu za ovu pozornost koju je htio pokazati prema Mostaru i prema našim katoličkim zajednicama. Tako sam u ime Svetoga Oca najavio biskupima ovu važnu odluku Svetoga Oca istodobno kada je i u Rimu objavljena vijest. Jasno nam je da će rad ovoga Povjerenstva biti vrlo zahtjevan i htio bih pozvati sve naše zajednice da djelovanje ovoga Povjerenstva povjere zaštiti svetoga Josipa čiji ćemo blagdan proslaviti i Mariji Majki Crkve koji su zaštitnici Mostara.</span></blockquote>
<br />
THE SHORT VERSION (CROATIAN) ON MEDJUGORJE.HR<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3jKHh_y6dIOgeebHtMJVKbjxDwGJUwqRT-DPO-746nCbkufGOgVG39HyKaa5X16FpLJEdrPrDLMNJSMyEJflOBLlltO9gmjmLmJvhrzmkukHvSxS2mG33dRjg8XtCamF9RHl3bYz2Kk/s1600/medjugorje_hr_derrico1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX3jKHh_y6dIOgeebHtMJVKbjxDwGJUwqRT-DPO-746nCbkufGOgVG39HyKaa5X16FpLJEdrPrDLMNJSMyEJflOBLlltO9gmjmLmJvhrzmkukHvSxS2mG33dRjg8XtCamF9RHl3bYz2Kk/s320/medjugorje_hr_derrico1.JPG" wt="true" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
That <a href="http://medjugorje.hr/hr/trazi/?q=d'errico">second paragraph shown in the above pic</a> (click and use "View-Zoom" to enlarge) is suppose to be an excerpt of what you will see when you <a href="http://medjugorje.hr/hr/novosti/apostolski-nuncij-u-bih-o-medunarodnom-povjerenstvu-za-medugorje,2918.html">click the link to see the full interview</a>, which contains the same text that is on the bishop's conference website. <strong>However, the two texts in Croatian do not read the same (see emboldened text above)</strong>. In particular, in Croatian lead-in paragraph, they quote the archbishop as follows:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">''Kad god sam susreo Sv. Oca, on je pokazivao veliko zanimanje za Međugorje. Slijedio je sve, već od početka, dok je bio pročelnik Kongregacije za nauk vjere. Radi se o pitanju za koje on osjeća odgovornost da kao vrhovni autoritet Crkve kaže jasnu riječ. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Sv. Otac dobro poznaje, i više puta mi je rekao kako dobro poznaje, čitavi fenomen. Poznato mu je veliko dobro koje ovdje biva ostvareno od strane svećenika, redovnika, franjevaca, laika. I onda se pita kako to da dolaze tako suprotstavljene informacije o tom fenomenu. </span></blockquote>
<br />
Which translates much like what they have in English (compare this to what Fr. Philip Pavic translated at the top of this post (emboldened) from the full interview found at both the Bishop's Conference website and medjugorje.hr)<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #783f04;">“Whenever I would meet Holy Father, he was always<strong> </strong>very much interested in Medjugorje. He was involved in everything, starting with the time when he was Head of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He is aware that this is the issue of special importance, and he, as supreme authority of the Church, needs to give his precise statement about that matter. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #783f04;">Holy Father is very much familiar with Medjugorje phenomenon; he even mentioned that to me personally. He is aware of huge amount of positive and good influence of local priests, religious, Franciscans, lay people, and therefore, it is very difficult for him to perceive that there can be so many opposing information about the same matter. </span></blockquote>
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Contrasts</span></strong><br />
<strong>Point 1: Missing from the shortened Croatian version</strong> <a href="http://medjugorje.hr/hr/trazi/?q=d'errico">on this page of medjugorje.hr</a> (and <a href="http://medjugorje.hr/en/news/statement-of-apostolic-nuncio-to-bosnia-and-herzegovina-about-international-commission-for-medjugorje,2922.html">in their English translation</a>), but<a href="http://medjugorje.hr/hr/novosti/apostolski-nuncij-u-bih-o-medunarodnom-povjerenstvu-za-medugorje,2918.html"> not in this full interview version on medjugorje.hr</a> (which matches what is on BiH bishops conference website)<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #666666;"><strong>The word "question" preceding "Medjugorje" in several places</strong>. To say that the Holy Father is <em>"interested in Medjugorje"</em> is not the same as his being interested in <em>"the question of medjugorje"</em>. In the English langauge, to say that someone has an interest in something can mean that the person has a favorable view of the thing (i.e., "The boy has an interest in fishing." means he enjoys it or likes it).</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<strong>Point 2: </strong> <strong>Additions in the short medjugorje.hr version </strong>(my notes bracketed in red):<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #666666;">"therefore" </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">[which is a word that leads to a conclusion]</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;">"it is very difficult for him <span style="color: #cc0000;">[the Holy Father]</span> to percieve"</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #666666;">"about the same matter"</span></li>
</ul>
<strong>Point 3: Conveying different meanings in the short version to long (translated as shown)</strong><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong>medjugorje.hr (short)</strong>:</span><span style="color: #666666;"> "...difficult for him to perceive that there can be so many opposing information..."</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #38761d;"><strong>medjugorje.hr (full interview) and BiH Bishop's Conference as translated by Fr. Pavic </strong>:</span> <span style="color: #666666;">"...he asks himself how come there is information in such opposition to this phenomenon..."</span></li>
</ul>
We will let readers discern for themselves why this difference exists. <br />
<br />
As of this posting, I still have not received a response from Radio Mir sent on the Wednesday of Holy Week. I had asked them to upload the audio since a claim was made that the Archbishop spoke in Italian and felt that the audio would help clarify what was actually said. I pointed out the differences in texts and asked if they could confirm that the Archbishop spoke in Italian. <br />
<br />
<br />
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***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***</div>
Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-59130137923051404042010-03-21T14:35:00.003-04:002010-03-28T19:12:28.774-04:00June 10, 2004: Excerpt of Confirmation Sermon by Bp Peric in MedjugorjeWith the<a href="http://te-deum.blogspot.com/2010/03/its-official-vatican-confirms.html"> official announcement of a new commission on the phenomena of Medjugorje</a>, we will continue to accumulate, publish, and examine closer, existing documents for informational purposes.<br />
<br />
This excerpt from the June 10, 2004 homily at the parish of St. James in Medjugorje has<a href="http://cbismo.com/index.php?menuID=37"> only been available in Croatian at the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno website</a>, until this private translation was made at my request. <br />
<br />
Recall first, what the <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/zadar-declaration-1991.html">1991 Zadar Declaration</a> said about the local bishop: <br />
<blockquote><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yet the gathering of the faithful from various parts of the world to Medjugorje, inspired by reasons of faith or other motives, require the pastoral attention and care, <strong>first of all</strong>, <strong>of the local Bishop and then of the other bishops with him</strong>, <strong>so that in Medjugorje and all connected with it, a healthy devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the teachings of the Church may be promoted</strong>. The Bishops will also provide special liturgical and pastoral directives corresponding to this aim. At the same time, they will continue to study all the events of Medjugorje through the commissions.</span></blockquote><br />
<strong>A few points from the above paragraph:</strong><br />
<blockquote>1) It gives to the local bishop, the lead in giving this "pastoral attention and care", and "then the other bishop's with him". <br />
<br />
2) It is not only in reference to what happens in Medjugorje, but "all connected with it". <br />
<br />
3) The declaration talks about a"healthy devotion towards the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the teachings of the Church."<br />
<br />
4) It makes clear the authority of the bishops to set pastoral and liturgical directives, "corresponding to this aim".</blockquote><br />
<br />
In this homily, Bishop Ratko Peric talks about Marian devotion and the Church's teachings on it. He speaks fervently about the Eucharist as the greatest miracle. He weaves together the relationship that Mary has with Christ and the Church.<br />
<br />
Emphases mine in bold. Links were added by me, as well.<br />
<br />
<hr /><blockquote><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Excerpt from Confirmation Sermon by Bp Peric in Medjugorje June 10, 2004</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"></span></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmU-Mb9u7Hbn-vRBE6Ju7lp6cmsBr5zMB91UsQgeq-XplkUdqJO2_smRvtOxXtljPuHu1Iau6qNvz8TOmrQEh1mg_npt_l9O7Fdtwf2CVylX-v1CIEzo0QhPPzdRFQbFUeKYX5vQ2PsI/s1600-h/450PX-~1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmU-Mb9u7Hbn-vRBE6Ju7lp6cmsBr5zMB91UsQgeq-XplkUdqJO2_smRvtOxXtljPuHu1Iau6qNvz8TOmrQEh1mg_npt_l9O7Fdtwf2CVylX-v1CIEzo0QhPPzdRFQbFUeKYX5vQ2PsI/s200/450PX-~1.JPG" vt="true" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">3 - This parish church of St. James the Apostle in Medjugorje should be a place of great veneration of the Eucharist and the other sacraments of Christ. <strong>But all those pictures, images and words, which connect unapproved private accounts with the holy things of God or that refer to unapproved and unproven apparitions or to the private assurances which have already for 23 years played with and manipulated the “Queen of Peace”, must be removed from the church and from church usage. </strong></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><strong>The Blessed Virgin Mary is the greatest servant of God.</strong> And she is also in the service of Jesus Christ from his conception to his ascension. About her the Catholic Church has its own dogmas of faith, theological truths, teachings expressed in ecumenical councils and in the ordinary magisterium of the Church. And the Exhortation of Paul VI from 1974. -</span><em><span style="color: #666666;"> </span><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19740202_marialis-cultus_en.html">Marialis Cultus</a></em> - <span style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: #666666;"><em>"To Honor Mary”</em>, and the encyclical of Pope John Paul II from 1987.</span> -</span> <em><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater_en.html">Redemptoris Mater</a></em> <span style="color: #666666;">-<em> "Mother of the Redeemer,"</em> <strong>present the entire and correct Catholic doctrine on Our Lady, which the Church celebrates and sets in front of our eyes with all its dignity and honor! Not a single preacher can present to the people, either by examples or content, so-called messages and accounts taken from unapproved private apparitions.</strong></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="color: #666666;">It is not allowed from this altar,</span> <b><a href="http://www.medjugorje.org/ivanse.htm">nor is it allowed from any altar in the Catholic world</a><span style="color: #666666;">, in place of safe Catholic doctrine, to refer to the alleged messages and apparitions, which even after the canonical commissions of investigation are neither proven nor accepted by the Church. </span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The faithful are called by Catholic faith to adhere with confidence to official church doctrine, and <strong>not one of them is obligated to accept the unapproved private accounts that daily come from the alleged visionaries</strong>, who have promoted their apparitions around the world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Being responsible, <b>the Church cannot conform to irresponsible news that confuses and frightens the people of God, that presents the alleged apparitions with their visionaries and messages sensationally, and incompetently calls this place a sanctuary</b>. We have <b>a right to the seriousness and the dignity of our holy Catholic faith</b> and we are obligated as genuine believers of Christ to keep the authentic teachings, <strong>without ever privatizing the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, or the Mother of the Church, the Blessed Virgin Mary!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"></span></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Body of Christ is the greatest gift of the Lord to His believers. When giving Holy Communion <strong>the priest says “The Body of Christ” and the communicant confirms it with “Amen”, confessing faith in Jesus' greatest miracle</strong>. <strong>Next to such a clear doctrine, divine message and miracle, is it really necessary to hop all over rocky Herzegovina for the tens of thousands of questionable "apparitions"</strong> throughout these 8,400 days? How is that taking our holy Catholic faith seriously? </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIr9G2S3RZnfGUQsoMwHu5Ju8AFM5mSF4kPc-3lBBg79XCsRqt97QzYWi_VIB9XX66Ap_HUDTdbmF6xkZXe39KwmSnIgcAt-z77aip07ah8jaQSD2lBjSu6FbrIWjgkXyC7HIt_T0_a8/s1600-h/BIH1B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #666666;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIr9G2S3RZnfGUQsoMwHu5Ju8AFM5mSF4kPc-3lBBg79XCsRqt97QzYWi_VIB9XX66Ap_HUDTdbmF6xkZXe39KwmSnIgcAt-z77aip07ah8jaQSD2lBjSu6FbrIWjgkXyC7HIt_T0_a8/s200/BIH1B.jpg" vt="true" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;">The fundamental message of Jesus is “This is my Body! Take and eat. This is my Blood! Take and drink! Do this in remembrance of me! The mystery of faith!” <strong>Can there be a greater message than this that the Church makes present in every Holy Mass in every part of the world already for two thousand years?</strong> <strong>From the</strong> <strong>behavior of some individual believers and priests one gets the impression that the Most Blessed Eucharist and the sacraments are in the service of countless "apparitions", not one of which the Church has ever confirmed.</strong> And as though someone who goes to confession and receives Holy Communion here, is thereby proving the authenticity of private apparitions. <strong>A true believer, priest and bishop, must not forget the Apostle’s warning that the time will come when people will “accumulate teachers for their itching ears who turn them away from hearing the truth to following myths”.(2 Tim 4, 3-4)</strong></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #666666;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666;"><strong>Mary, like her Son also, is characterized most of all by obedience to God.</strong> How then and to whom is it allowed frivolously to play games with the Most Blessed among women, the Mother of God? How is it that people have no fear of God? <strong>And priests by-passing the Church, who accept such "apparitions" as authentic</strong> <strong>and bring them not only into the devotion of Our Lady’s Rosary</strong>, but even into <strong>homilies</strong>, and <strong>liturgical ceremonies</strong>, or <strong>they organize "pilgrimages" presuming their authenticity</strong>, giving proof not only that due ecclesiastical seriousness does not oblige them <strong>but showing themselves to be disobedient sons of the Church</strong>. <strong>The saints of God became saints because they obeyed the concrete Church of Christ, and did not work according to their conceited ideas and self-will.</strong><em> [private translation by Fr.Philip Pavich OFM]</em></span></span></blockquote><hr /><br />
When Bishop Peric mentions priests who, "organize 'pilgrimages' presuming their authenticity", we have to look back again at several documents.<br />
<br />
Prior to the 1991 Zadar Declaration, the former head of the Yugoslav Bishop's, His Eminence, Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, when announcing the new commission in <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/1987-press-release-by-cardinal-kuharic.html">1987 in the <em>Glas Koncila</em></a> (Voice of the Council), explained:<br />
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<blockquote><span style="color: #274e13;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>While waiting for the results</strong> of the Commission's work and the Church's verdict, <strong>let the Pastors and the faithful honor the practice of the usual prudence in such circumstances</strong>. For that reason, it is <strong>not permitted</strong> to organize either pilgrimages or other religious manifestations <strong>based on an alleged supernatural character attributed to Medjugorje's events</strong>.</span></span></blockquote>March 23, 1996 (Prot. No. 154/81-01985), then Archbishop Bertone wrote:<br />
<blockquote><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The result from this, in what is precisely said, is that official pilgrimages to Medjugorje, <strong>understood as a place of authentic Marian apparitions</strong>, are not permitted to be organized either on the parish or on the diocesan level..."</span></blockquote>May 26, 1998 (Pr. No 154/81-05922), Archbishop Bertone, speaking now of private pilgrimages explains in a letter to Msgr. Gilbert Aubry:<br />
<blockquote><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, as regards pilgrimages to Medjugorje, <strong>which are conducted privately</strong>, this Congregation points out that they are permitted<strong> on condition that they are not regarded as an authentification of events still taking place</strong> and which still call for an examination by the Church.</span></blockquote><br />
Both protocol letters can be read in this post: <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/are-pilgrimages-to-medjugorje-permitted.html">Are pilgrimages permitted or not???</a><br />
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One of the best assessments made in reference to this langauge, was that of Msgr. Henri Brincard of Puy-en-Velay and <em>"Accompanying Bishop of the Association of Marian organisations"</em>, writing on behalf of the French Bishops in a statement that first appeared in the official bulletin of the French Episcopal Conference [SNOP], No. 1,064, [printed in <em>Documentation Catholique of 7 January 2000</em>]. <a href="http://www.christianorder.com/features/features_2002/features_may02_bonus.html">See entire document online, in English here.</a><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: #7f6000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I do not see how I can go to Medjugorje<strong> without giving my support, by the very fact of my having come there, to the events who's discernment and assessment rests henceforth with the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina</strong>. Such support would fly in the face of a traditional teaching of the Church, recalled in Lumen Gentium and applicable to all the successors of the Apostles (11): "Individual bishops, in so far as they are set over particular Churches, exercise their pastoral office over the portion of the People of God assigned to them, not over other Churches nor the Church universal."</span></blockquote>How many base their private pilgrimage to Medjugorje on the belief that it is authentic? How many feel that their private pilgrimage, combined with numerous other people, authenticate the events of Medjugorje? <br />
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<div align="center">***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***</div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-72046217793412399492010-03-11T09:12:00.001-05:002012-12-31T11:54:56.504-05:002007: Bishops of Tuscany advised by CDF to read 2006 homily of Bishop Peric<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In his <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=366">June 2009 homily</a> for Confirmations at Medjugorje, it was widely reported that Bishop Peric said:<br />
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I also visited the superiors of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and thanked them in particular for informing the bishops of the region of Toscana, in Italy, who had asked the Congregation during their “ad limina” visit what position to take regarding the phenomenon of Medjugorje. The then Secretary of the Congregation, Archbishop Angelo Amato recommended that the bishops convey to the priests and faithful of their dioceses<a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=71"> the homily that was given here in Medjugorje during the rite of Confirmation, on the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ in the year 2006</a>, which they then did. </blockquote>
This was disputed by supporters and promoters of Medjugorje because there was no proof. <br />
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The above is the notice released by the Bishops of Tuscany asking priests to share the bishops 2006 homily. Here is a crude google translation:<br />
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<span style="color: #073763;">During the visit "ad Limina" of the Bishops of the Region of Tuscany, in the period 16/20 April 2007, we had a meeting at the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Secretary Monsignor Angelo Amato, who speaks to us of apparitions of Medjugorje, has invited us to make public <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=71">the homily the Bishop of Mostar, in order to clarify the religious phenomenon linked to this site</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #073763;">In compliance with this invitation to make known, and pray, especially priests, to read it carefully and to learn the lessons necessary for the proper enlightenment of our faithful. </span></blockquote>
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That which was said in the 2006 homily was very strong and many statements can be found on promoter sites saying "the bishop was removed" from the Vatican. This is patently false and deceptive. The above proves that the CDF is working with the Bishop of Mostar as one would expect. A further explanation about why the matter was taken up by the bishop's conference, then commissions<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-did-archbishop-bertone-really-say.html"> is detailed here</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.te-deum.blogspot.com/">Te Deum Laudamus! Home</a><br />
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<i>The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world! </i></div>
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***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***</div>
Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-43601303023261761152010-02-21T08:02:00.001-05:002012-07-05T19:35:34.753-04:00Ecclesial Disciplinary Actions against Fra Jozo Zovko, OFM<div align="center">
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This is a list of disciplinary actions taken against <strong>Fra Jozo Zovko, OFM</strong> through early 2009<strong>.</strong> It was compiled by <a href="http://www.semperficatholic.com/page46.html">Mark Waterinckx of Belgium</a>. Mark had gone to Medjugorje at least 24 times and had raised many thousands of dollars. He knew Fr. Jozo Zovko personally through his promotional activities in Medjugorje before discovering sobering realities about the phenomena and the players. He has since worked actively to expose these things.</div>
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For serious researchers and academics, I would encourage you to <a href="mailto:biskupija@cbismo.hr">contact the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno</a> using the reference numbers below for documents and further clarification on any particular event listed. Conclusions made in this document belong to Mark Waterinckx. The work is placed here for the sake of the chronology and document numbers. <br />
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Below Mark's document, are other items related to Fr. Jozo's faculties.</div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">The Papal War against Medjugorje: Jozo Zovko exiled </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">1° Suspension: On 23-8-1989 (letter nr. 622/89) Jozo has been suspended by Mostar-bishop Zanic, because of serious accusations. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Jozo refuses to obey and appeals to the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples in Rome. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">This Congregation confirms on 15-2-1990 (letter nr. 5673/89) the suspension of Jozo by Mgr. Zanic, and asks that Jozo should be exiled to a convent, far from Medjugorje. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Jozo refuses. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">On 25-7-1991 (letter nr. 377/91) the Franciscan provincial of Hercegovina proposes to the bishop of Mostar to transfer Jozo to the convent of Siroki Brijeg, only 30 km from Medjugorje. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">The bishops responds on 30-7-1991 (letter nr. 557/91), refusing this proposal. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">On 2-9-1991 (letter nr. 649/91) bishop Zanic complains that Jozo, notwithstanding his suspension, continues to administer the Sacraments in Siroki Brijeg. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">When Mgr. Peric is installed as the new bishop of Mostar in August 1993, Jozo is still committing insubordination. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">On 11-11-1993 the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples writes to the Minister-General of the Franciscan order that Jozo and 3 other Franciscans are suspended, but that they continue practicing their priestly functions in the vicinity of Medjugorje. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">On 29-12-1993 the Franciscan Province informs bishop Peric by letter nr. 380/93 that Jozo is appointed as the parish administrator in Siroki Brijeg. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">On 4-2-1994 the bishop by letter nr.69/94 expresses his consternation about this. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">On 12-6-1994 the bishop makes a canonical visit to Siroki Brijeg. Jozo confirms him that, notwithstanding his suspension, he still hears confessions. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">2° Suspension: On 14-6-1994 the bishop notifies by letter nr. 423/1994, that Jozo is automatically suspended according to canon 1378 par. 2. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">On 15-6-1994 the bishop also notifies Jozo’s superior of this by letter nr. 423/1994-ad. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Jozo did not pay any attention to this letter and continues to be disobedient. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">During his ad limina-visit to Rome, the bishop by letter nr. 1203/98 of 6-11-1998, informs the Holy See of this situation. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Without mentioning the irregular status of Jozo, in 2002 the Provincial writes that ’those who accept Medjugorje, consider Jozo as a devote priest, and that he, on invitation, gives spiritual retreats on the island of Jakljan and in Medjugorje.’ </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">3° Suspension: On 26-6-2004 in a long letter nr. 843/2004, bishop Peric suspends Jozo for the third time because of his persistent disobedience. He invites him to the bishop’s office in Mostar in order to regularize his priestly status. In the diocesan Curia the bishop wants to show him all documents related to his illegal pastoral activities as well as to his ‘moral’ life. This decree has been officially published in the diocesan bulletin Vrhbosna, 3/2004 p. 293-298. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Jozo again refuses to obey. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">And what happens now? On 9-2-2009, the personal assistant of Jozo in Siroki Brijeg, Vesna Cuzic, informs all Medjugorje-groups, that Jozo, for reasons of ‘health, rest and convalescence, and for renovation of buildings on the island of Badija-Croatia (how ‘logical’: renovating buildings while he is supposed to take a rest…), Jozo will not be available for pilgrims for the rest of the year 2009. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">During the annual meeting of the Medjugorje-Guides in March 2009, the provincial, Fr. Ivan Sesar, made known that Jozo had ‘requested for a sabbatical year…’ </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">But rumors say that recently Jozo has been seen for several days in Rome, and that after the severe punishment and exile of Fr. Tomislav Vlasic by the Vatican in 2008, a new commission is now occupying themselves with the ‘Jozo case’. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Jozo’s superiors, who until now, had always supported Jozo’s disobedience, now seem to feel uneasy and therefore exiled Jozo to the small island of Badija, near the island Korcula, thus obeying the demand of 1990 of the Congregation for the Evangelization of the Peoples. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">And indeed, in the Croatian Magazine “Nacional” of 24-2-2009 (p. 68-72) appeared a long article, titled: ”</span><a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=hr&u=http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/53861/papin-rat-protiv-medugorja&ei=gBGBS5z7G9TjnAec1uShBw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CA4Q7gEwAQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnacional%2Bjozo%2Bzovko%26hl%3Den"><span style="color: #134f5c;">Papal War against Medjugorje</span></a><span style="color: #134f5c;">” [Google Translated link - DK]. Subtitle: ”The exile of Jozo”. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Furthermore: “Jozo was moved from Siroki Brijeg and left behind on the island Badija for as long as the Papal Commission concerning Medjugorje is pursuing her investigation". </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">At last Jozo has been banned to a convent, far from Medjugorje, “ordered by Rome and against his own will". </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">But, as is always the case, the Medjugorje-media are manipulating the naïve Medjugorje-fans and falsify the real motive for his exile. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">“Nacional” continues : “Jozo was moved to Badija not because of health reasons, as was officially stated, but exiled by the Franciscan Province.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">“After 18 years of resistance and disobedience, Jozo was compelled to obey a decision of the Holy See since February 1990, whereby Rome confirmed the suspension by Mgr. Zanic in 1989." </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">At the end of 2008, the administration of the Franciscan Province of Hercegovina decided that Jozo at last should accept the punishment by Rome. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">To some close friends Jozo said that he was ‘sent to the desert’. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Many ask themselves why, after 18 years, Jozo has finally obeyed to the decision of the Church Administration. The answer is that very soon the Vatican will start a new commission about Jozo and Medjugorje. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">And it is well known that the former Card. Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, was rather negative about Medjugorje... (see his letter of 22-7-1998). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">"Jozo has now decided not to be an obstacle in that process.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">Feast of St Joseph, 19-3-2009 </span></div>
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<span style="color: #134f5c;">mark waterinckx Belgium</span></div>
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Here is the letter of July 22, 1998 by Card. Ratzinger, mentioned above (<a href="http://theratzingerforum.yuku.com/sreply/4/Medjugorje-statement">source</a>):<br />
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<i style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">for I.E. (concerning a particular photo supposedly showing Our Holy Father with Fr. Slavko Barbaric ):<br />On April 19, 1998, the publisher of the Schwarzer Brief sent documentation on Medjugorje to Cardinal Ratzinger, including 14 quotes from various Medjugorje books by people like Ren Laurentin and Bishop Paulo Hnilica, in which the impression was given that the pope and Cardinal Ratzinger had repeatedly recognized the authenticity of the apparitions. In response Cardinal Ratzinger wrote on July 22, 1998:<br />Quote:<br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Thank you for sending the Claus Peter Clausen's memo. He is well known to me as the publisher of the Schwatzer Brief. <b>I can only say in response that the quotes endorsing Medjugorje which have been attributed to me and the Holy Father have been made up out of thin air.</b></i>
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UPDATE: On January 2, 2010, Bishop Ratko Peric mentions Fr. Jozo Zovko in his statement on the Cardinal Schonborn visit (in point 7). He explains:</div>
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- We had two separate charismatic promoters and “architects” of the “Medjugorje phenomenon”: The prominent and <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/08/canonical-sanctions-against-fr-tomislav.html">disobedient</a> Tomislav Vlašić, <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/07/fr-tomislav-vlasic-ofm-laicized-by-holy.html">who last year was expelled by the Superior General of the Order of Friars and who at his request, was dispensed of his priestly faculties and obligations by the Holy See</a>, and Fr. Jozo Zovko, who has been denied priestly faculties in this diocese since 2004, who according to newspaper reports, has been withdrawn by his religious superiors from the territory of Herzegovina and is prohibited from any contact with Medjugorje.</div>
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A <a href="http://www.medjugorje-online.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18474&highlight=jozo+austria">guide in Medjugorje has reportedly told fellow supporters that Zovko is now in Austria</a>.</div>
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Fr. Jozo Toured US without faculties:</div>
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Note in this first link, that it appears the Archdiocese of Los Angeles contacted the Franciscan province to check on Zokvo's priestly faculties, but did not contact the local bishop. This is odd because the religious order does not give and take faculties, the bishop does. </div>
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<li><a href="http://www.losangelesmission.com/ed/articles/2003/0103mk2.htm">Suspended Medjugorje Priest Gives Retreat in Thousand Oaks</a> (2003)</li>
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Let's look closer at the incident at the National Shrine in Washington DC. </div>
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On November 14, 2002, Provincial Fr. Slavko Soldo wrote that he was in good standing with the religious order, but says nothing about his faculties:</div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">Fr. Jozo Zovko is a member of our community in good standing. He was the pastor at Medjugorje when the apparition of the Blessed Mother started in 1981. It was time of the communist regime in our country. As pastor of Medjugorje Fr. Jozo was put in prison by the communist court. After he was released from the prison, he continued to spread the message of the blessed Mother Queen of peace.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">In our community Fr. Jozo Zovko is known as a charismatic priest who suffered for his faith and continues suffering. He spends long hours in prayer, counseling and preaching. Most of the time he is in the church, often for 10 hours a day.</span></div>
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</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">Those who oppose the apparitions of the Blessed Mother at Medjugorje are constantly after Fr. Jozo, trying to stop his mission, but those who accept the Medjugorje consider him a dedicated priest and are inviting him to lead retreats for them and pray for them in their needs. Among those who are inviting him, are many priests and bishops. Fr. Jozo is tireless in that service. He did ask permission to travel to the United States and it was granted to him. I hope that this will be of help to you.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">Peace and all things good!"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04;">Mostar, November 14, 2002, Fr. Slavko Soldo, provincijal</span></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<div align="left">
On November 19th, the following statement was issued by the Basicilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. Note that the event was cancelled just two days prior:<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Basilica of the National Shrine </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">Important notice about Father Jozo Zovko, O.F.M. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">November 19, 2002 </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">The November 21 Marian Mass and prayer vigil at the Basilica of the National Shrine will continue as scheduled without the participation of Father Jozo Zovko, O.F.M. Father Zovko’s faculties have been revoked and he is under censure from the Bosnian Diocese of Mostar-Duvno. In accord with Canon Law, he may not exercise his priestly ministry here. </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">The National Shrine and the Archdiocese of Washington, though unaware of the basis for Father Zovko’s censure, or any credible allegations against him, are obliged to adhere to its canonical stipulations. </span></blockquote>
<br />
On November 21st, the Vicar General of the Order discusses Zovko's standing with the religious order, and says nothing about his faculties.</div>
<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">"I Fr. Stefano Ottenbreit, the undersigned, Vicar General of the Order of Friars Minor, testify that Fr. Jozo Zovko is a Member in good standing of the Province of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Herzegovina of our Order. I, also, declare to whom it may concern that he has never been suspended from our Order."</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">Signed and sealed with the seal of the Order at our General Curia in Rome on this 21st day of November in the year of the Lord 2002.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75;">In fide, Fr. Stefano Ottenbreit, OFM, Vicar General</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div align="left">
<br />
Now, there is something interesting missing at pro-Medjugorje sites. That is, the standing of Fr. Jozo Zovko with the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno. I copied this from a now defunct website, <em>"Send Your Spirit Medjugorje</em>" some time ago <a href="http://www.kolbenet.com/pages/no_longer_active.html?s=Send+Your+Spirit+Medjugorje+Center?n=114">before it went offline</a>. Whomever wrote this letter, raised the appropriate questions reqarding the two replies from the Franciscn order. The site indicated, it never got a response to the questions raised. </div>
<div align="left">
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000;">November 25, 2002</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Fr. Slavko Soldo, OFM,</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Provincial of the Herzegovinian</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Franciscan Province of the Assumption</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Mostar - Fax: 333-526</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Although Fr. Jozo is in good standing with you, he is, however, in disobedience to the local bishop, and therefore, the church, as indicated in the letter (Dated November 18, 2002, Prot. 1942/2002) from Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar to Msgr. Michael J. Bransfield, Rector Basilica National Shrine Of Immaculate Conception, Washington, D,C. Fax 001 202 526 8313.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">Why did your Franciscan province permit him to be in such disobedience and without priestly faculties for 13 years? </span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Please reply. Thank you</span> </span></blockquote>
<br />
Further information about Fr. Zovko is learned from <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=88">Bishop Ratko Peric on his communication regarding the withdrawal of Papal Household Preacher, Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa's</a> appearance at a retreat for priests in 2007. <br />
<br />
Bishop Peric writes:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #274e13;">Despite the above mentioned decision, the news of a spiritual retreat for priests directed by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa OFM Cap., Preacher of the Papal Household, to be held in Medjugorje at the beginning of July 2007 appeared on the internet many months ago, yet the organizers of this retreat did not inform the Diocesan Chancery in Mostar according to the norm, prior to the event. In this regard, celebrations of the sacrament of reconciliation are being publicized billing, alongside Fr Cantalamessa, Fr. Jozo Zovko; yet the latter since 2004 has been relieved of all priestly faculties in the territory of the dioceses of Herzegovina (Vrhbosna, 3/2004, pp.293-298).</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">The Pastoral decision of 23 August 2001 regarding leaders of spiritual retreats and conferences was reaffirmed and expressly emphasized by the Bishop of Mostar-Duvno, Msgr. Ratko Perić in his discourse and invitation given during the Chapter elections on 16 April this year at Humac, where he was officially invited to preside at Holy Mass. On that occasion the Diocesan bishop mentioned the following regarding Medjugorje:</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #274e13;">“1 – The pastoral obstinacy of the pastors and other associates of Medjugorje is quite evident on the ‘Medjugorje’ internet site which bears the title ‘Marian Shrine’. ‘Medjugorje’ is neither a diocesan nor national or international shrine. This status must be acknowledged while the events remain as they stand.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">2 - The obstinacy of the pastors and other associates of Medjugorje is also evident in the their disregard for the circular letter of the Chancery of 2001, which states that priests coming from beyond the areas where the Croatian language is spoken are not to be invited without the express and written permission of the Diocesan Chancery.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">3 - The obstinacy of the pastors and other associates of Medjugorje is evident in that a member of your Province, Fr. Jozo Zovko, who has no priestly faculties and who is forbidden from celebrating any priestly functions in this diocese, has been invited this year to preside at the Way of the Cross in Medjugorje and has been in this regard presented as available for confessions”.</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">The discourse was published in its entirety at the beginning of May this year in the diocesan pastoral monthly (Crkva na kamenu, 5/2007, pp. 33-35).</span></blockquote>
<br />
Fr. Cantalamessa may have thought that necessary permissions were obtained, but took correct actions upon learning he did not have the local Bishop's permission to preach in Medjugorje. Pro-Medjugorje sites often paint the bishop as being mean-spirited for this actions. However, since he has pastoral jurisdiction to ensure that what takes place in Medjugorje is in accordance with Church norms on Marian devotion (which does not include unapproved phenomena), he acted appropriately. Fr. Cantalamessa's appearance would have lent credibility to something not yet deemed worthy of belief by the Church. Further, his appearance with the suspended priest, Fr. Jozo Zovko, OFM would have been scandalous for the Church.<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***</div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-28151548649112796752010-01-03T20:04:00.009-05:002010-01-05T22:05:32.718-05:00January 2, 2010: Statement of Bishop Peric on the visit of Cdl Schonborn to Medjugorje<span style="color: red;"><strong>ENGLISH TRANSLATION NOW AVAILABLE ON OFFICIAL DIOCESAN WEBSITE:</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">- </span><a href="http://bit.ly/8RtBHm"><span style="font-size: large;">Statement regarding the visit of Cardinal Schonborn to Medjugorje</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> (Diocese of Mostar-Duvno)</span><br />
<br />
<hr /><br />
NOTE 1: The english version found below is an unofficial translation, made with the aid of a google translator from both the Croatian and Italian offered at the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno website. It will be replaced with a better version if one becomes available. Please feel free to email me fixes or better translations of specific sentences or paragraphs at TeDeumBlog (at) gmail (dot) com.<br />
<br />
This is in response to Cardinal Schonborn's visit, which does not appear to have been pre-arranged with the local Bishop of Mostar-Duvno, the local Ordinary <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-did-archbishop-bertone-really-say.html">who maintains pastoral responsibility over Medjugorje</a>. <br />
<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=481">Official Statement in Croatian</a></li>
<li><a href="http://cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=483">Official Statement in Italian</a></li>
</ul><br />
NOTE 2: I am adding in some links, which are not in the original, which will take you to the respective online sources. I will also offer additional links at the bottom, which will put some of the things offered by the bishop in perspective. I regret that some of these links, especially those on the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno website, are not available in English, but most often in Croatian and Italian. You may use <a href="http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en">Google Translation tools</a> to get the gist of them.<br />
<br />
Comments bracketed in red are mine....<br />
<br />
<hr /><br />
<br />
<strong>On the occasion of the visit of Cardinal Schonborn to Medjugorje</strong><br />
<strong>January 2, 2010</strong><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Statement<br />
</div><br />
Since the mass media have announced and tracked the public appearance of Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, Archbishop of Vienna in Medjugorje, which has especially given some believers the erroneous impression that the Cardinal’s presence acknowledged the authenticity of the Medjugorje “apparitions” I believe that it is my duty as a diocesan bishop, to provide some information to the faithful, with the observation that I have already sent to the Cardinal in a personal letter with similar content. <br />
<br />
1) First, <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=vienna+cathedral+schonborn+marija+pavlovic&aq=f&oq=&aqi=">some media have spread the news that on September 15, 2009</a>, in the Cathedral of St. Stephen in Vienna, in the presence of His Eminence, Cardinal Schonborn, was held a meeting at which he participated along with Marija Pavlovic-Lunetti, who was presented as a daily “visionary”. With the usual “apparition”, she testified how the daily “apparitions” of June 1981 influenced changes in her life. On this occasion, the Cardinal said in his speech: <em>“It’s a great gift that the Mother of God wants to be so close to her children! This she has shown in many places in the world. And, for many years has shown in a very particular way, nearby in Medjugorje!”</em><br />
<br />
2)<a href="http://www.kath.net/detail.php?id=24539.If">Then, Kath.net – Vienna, on November 13th, 2009 reported</a>, “The Archbishop of Vienna at the end of the year will visit the famous shrine - visit the parish and the Cenacolo community and that there should also be a meeting with the local bishop of Medjugorje and critics. This diocesan Bishop <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/10/june-12-2009-prot-6482009-6492009.html">[or diocesan curia]</a> was not notified by the Archbishop’s office, or by the parish office in Medjugorje <span style="color: red;">[which violates the <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/10/june-12-2009-prot-6482009-6492009.html">directives given to the pastor of St. James recently</a> (12 June 2009.: Prot. 648/2009)]</span><br />
<br />
3) <a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal_schnborns_visit_to_medjugorje_not_a_statement_spokesman_says/">Catholic News Agency published on November 16th</a>: Christoph Schonborn to visit Medjugorje, a small town in Bosnia, where six children were witnesses of the alleged apparitions of the Virgin Mary. But, according to the Archdiocese of Vienna, the trip is “completely private" and does not imply a statement from the cardinal on the veracity of the apparitions. "It was supposed to be a completely private visit and was not supposed to go out to the internet,” according to Fr. Johannes Fürnkranz, the archbishop’s personal secretary.<br />
<br />
4) On December 29th, the Cardinal arrived in Medjugorje. He was followed by the media over the next few days. Reports say that he gave a speech in the church of St. James the Apostle, and noting the mercy of God, said: <em>“Who could make these things up? Who could invent this thing? Man? No, this is not a human act.” </em> <a href="http://crownofstars.blogspot.com/2009/12/cardinal-to-speak-at-medjugorje.html">On December 31st a journalist [blogger] wrote</a>: “While some had expected the cardinal’s visit to Medjugorje to be private, he has instead surprised the town by being very visible. He has spent his time concelebrating Mass at St James Church, climbing Apparition Hill with visionary Marija Lunetti, praying in silence at Adoration, and, perhaps most notably, giving his talk today in the parish church with the Franciscan friars at his side”<br />
<br />
5)In all this I have to admit that I personally, as diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno, remain surprised. I understand that the Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church enjoys the right to profess and preach the Gospel throughout the Catholic Church. But with regard to public appearances outside their own diocese there also exists a certain etiquette in the Church: the bishop or cardinal who intends to come to another diocese publicly, first informs the local bishop, which is encouraged by the Church and by prudence. This understanding in the church and specific caution should be applied especially in this case.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">[I struggled to find an adequate translation for the first half of the first sentence up to the first comma]</span><br />
6)I am surprised because Cardinal Schonborn’s office to the publication of this statement, no one has reported, and assuming that the Cardinal knows the position of the Church, based on the results of the commission's research that no one can say that these are “supernatural apparitions or private revelations.” His visit to Cenacolo and with <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=315">Sr. Elvira, who, by the way, as a religious nun with no permission to reside and operate in the territory of this diocese</a>, could be interpreted as supportive. And, not only her, but a growing number of new communities and disobedient associations of the faithful in Medjugorje, which can be read as an encouragement for their ecclesiastical disobedience. <br />
<br />
7)As the diocesan bishop stated, and I repeat, some painful facts:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>- First of all I note the regrettable “<a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?menuID=36">Herzegovina Case</a>” <span style="color: red;">[which involves the implementation of the decree</span> <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/05/february-20-1999-decree-romanis.html">Romanis Pontificibus</a><span style="color: red;">]</span> on parishes associated with the “phenomenon of Medjugorje” from the very beginning, when the figure which appeared in Medjugorje sided decisively with some disobedient Franciscans. One of them subsequently left the order then the priesthood and the diocesan bishop is accused since then for the disorder.<br />
<br />
- <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?menuID=36">We now have in the Diocese nine former Franciscans</a>, expelled from the Order of Friars Minor by the Superior General, and the Holy See has confirmed the expulsions. Although suspended a divinis they act as lawful priests in parishes usurped. While the supposed figure of Medjugorje gives answers to the most curiously trivial, I hear not a word about the serious abuses that strike at the unity of this local Church.<br />
<br />
- We had a tragic occurrence in 2001 in which some Franciscans - some already suspended from the Order and others not yet suspended, invited a deacon from the Old Catholic Church who identified himself as an ”Archbishop”. More than 700 young people were confirmed in seized parishes. All of these were invalid and sacrilegious. The deacon celebrated invalid Masses, as well, in some parishes. The phenomena of Medjugorje utters not a word about the abuse of the Eucharist and of the Holy Spirit! <br />
</blockquote><blockquote>- We have another sad fact: Two of those priests went to a bishop of the Old Catholic Church in Switzerland with the request to be ordained bishops, in an effort to create a formal schism from Mostar and Rome. The bishop of the Old Catholic Church declined their request. <span style="color: red;">[scroll down to subtitle "Misfortune" in this <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=94">2001 homily</a> to read details of the invalid sacraments. There were other invalid sacraments]</span><br />
<br />
<br />
- We had two separate charismatic promoters and creators of the “Medjugorje phenomenon” : The prominent and <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=228">disobedient <strong>Tomislav Vlasic</strong></a>, who last year was expelled by the Superior General of the Order of Friars - <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/07/fr-tomislav-vlasic-ofm-laicized-by-holy.html">and, by the Holy See, at his request, dispensed of his priestly ministry and obligations</a>; <strong>Fr. Jozo Zovko</strong>, <a href="http://marcocorvaglia.blog.lastampa.it/mcor/2009/07/father-jozo-a-disobedient-franciscan.html">who has been denied priestly faculties in this diocese since 2004</a>, according to newspaper reports, has been withdrawn by his religious superiors from the territory of Herzegovina, and is prohibited from any contact with Medjugorje.<br />
</blockquote><br />
8)The Cardinal is excited by the many confession s in Medjugorje, where the Father’s mercy is manifested. We believe that the mercy of the heavenly Father, as reflected in Medjugorje is also in each and every parish of his diocese, both before and after the phenomenon of Medjugorje. Just look at the long lines of faithful before the confessional in all the parishes, especially for Christmas, for Easter, for holidays, or for Confirmation. Many say these confessions in Medjugorje are strong evidence that the Lady “appears”. According to this conclusion on the numbers making confessions, Our Lady would appear in all our parishes, not just those three people once a year in Medjugorje and the other three every day, in fact most outside of Medjugorje, and apparently in the cathedral in Vienna! All together now: about 40,000 “apparitions”! Indeed, one gets the impression that <a href="http://www.medjugorje.com/medjugorje-america/medjugorje-america/651-apparition-for-july-2-2009-same-time-same-place-in-the-bedroom-at-640-pm.html">some “visionaries” determine where</a> and when the Lady “comes” since the appearance happens <a href="http://www.medjugorje.org/ivanse.htm">when and where they want</a>. Is this not an inadmissible manipulation of Our Lady and the Sacred in general?<br />
<br />
As the diocesan bishop with this statement I want to inform the faithful that the visit of Cardinal Christoph Schonborn does not imply any recognition of the authenticity of the “apparitions” related to Medjugorje. I regret that the Cardinal, with his visit, appearance, and statements, brings something new to the present suffering of the local Church which does not contribute to peace and unity so necessary.<br />
<br />
+Ratko Peric, Bishop <br />
<br />
<hr /><strong>Additional Links:</strong><br />
<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/10/september-26-2009-statement-of-bishop.html"><strong>September 26, 2009 Statement of Bishop Peric</strong></a> (heretical statement attributed to "gospa"; change in Our Lady's birthday by the Medjugorje movement; new list of restrictions, guidelines and prohibitions)</li>
<li><strong>December 12, 2009 Statement of Bishop Peric on "The Great Sign"</strong> (or lack thereof) - only in <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=464">Italian</a> and <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=461">Croatian</a> at this time, <em>but an English translation is coming soon</em>)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=5068">Medjugorje Bishop regrets visit by Austrian Cardinal</a> (CWN)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/otn.cfm?id=588">Medjugorje: the message is unclear, but the differences are obvious</a> (Phil Lawler, CWN)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?id=7627&CFID=10701102&CFTOKEN=17307752">Medjugorje and the Flow of Grace</a> (Catholic Culture)</li>
<li><a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">My Medjugorje homepage with a collection of various documents</a></li>
<li><a href="http://marcocorvaglia.blog.lastampa.it/mcor/2009/08/articles-in-english-version.html">Medjugorje without Mask</a> (extensive English language section of Italian professor/author Marco Corvaglia's research on Medjugorje)</li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<div align="center">***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Medjugorje FAQ's Home Page</a>***<br />
</div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-82895517726502500332009-10-21T05:34:00.003-04:002009-10-21T05:35:53.394-04:00September 26, 2009 Statement of Bishop Ratko Peric - Ordinary of Mostar-DuvnoOn September 26, 2009, the Bishop of Mostar-Duvno (home diocese of Medjugorje) issued a three-part statement. These links will be replaced with links to the diocese of Mostar-Duvno once they are available in English. The sources for Italian and the original Croatian are at the bottom of this post. What is below was translated from the Italian release by Richard Chonak.<br />
<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/10/september-26-2009-medjugorje-phenomenon.html"><strong>In Context of Medjugorje Phenomenon - Part 1</strong></a> (discusses intricate involvement of the now laicized Tomislav Vlasic and the deceased fra Slavko Barbaric in the early years. The includes here, words of heresy attributed to the "gospa")</li>
<li><a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/10/september-26-2009-in-context-of.html"><strong>In the Context of Medjugorje Phenomenon - Part 2</strong></a> (discusses how key players modified the Blessed Virgin Mary's birthday, undermining Church authority in the process, with the Medjugorje movement following, including the annual "Youth Festival")</li>
<li><a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/10/june-12-2009-prot-6482009-6492009.html"><strong>Part 3 (partial) - June 2009 Letters from Bishop to Pastor of St. James and Parochial Vicar</strong></a> (reiterates a list of prohibitions, and iterating new prohibitions).</li>
</ul><strong>Italian at Mostar-Duvno Diocesan Website:</strong><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=418">Il contesto del "fenomeno di Medjugorje", I</a>. </li>
<li><a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=417">Il contesto del "fenomeno di Medjugorje", II.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=416">Il contesto del "fenomeno di Medjugorje", III</a>. </li>
</ul><strong>Original Source original Croatian in the Diocesan Journal</strong><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.cbismo.com/files/file/Vjesnik_2009_2.pdf">Službeni vjesnik, 2/2009</a>. (PDF - large file)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***<br />
</div><br />
</li>
</ul>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-6726819258813288272009-10-02T04:35:00.001-04:002009-10-02T05:43:44.582-04:00September 26, 2009: In Context of Medjugorje Phenomenon - Part 1 - by Bishop Ratko Peric<span style="color: #cc0000;"><strong>The contents of this post originate from an unofficial translation by Richard Chonak at the Catholic Light blog under a post heading:</strong></span> <a href="http://catholiclight.stblogs.org/archives/2009/10/context-of-the.html">Medjugorje Context: Vlasic's involvement -- or: why the "Gospa" is a heretic</a>. My comments are bracketed in red.<br />
<br />
Thanks to Richard's time and work, we have this translation. When <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/07/fr-tomislav-vlasic-ofm-laicized-by-holy.html">the laicization of Tomislav Vlasic</a> was reported by the media some months ago, some sources downplayed the involvement of Vlasic because he has been away from Medjugorje for many years. However, discernment process is concerned with facts and like any case, these facts are often found near the beginning of an event, not decades later. These facts have been there, but perhaps not as readily visible as they are now. <br />
<br />
Keep in mind as you read this, that when the Holy See first <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/08/canonical-sanctions-against-fr-tomislav.html">sanctioned Tomislav Vlasic canonically</a> a year ago - then, still a friar - he was silenced and sent to a monastery as his case was being investigated, <em>"in the context of Medjugorje"</em>. This is what was downplayed, or entirely missed, by some media sources reporting on it. Now, the bishop puts together the puzzle so the picture may be seen.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">*********************<br />
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[This is a translation of a recent <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=418">document from Bishop Ratko Peric</a> of Mostar-Duvno, from the Italian version on his diocesan website. Corrections to the translation are welcome in the comment box <span style="color: #cc0000;">[make those corrections at the original blogpost and I will get them]. </span><br />
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The web page begins with a bare statement of Mr. Tomislav Vlasic's laicization, and proceeds to the bishop's article. --Richard Chonak]<br />
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<blockquote><strong>The bishop's view:</strong><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Vlasic's involvement in the "Medjugorje phenomenon"</strong><br />
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Just as last year, when the Holy See sanctioned the Rev. Vlasic with interdict, warning him of more severe penalties if he would not obey, once again numerous comments have appeared in the mass media to proclaim the non-connection between the "Medjugorje phenomenon" and the "Vlasic case". If in both the letter and in reference to the two more serious penalties there is an explicit reminder of the "Medjugorje phenomenon",[1] in which Tomislav Vlasic in involved, why is there never any connection between the one and the other? We would like to recall just that undeniable connection, from the beginning.<br />
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Tomislav Vlasic, born at Socivi, 16 January 1942, was ordained a priest as a member of the Herzegovinian Franciscan province, 16 July 1969, at Frohleiten, Austria.[2] After ordination he worked for some time as a spiritual assistant at Humac[3] and starting in 1973 as superior of the residence at the Franciscan house in Jablanovac, Zagabria.[4] At the proposal of the provincial superiors, he was canonically named spiritual assistant in the parish of Capljina in 1977,[5] where he remained in service until 17 August 1981, when he moved to Medjugorje, on his own initiative, without any necessary warning and without the approval of the bishop.[6]<br />
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But, according to the Reverend R. Laurentin, the quasi-official historiographer of the "Medjugorje apparitions", the Provincialate gave Fr. Vlasic permission to reside at Medjugorje, all without the knowledge of the Bishop. Fr. Laurentin writes:<br />
<blockquote>"Coming to know of the arrest <em>[of the parish priest --RC]</em> that same day, August 17, Tomislav Vlasic, parish priest from Capljina, went to Medjugorje in order to inform himself and take account of the situation. From there he went immediately to the provincialate, at Mostar, to inform them of the serious situation and the danger that weighed on the parish left without anyone to guide them. The provincial found his observations sensible and his visit providential. He immediately named him to replace the imprisoned parish priest. - Therefore, at the end of the next day, friar Tomislav settled into the presbytery of Medjugorje. For the second time, he contacted the seers, whom he had rapidly questioned on June 29. He became their 'spiritual director' and this would be the title he kept later in the parish....'[7]<br />
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Therefore, by the sixth day after the "apparitions" happened at Medjugorje, and after the arrest of friar Jozo Zovko, 17 August, transferred to the parish of Medjugorje, where the Provincialate "appointed" him parochial vicar. Obviously, the Provincialate cannot appoint him as a parochial vicar, but can only propose him, because it is the Bishop who canonically appoints a parish priest or a chaplain, but again such "appointments" are part of the tragic "Herzegovina case" and the "Medjugorje phenomenon".<br />
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The Provincialate did propose Fr. Vlasic as "spiritual assistant at Medjugorje", only a year later, 19 July 1982, although it could and must have known about the sad "Zagabria case", which had to be resolved in another way. Bishop Zanic, not knowing about Vlasic's moral life and the implications of the "Zagabria affair", sent the decree on 27 July of that year for his transfer and carrying out his activity at Medjugorje.[8]<br />
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Since the year 1981, Fr. Vlasic has been implicated in the events of Medjugorje, accompanying the "seers" and inseparably connected to the "Medjugorje phenomenon", from its beginnings and also in what followed. Or rather, the "Medjugorje phenomenon" was created in a sense , even before its beginning. Already in May 1981, over a month before the beginning of the "apparitions" <br />
<blockquote>"Fr. Vlasic went to Rome for an international congress of leaders of the Charismatic Movement. During the congress he had asked some of those present to pray with him for the healing of the Church in Yugoslavia. A religious, Sister Briege McKenna, who was united with those in prayer, had a vision: she saw Fr. Vlasic seated and surrounded by a great crowd of people facing him, and from the place where he was seated, there flowed rivers of water. Another religious there, Fr. Emile Tardiff, OP, said in prophecy, "Do not be afraid, I will send you my Mother." After a couple of weeks, the Madonna began to appear in Medjugorje." [9]<br />
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And above all he has been involved in the "Medjugorje phenomenon" after having been proposed by his Superiors in July 1982 and having been approved and appointed by the Bishop as chaplain of Medjugorje. Here are written proofs.<br />
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<strong>Friar Tomislav Vlasic and Friar Slavko Barbaric tell the seers what they are to say to the people.</strong> In the <em>Chronicle of the apparitions</em>, prepared then by friar Tomislav Vlasic, we read:<br />
<blockquote>21. VIII. 1982. (Saturday). In the morning friar Tomislav and friar Slavko spoke with the seers. The conversation turned toward the direction of the edification of themselves as persons, and toward indicating their role in the context of these events, especially in regard to their authority, which they must not put at risk in responding to all the questions, but direct the people to the way of conversion and waiting for the promises of God."<br />
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<em>--Two Franciscans want to indicate the role of the "seers", that they must not put their own authority at risk in responding to all the questions, but speak of "conversion" and "waiting for the promises of God", because they won't make any mistakes that way; at least that is compatible with the real Madonna!</em><br />
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<strong>"The seers must not make statements without informing us." </strong>In the Chronicle of 12 April 1984. Vlasic wrote:<br />
<blockquote>"Today I spoke with all the seers. I brought to their attention again the necessity of not releasing statements to anyone without informing us."<br />
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<em>-- This means that he is to control, verify, approve, and announce what is true and what is false in the "messages of the Gospa". The censor of the "messages of the Gospa"! What an interference in the "Medjugorje phenomenon"!</em><br />
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<strong>A grave theological error. </strong>In spite of Vlasic, who was illicitly at Medjugorje, a notorious theological heresy showed up, which he had already written down in the <em>Chronicle</em>, 6 May 1982, getting it sincerely from the "seers": <br />
<blockquote>"This evening the young people posed a theological question and received the answer. <em>Are people in heaven present with their souls, or with the soul and the body?</em> - they asked. <em>They are present with the soul and with the body</em> - that was their answer."<br />
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<em>-- All of us profess the Catholic faith that the resurrection of the body (resurrectio mortuorum) will be at the Last Judgment, and Fr. Vlasic takes down the fable of the "seers" of Medjugorje: not only Jesus and the Madonna, as we believe in the Catholic Church, but also all the other saved persons in heaven "with the soul and the <strong>body</strong>"! And he leaves that in the official Chronicle, with no other observation! This means that even he is not clear about this Catholic dogma, and that after 13 years of preaching on the Nicene Creed at Humac, Jablanovac, Capljina, and Medjugorje. No wonder that last year the Congregation indicated he should take the elementary course on theology and pronounce the profession of faith, on the approval of the Holy See!</em><br />
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<strong>"The apparition" of Medjugorje praises the work of Vlasic. </strong>In Vicka's diary manuscript of 28 February 1982, the alleged apparition greatly praised the work of Vlasic as a guide to the "seers". Vicka's literal text: <br />
<blockquote>"I and Jacov were there. The Gospa came at 6, 3 minutes, she looked kindly at us. Then the Gospa spoke about Tomislav, first she looked at him, and then said: "you can thank Tomislav very much because he is guiding you so well."[10]<br />
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<em>-- The one who is illicitly at Medjugorje, and is directing everything so well, and -- directing everyone to follow him. And the "Gospa of Medjugorje" praises and approves it all!</em><br />
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<strong>"The apparition" recommends Vlasic as a spiritual teacher.</strong> He himself writes in the <em>Chronicle of the apparitions</em>, 5 March 1984, speaking of Ivan Dragicevic:<br />
<blockquote>"The Gospa expressed the desire and recommended, after his request for advice, to finish his upper levels and after that she would show him what to do. She also told him to entrust himself to friar Tomislav Vlasic to guide him spiritually."[11]<br />
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<em>The one who, furthermore -- either one of them -- have acted without regard to the "message" of the "apparition" of Medjugorje! Friar Tomislav talks to the "seer" Ivan, Ivan talks to friar Tomislav, and then the whole thing is attributed to the Blessed Virgin.</em><br />
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<strong>Vlasic accompanies the seers according to "divine providence".</strong> In the letter of 13.IV.1984, he presents himself to the Pope as the one who "through Divine Providence guides the seers of Medjugorje". He reports that "the Madonna continues to recount her life to the seers" and informs the Pope:<br />
<blockquote>"I will be in Rome from 19 April to 10 May for an international meeting. I know that you are very busy, but if you can receive me for a few minutes, I will be able to tell you about the main points of the apparitions."[12]<br />
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<em>--The Pope did not receive him.</em><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Barbaric on Vlasic</strong><br />
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On the role and the connection of Vlasic with the "Medjugorje phenomenon" even from the beginnings, how he "channeled" the apparitions and events, another disobedient person of Medjugorje has testified, in a better way, writing chronologically: the propagandist of the "apparitions" and myth-maker of the events, friar Slavko Barbaric. <br />
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<strong>Appointment by the bishop and then the request that friar Slavko leave Medjugorje. </strong>The Provincialate proposed Rev. Barbaric as parochial vicar of Medjugorje in the letter of 16 August 1984. Bishop Zanic approved the Tabula the same day and the transfer of Barbaric.[13] But the bishop, on 3 January 1985, writes to the Provincialate, "I ask you to transfer friar Slavko Barbaric from Medjugorje to another position. He at Medjugorje, on the very important questions regarding the alleged "apparitions" of the Madonna is making propaganda in a way completely opposed to the directions I have given many times orally and in writing."[14]<br />
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<strong>The desire of the "Gospa" for friar Slavko to remain at Medjugorje.</strong> The apparitional "phenomenon", however, intervenes, expresses the "desire" that friar Slavko stay at Medjugorje to guide things and collect the information so that after the visit of her "apparitions" a synoptic image may remain of what has happened. In the Chronicle of the apparitions friar Slavko personally wrote this "message" sent to himself:<br />
<blockquote>"3 February 1985. (Sunday) The vision came suddenly. Shorter this evening than in some days, just 2 minutes. Marija, Ivan, and Jakov were present. The message was for friar Slavko, as promised in the vision yesterday. It was given by Ivan. It went as follows: "I would like that Slavko remain here, and attend to all the details and the notes so that at the end of my visit we will have a synoptic image of everything. I am praying especially for Slavko at this time and for all those who work in the parish." [15]<br />
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<em>-- It is well known that such a "synoptic image" was a typical Medjugorean daydream of friar Slavko, because he died on 25 November 2000, while the apparition has not ceased to multiply, even nine years now after his death, and as things stand, the apparitions of Medjugorje will have no end! An image truly a-synoptic [a-sinottica], not synoptic.</em><br />
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<strong>Vlasic "channels" the "apparitions".</strong> Here is what Barbaric wrote in the Chronicle of the apparitions of 1984,[16], which needs to be read in the light of what the Holy See decided in regard to Vlasic during 2008-2009. After the departure of Vlasic from Medugorje, friar Slavko Barbaric wrote that he remained in Medjugorje in the hope that he too would be "chosen according to divine providence" to continue to guide what had become a "tradition". <br />
<blockquote>"2.IV.1984 (Sunday) I cannot fail to mention what happened today. Friar Tomislav Vlasic has been transferred. He said his goodbyes during the high Mass. The whole church was moved to tears, and with reason. Tomislav remains a luminous figure in the history of these apparitions. He was truly prophetic and courageous to come after the imprisonment of friar Jozo Zovko and carry on his work. How much work and fatigue he invested, how much pastoral prudence and prayer, no one could count it all. The grace of God chose him and sent him. He responded and worked. With his pastoral and spiritual experience he channeled this great fountain which welled up on the day of the apparitions. Also wise, full of the Spirit of God he has guided the seers, the parish, and the pilgrims. Despite all the positive activity every day he had to combat the attacks and dangers ready to destroy what was happening at Medjugorje. He knew prophetically to foresee events, read the situation, and move ahead. I am a witness like no one else, because I was here 13 months with him together in this place. In his case, we speak of wisdom and dedication. And in the most difficult moments he remained calm.<br />
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And at the more serious attacks, coming from inside and outside, he responded with dignity. He was always ready to support more difficult sacrifices, so that the things of God could advance. Just when I recall all the attacks on the part of the Curia, I have sufficient reason to say: the deportment of Tomislav, the answers and the behavior in the face of the bishop, the prayers and fasting despite denigrations, are one of the proofs that she is - the Queen of peace.<br />
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He often repeated. if anyone is disturbed, I'll be ready to get out of the way, because that's for the glory of God. When he knew about the transfer he reacted with calm: I am ready, in humility, to accept every decision and every decree. All of us in the house reacted with emotion. And Tomislav knew, as we all knew, that our Superiors were moving him at the request of the Bishop. It is difficult to say how unjust this request is: one thing is certain - the intention is to punish Tomislav and shut down everything that happened here.<br />
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He is already at Vitina. We hope he will be able to come and continue to work in the extraordinary plan of God and collaborate with our Gospa, who is slowly but surely revealing her plan.<br />
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I am profoundly convinced, and this is also my prayer: that the Gospa, who in so many messages has made people know to count on her, with impart the grace of love and more profound peace!<br />
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With reason Fr. Laurentin said: friar Tomislav, the diligent gardener has cultivated and guided the new people of God.<br />
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I remain here, I hope to be chosen in the providence of God to continue what has become a tradition. If I am not sure that God is guiding these events, this evening I will be without fear and trepidation before the great responsibility. I will continue to labor with the groups of pilgrims and with individuals to inform them about the message and development of the events here at Medjugorje. I know that was much more secure while Tomislav was here continually. But may God's will be done. That's how the Gospa's plan will be fulfilled. That the thing will not happen without our sacrifice, prayer, and fasting, that is clear above all. I learned from my dear brother Tomislav and experienced concretely what it means to let yourself be guided and be ready to work as long as God wants. And as well, I know the other friars are ready as are the sisters.<br />
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Today friar Petar Ljubicic arrived. He loves Medjugorje, loves the Gospa, and that's enough.<br />
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Amen. So be it!"<br />
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<em>-- From this statement and from the subsequent events some clear facts follow, in plain terms:</em><br />
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First, <em>friar Tomislav Vlasic does not remain "a luminous figure in the history of these apparitions", but a shadowy figure, "a myth-maker [mistificatore] and charismatic magus" as Bishop Zanic called him.[17] and finally the Holy See dismissed him from religious life and reduced him to the lay state warning him of excommunication if he does not obey the precepts issued up to now. The gravest sanction for a priest. </em><br />
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Second,<em> he spiritually and pastorally "channeled" all these "apparitions", as his colleague friar Slavko put it in his inspired and accurate way; he controlled it, he created myths. created fantasies, always glorified himself, and even perjured himself before the Bishop.</em><br />
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Third, <em>the "attacks" of the Bishop are founded on facts and canonically justified. And the "denigrations" of which friar Slavko writes are the sad facts, easily demonstrable about T. Vlasic because of his double life.[18] All these sad truths were known also to the Superiors and to the same friar Slavko Barbaric, and yet he speaks of denigrations!</em><br />
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Fourth,<em> the thought of R. Laurentin, quasi-official historian of the "phenomena" of Medjugorje from 1983 to 1997, according to whom Vlasic was a "gardener who cultivated and guided the new people of God", is shown to be completely out of place in the light of the statement of Holy See on Vlasic, accused of "spreading dubious doctrines, manipulating consciences, suspect mysticism, disobedience to legitimate orders, and violations against the sixth commandment." If you understand that this does not only refer to his time in Italy, since he regularly and systematically came to Medjugorje, to his big house whose construction the Franciscan fathers, through the parish priest of Medjugorje, approved in 1994, and where he directed retreats in which he not only "manipulated consciences", but also called upon spirits! The Curia of his community have received proof.[19]</em><br />
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Fifth, friar Slavko wants to continue the work of friar Tomislav, to "channel" things according to his own intentions. He too, like Vlasic, will be praised by the "apparitions of Medjugorje". He too is convinced of being chosen by the providence of God. And now: how can you prove to such fanatics that they are "false prophets"! <br />
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<div class="asset-more" id="more"><blockquote><br />
[NOTE: The titles in the references have been translated where possible. --RC.]<br />
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[1] The whole case has been presented in the <em>Official Bulletin</em> of the dioceses of Herzegovina, 2/2008, pp. 79-81.<br />
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[2] Ž. ILIĆ, <em>The Church in Herzegovina</em>, Duvno 1974, p. 82-83.<br />
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[3] <em>General Overview of the Catholic Church in Yugoslavia</em>, Zagreb, 1975, p. 398.<br />
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[4] <em>The Christian people and the Franciscans in Herzegovina,</em> Mostar, 1977, p. 202.<br />
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[5] <em>Letter of the diocesan curia</em>, no. 638/1977, 19 August 1977.<br />
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[6] <em>Official Bulletin,</em> 2/2008., p. 80.<br />
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[7] R. Laurentin, <em>Reports and messages of the apparations of Medjugorje</em> Brescia 1987, p. 90.<br />
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[8] <em>Letter of the curia confirming the Tabula</em>, no. 711/82, 27.VII.1981. In the accompanying note Bishop Zanic writes regarding the parochial vicar at parrocchiale di Međugorje, Fr. Vlašić: "You need to be attentive to the further development of events in the parish of Medjugorje You have shown the hope that the new vicar in the parish of Medjugorje will make, if things are clarified, purified, and overseen. It is necessary to sustain and pursue your work in this sense.".<br />
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[9] <em>Official Bulletin</em>, 2/2008, p. 80, quoting from Rooney - R. Faricy, <em>Mary the queen of peace</em>, Milano, 1984, p. 34. See also P. Žanić, <em>Current (non-official) position of the episcopal curia of Mostar on the events of Međugorje</em>, Mostar, 30. X. 1984, pp. 6-7.<br />
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[10] V. Ivanković, <em>The third diary, handwritten manuscript, copy in the diocesan curia of Mostar.</em><br />
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[11] S. Barbarić (handwritten), <em>Chronicle of the apparitions,</em> p. 747. Copy in the curia.<br />
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[12] Letter from T. Vlasic to the Holy Father, 13 aprile 1984, in italian. Cf. <em>Ogledalo Pravde</em>, p. 56, with a photocopy of part of the letter.<br />
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[13] Letter of the diocesan Curia to the Provincialate, no. 857/84, 16 August 1984. <br />
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[14] Letter of the diocesan Curia to the Provincialate, nr. 1/85, 3 January 1985.<br />
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[15] S. Barbarić (handwritten), <em>Chronicle of the apparitions</em>, vol. III, p. 247. Laurentin changed this "message" of the apparition regarding the guide of the parish: :"I desire that Fr. Slavko remain here, he who is guiding the parish and keeping the records, so that when I am no longer coming, a more complete image of everything that has taken place. In this moment I pray especially for Fr. Slavko and for all those who are working in this parish" - R. Laurentin, <em>Latest News</em>, 3 (1985) in French: pp. 25-26; In Italian: pp. 29-30; <em>Ogledalo Pravde</em>, str. 59. <br />
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[16] S. BARBARIĆ (handwritten), <em>Chronicle of the apparitions</em>, vol. III, pp. 3-6.<br />
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[17] P. Žanić, <em>Current (non-official) position...</em>, 30. X. 1984, p. 22.<br />
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[18] It suffices to have a look at the "correspondence" of Vlašić, published several times; copies are already on file in the Curia From Zagreb, 7. XII. 1976; from Zagreb, 9. I. 1977; from Međugorje, 15. XII. 1981; from Krapanj, 15. V. 1982; from Dubrovnik, 15. V. 1983.<br />
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[19] <em>Official Bulletin</em>, 2/208, p. 81.<br />
</blockquote></div><strong>Additional Links:</strong> <br />
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- Two Letters made public on September 29, 2009 in Part 3 of the three-part statement: <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/10/june-12-2009-prot-6482009-6492009.html">June 12, 2009: Prot. 648/2009 - 649/2009: Letters from Bishop Peric to Pastor and Parochial Vicar at St. James in Medjugorje</a> <br />
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<div align="center">***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***<br />
</div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-16060753733812097082009-10-02T00:02:00.000-04:002009-10-17T06:35:47.234-04:00September 26, 2009: In Context of Medjugorje Phenomenon - Part 2 - by Bishop Ratko PericTaken from Catholic Light where Richard Chonak posted his translation.<br />
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</div><div class="asset-content entry-content"><br />
</div><div class="asset-body">[I'm continuing to present an English version of Bp. Peric's three-part article <strong>"The context of the Medjugorje phenomena".</strong> This translation is based on the <a href="http://cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=417">Italian version</a> of the article on his diocesan website. In this portion, Bishop Peric describes the episode in which the alleged "messages from the Gospa", written down by friar Tomislav Vlasic, spoke about the date of the Blessed Virgin's birthday.]<br />
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<strong>Vlasic's fantasies about the birthday of the Gospa</strong><br />
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The Catholic Church, following the <em>Liber Pontificalis</em>, has celebrated the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary since the seventh century, in the times of Pope Sergius I (687-701); and in the East, at Constantinople, several decades earlier.<br />
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According to the <em>Chronicle of the apparitions of the parish of Medjugorje</em>, in the "visions" - as Vlasic regularly calls them - the alleged apparition says that the 2000th birthday of the Madonna was 5 August 1984. The chaplain at the time, friar Tomislav Vlasic, sent that invention to the Pope in Rome and to Bishop Zanic in Mostar. Here is how the matter reads in the <em>Chronicle</em> maintained by Vlasic. But let us turn back three years to see how the nativity was celebrated and how the date changed.<br />
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<strong>Birthday greetings,</strong> 8 September 1981. There are two different official reports, from Vlasic and Laurentin. Vlasic, in the <em>Chronicle</em>, writes: <br />
<blockquote>"Visions: the seers had the encounter with the Gospa. Little Jakov wished her a happy birthday. She was overjoyed, saying it was one of the happiest days for her. She exhorted the seers to perseverance in faith and in prayer.<br />
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R. Laurentin, "historian" of the Medjugorje phenomena, reports differently on the same event. <br />
<blockquote><em>Birthday of the Gospa</em>. On 8 September, the feast of the Nativity, the Virgin appears with the child Jesus, and fittingly in Jakov's house. Again, Vicka speaks familiarly, extending her hand: "Dear Gospa, I wish you a happy birthday", The Madonna takes her offered hand, but Vicka does not dare to do the same, and Jakov, confused by her audacity, asks her not to speak about it.<br />
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<em>But she tells it all to Laurentin, and he tells it in his book! [1]</em><br />
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<strong>Birthday greetings</strong>,<br />
<blockquote>8.IX.1982 (Wednesday). Mirjana and Ivica [Ivanka] are missing from the seers. The others have already met. They had a vision. The Gospa was particularly solemn. There were no particular messages.<br />
</blockquote><em>Therefore on 8 September in 1981 and 1982 the "Gospa of Medjugorje" regularly celebrates her birthday as the whole Catholic Church celebrates the feast of her Birth into this world. She was even "overjoyed". The following year also, the recurrence will continue to be characterized by the splendor of the solemnity and the joy of the birthday. As we see:</em><br />
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<strong>The Gospa's birthday:</strong><br />
<blockquote>"8. IX. 1983 (Thursday). Four seers had a vision. They say that the Gospa was particularly solemn and happy. She did not have any special messages."<br />
</blockquote><em>For the Nativity of 1983, the Gospa maintained the solemn clothing of the preceding year, but there were no wishes from the "seers". Evidently something is being prepared behind the curtain on part of the "apparition of Medjugorje" and on part of the "seers of Medjugorje" and on part of the "myth-maker" [mistificatore] Tomislav Vlasic. We can see what Vlasic writes:</em><br />
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<strong>The birthday of the Gospa is not the day of the Nativity,</strong> but the 5th of August, Our Lady of the Snows. Friar Tomislav writes: <br />
<blockquote>"28. V. 1984 (Monday). Today father Bishop Zanic visited. He took with him the last part of the Diary of Jelena and of Marjana Vasilj. Also, he took the message of the Gospa given to Jelena for him, for the Holy Father, and for the Christian public, that the 2000th birthday of the Gospa is 5.08.1984. (See the document sent to the bishop).<br />
</blockquote><em>Let us quickly recall that in that document of the same day, the following is written:</em> <br />
<blockquote>"She said:' Those who feel a little love for me on that day, let them not go to school, or work, or anywhere. They should take up the rosary and recite it."<br />
</blockquote><em>Besides, what day was it: Sunday, and nobody had to go to school!</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The Bishop rejected the message <em>a priori;</em> he doesn't believe in it. He forbade me orally to talk about it, and said he would also forbid it in writing. He would make sure the message went with the other material to the Congregation.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
When I asked him to understand our pastoral co-workers could not be indifferent to the messages that asked the people to convert, he said approximately this: "The Gospa is not appearing here. I don't accept that duty... no one is obligated to believe in private apparitions...." The bishop had a thousand reasons to not believe. And no reason moved him to believe. That's how he acted.<br />
<br />
I asked him to have someone from the Commission interview and study the phenomena about Jelena. (Jelena has been seeing the Gospa for a year and a half and neither the bishop nor any member has spoken with her!) He gestured with his hand, saying that there are hundreds of such seers. I asked him again to speak with all the seers. since they are making great events known soon. He responded that he has nothing more to discuss with them.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<em>There is the solemn announcement of the Gospa's birthday, for the 5. VIII. 1984. If therefore the 2000th birthday of the Gospa of Medjugorje was in 1984, that means that she had 16 years before the beginning of the new era, i.e., before Christ. She would have been about 16 years old when she brought Jesus Christ into the world. And since according to the current historical documents, the birth of Jesus, the Birth of Jesus took place between the 7th and 6th years "before Christ", that means that we have to subtract those 6-7 years from the age of the Gospa. According to this fantasy of Medjugorje, the Gospa would have to have borne a son at the age of 9 to 10 years. But the fanatics of Medjugorje are ready to believe in even more incredible inventions!</em><br />
<br />
We cannot overlook the very clear and decisive attitude of the local bishop Pavao Zanic, who absolutely does not believe in the "apparitions", who was quick to take upon himself the responsibility for what he declared, who had "a thousand reasons" to not believe, and no reason compelling him to believe in the fables of the "seers" and their myth-maker of Medjugorje. A truly courageous bishop![2]<br />
<br />
But in regard to Vlasic here there is not one, but there are two points:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>There is an expectation for the Church to approve the birthday of the Gospa or that Heaven will arrange for it.</strong> <br />
<blockquote>14.VI.11984 (Thursday). 6. We are not proclaiming the declaration message of the 2000th birthday of the Gospa for now, as long as ecclesiastical authority does not approve it, or until Heaven provides that the day be evidently prepared.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>However, ecclesiastical authority has not approved it , either then or now. Yet the apparition of Vlasic has already asked that the 2000th birthday of the Gospa be celebrated in a particular way.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The special preparation for the birthday.</strong> <br />
<blockquote>27. VII. 1984. (Friday). The seers saw the vision together. There were no special messages. Ivan had the vision this evening in the place of the apparitions. The vision took place at 22:30. The Gospa said this: "I continue to wish to remain with my chosen ones in the church, to spread the Good News here through them..." (The desire of the Gospa refers to the intention of Bishop Zanic to remove the seers from the church). Be at peace in this time and do not be upset, since my son Jesus is working strongly in this parish and in the people who come here..." The Gospa, says Ivan, said that for her 2000th birthday, that is, 5 August 1984, we should prepare in particular. She asked that in these days people pray and abstain, that they receive Holy Communion on Sundays with a pure heart, because Jesus must work in people. Ivan reported that the Gospa said that there will be conversions and signs among the people.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>The "Gospa of Medjugorje" goes directly against the directives of the bishop; both that the seers and their apparitions be removed from the church, and in that the fantasy about the change to the liturgical birthday of the Madonna was being spread. After the intervention of the Bishop, however, a week prior to the alleged birthday, no statement was made from the altar. The chronicler Vlasic writes:</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Nevertheless, without the announcement.</strong> <br />
<blockquote>"We did not announced the birthday of the Gospa (2000th) for the 5. VIII. since the bishop forbade it. We only exhorted the people so that the day, the first Sunday - Sunday of reconciliation, would be a true day of reconciliation."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>The apparition of Vlasic obeyed the directive of the bishop, but only tactically. He said, "there is to be no mention from the alter on account of the bishop", in order not to irritate him.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>No mention from the altar. </strong><br />
<blockquote>"30. VII. 1984 (Monday). Ivan had the vision again at the place of the apparitions at 22:00. The prayer group was with him, some Sisters, and people, and myself," writes Vlasic. "The apparition lasted 15 minutes. At one point, Ivan said that the Gospa said that everyone should present his problems and wants in silence. Everyone prayed in silence. After the apparition Ivan told me that the Gospa said that there should not be any mention of the 2000th birthday from the altar on account of the bishop, but that the people should be urged to conversion and prayer. He said that she asked the youth of the parish specially to pray more. She also said that her son Jesus was bringing people here by Himself.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<em>Nonetheless, the "apparition" of Medjugorje and its myth-maker Vlasic, violating ecclesiastical directives, "privately" will celebrate the "birthday" of the alleged Gospa who was "unusually happy", and because of the private wishes, "bloomed with happiness".</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The first non-liturgical 2000th "birthday" feast.</strong> <br />
<blockquote>5. VIII. 1984 (Sunday) All five of the seers had the vision in common. They say that the Gospa was very happy, uncommonly so. She had particular words for the individual seers. To Marija: "Pray! Open your heart to me and ask. I pray to my son Jesus that he will grant graces. Pray with faith." We wished her a happy birthday. She blooming with happiness."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>It is apparent also that Vlasic, the promoter, propagandist, and myth-maker of the Medjugorje phenomena, has formed his "apparitions" in the visions of the "seers" according to his contumacy, duplicity, and myth-making. Publicly no, privately yes!</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Preparations for the non-liturgical feast of the "birthday". </strong>Friar Slavko Barbaric writes: <br />
<blockquote>"30. VII. 1985 (Tuesday). This evening the vision was on the mountain. Present: Marija, Ivan, and VIcka. Marija says that the Gospa asked for much more prayer for the "birthday".<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>Evidently for the new invented birthday, 5 August.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Continue - at any cost!</strong> Friar Slavko continues: <br />
<blockquote>"1. VIII, 1985. (Thursday). A lot of people are asking me for news about my transfer. So far none of us has a fitting response. We all feel that something should be done, but we don't know what to do. In any case we need to carry on with the work at Medjugorje, at any cost. We can't be unfaithful."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>Even at the cost of ecclesiastical disobedience. Friar Slavko has personally demonstrated this to me, because he did not want to leave Medjugorje, even at the cost of losing his faculties for hearing confessions. He died in this stubborn disobedience.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The "birthday" is celebrated regardless</strong>. Fr. Barbaric notes in the Chronicle: <br />
<blockquote>"2.VIII.1985 (Friday). According to the pilgrims the nearness of the feast of the Gospa. Last year the birthday of the Gospa was already announced. It was celebrated in prayer and fasting. This time nothing was said about it. The faithful are arriving."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>Nothing was said from the altar, but in private it was spoken of, spread abroad, promoted. Why else would "the faithful arrive"?</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The people have not forgotten!</strong> <br />
<blockquote>" 4.VIII.1985. (Sunday). Today there are so many people and pilgrims because last year the Gospa said through Jelena, that it was her 2000th birthday. A year has passed, and we cannot say a word about it, and the people have not forgotten. They love their Mother, and this is moving!"<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>These are the moving words of friar Slavko Barbaric! "They could not say a word". referring to words "from the altar". All the other channels remained available.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The second "birthday" celebration.</strong> Fr. Barbaric writes: <br />
<blockquote>"5.VIII.1985 (Monday). - 2001st BIRTHDAY. The vision was in my rooms.. Marija, Ivan, and Vicka were present. It lasted 4 minutes. There were no particular messages. They described the apparition as very solemn. She called for joy and happiness and blessed us solemnly. A fact to return to: it is the BIRTHDAY of the Gospa. We had nothing about it from the altar. Others spoke about it during the Mass. This was in obedience to the bishop. We are not sure if one day the history of the apparitions of Medjugorje will praise us. But, you see, we are justified in obedience, for the sake of not provoking worse consequences and attacks, which surely there will no shortage of. It's a sad fact, but so it is.Yet the people of God has responded in their way. Hundreds and thousands have arrived yesterday and today and for hours, they have prayed and sung, and made confessions. All just to wish their Mother a happy birthday. It is a consoling fact. Without announcements, publicity, or propaganda, the people hears and sees, feels and responds to the call. What a chance for the Church. But in this moment we are still blind men. At the end of the Mass three of the seers recited the Magnificat and we all responded with "Alleluia". Mary, thank you for being here for us!"<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>The "apparition" happened in Friar Slavko's rooms: a solemn apparition, solemn joy, solemn blessing! Both times he wrote BIRTHDAY in capital letters. Friar Slavko obeys the bishop! He doesn't speak from the altar, but other people speak from the altar! He justifies himself with "obedience" for the sake of not provoking worse consequences. "It's a sad fact!" And the people of God knows the response! Hundreds and thousands yesterday and today, give the Mother their birthday wishes" "It's a consoling fact!" Friar Slavko cheers himself up like a child because he is innovating the anti-liturgical birthday of the "Gospa of Medjugorje", because he is making a double play, because through the apparition he is manipulating human consciences! And he has left it all for us in writing.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>No mention of the liturgical celebration of the Nativity, 1985,</strong> <br />
<blockquote>"8. IX. 1985. (Sunday) Nativity of Mary. The vision was in the cellar. Marija and Jakov present. It was very brief, not even a minute. But some results were obtained." (This alludes to the experiment that was made.)<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>There is no mention that the Gospa was solemn for her liturgical birthday as in 1981, in 1982, in 1983. The "apparition" of Medjugorje has abolished the birthday of the Madonna by means of the fables of the "seers" and the fantasies of Friars Tomislav and Slavko.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>What happened for the Nativity in 1986?</strong> <br />
<blockquote>"8.IX.1986. (Monday). The apparition was in our rooms. Present: Marija Pavlovic and Jakov Colo. This evening the apparition was filmed by the TV team from the BBC. The leader of the charismatic renewal of the German protestant church was present." <br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>The Nativity and the liturgical celebration of Our Lady's birthday are not mentioned, but the presence of the German protestant charismatic renewal leader is mentioned. Symptomatic!</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The third celebration of the "birthday":</strong> The "Gospa" wants people to look forward to her birthday with her. <br />
<blockquote>"3.VIII.1987. (Monday). Many pilgrims are here, especially Italians. They are arriving for the birthday of the Gospa."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>And the next day?</strong> <br />
<blockquote>"4.VIII.1987. Marija and Ivan were here for the apparition. It lasted about 4 minutes. They said that the Gospa wanted people to look forward with her to her birthday. A lot of people stayed on the Hill of the apparitions all night because of this."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>And on the day itself?</strong> <br />
<blockquote>"5.VIII.1987. Exactly at midnight between August 4 and 5, there was an apparition on the Hill of the Apparitions. Many people were there. The seers reported that the Gospa was very joyful on account of the multitude of the people and she called anew for holiness and for living out the messages."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>"And yet it moved!" The paraliturgical birthday is being introduced. The people come together more and more. and everything is leading up to the youth festival on 5 August, to "give our Mother birthday wishes". We'll talk about that more ahead.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>What about the Immaculate Conception?</strong> Bishop Zanic asked about this in 1984.[3] Here's what friar Tomislav Vlasic said about it: <br />
<blockquote>"8. XII. 1983 (Thursday). The five seers had a vision in common. The Gospa was dressed solemnly, as always on the great solemnities." <br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>If the "apparition" of Medjugorje is changing the birthday of the real Madonna, which is celebrated on 8 September, then this "apparition" would have to also change the date of her Immaculate Conception, and in consequence transfer it from December 8 to November 5, to agree in some way with the liturgical date of the birthday. She was born, supposedly, on the 5th of August, in the 16th year B.C., which means that she would have been born after less than 8 months' gestation.</em> <br />
<br />
<em>The Church has not accepted any of the "apparitions" of Medjugorje, the messages, the birthday, the biography, the secrets, the great signs, and has officially proclaimed that on the basis of all the canonical commissions of inquiry, it is not possible to affirm that this is a matter of "supernatural apparitions or revelations."</em><br />
<br />
<em>It is worth noting that in the context of the invented "birthday", August 5, the "Mladifast" began to be organized, the Youth Festival at Medjugorje at the start of that month. Young people came from around the world to give the Gospa birthday greetings! Here is how it all happened, according to the </em>Chronicle of the apparitions:<br />
<br />
</blockquote></div><div class="asset-content entry-content"><br />
</div><div class="asset-content entry-content"><br />
</div><div class="asset-more" id="more"><blockquote><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>The youth festival in honor of the invented "birthday of the Gospa"</strong><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
The "Mladifest" or "Festival of the young" was first organized 20 years ago without the knowledge or approval of the local bishop. Evidently it was first organized on the basis of the imaginary alleged birthday of the Gospa on August 5, and then on the supposed "message of the Gospa" in the "year of the young" (1988-1989), and then as an observance of the "Gospa's birthday"[4] at Medjugorje, of which friar Slavko Barbaric writes expressively, as wehave seen and will see in the following.<br />
<br />
Let us start from the "messages" of the "Gospa of Medjugorje". Friar Slavko writes, as parochial vicar of Humac and chronicler of Medjugorje:<br />
<br />
<strong>The first meeting of young people.</strong> <br />
<blockquote>"5.VIII.1989. (Saturday). At 18:00 perpetual adoration was begun in the Kovacica cemetery chapel, organized by the youth. Tomorrow the novena to tthe Gospa starts with many young people, because the year of the young is ending, requested by the Gospa on the feast of the Assumption in 1988, at the end of the Marian Year."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>What kind of abuse of the liturgy is it, that "perpetual adoration" is organized in the Kovacica cemetery chapel? Who got that idea into his head, and with what permission and ecclesiastical approval?</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>From the text we can deduce that this "adoration was organized by the young people"; that there were "many young people"; that this was at the end of the "year of the young"; that, at the end of the Marian Year (1987-1988), the "apparition" of Medjugorje expressly requested to undertake a "year of the young"; that, according to the Chronicle, it lasted from the Assumption Day 1988 to Assumption 1989.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The second meeting of young people, 1990. </strong>"Friar Tomislav Vlasic directed the whole week," we read under the date of 30 July 1990. At the end of the "festival" under the date of 6 August is written: <br />
<blockquote>"At 14:00 the organizers met with Friar Tomislav Vlasic and Slavko. We decided to take the same week (next year). Some topics were proposed. We decided to publish a detailed program at the end of the year. We feel the need to continue with these meetings, because they are important. Seminars will be offered before the Festival by the organizers."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>It does not make sense that Friar Tomislav, who has not been in Herzegovina since 1987, and who comes from Italy, not only is directly involved in the "Medjugorje phenomenon" again in 1990, but is so familiar with the Franciscan community of Medjugorje that he personally directs the whole week and the "youth festival".</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The third meeting of young people, 1991. </strong>The <em>Chronicle of the apparitions,</em> maintained since 1991 by Fr. Barbaric, alias a chaplain at Humac, remained blank, without entries from 25 July to 5 August. Under the date of 6 August 1991 in the <em>Chronicle</em> is written: <br />
<blockquote>"Many young people stayed all night attending the Mass. At 5:15 we began to sing litanies and "We have come to you, dear Mother". Friar Tomislav Vlasic presided at the Mass. He exhorted us about the Cross, peace, and transfiguration. Concelebrants: 21. Many of our people, and all together circa 1500-2000. Friar Leonardo again directed a word to all the young people, inviting them to live in peace and spread it to others. Then we all recited the Credo and seven Our Fathers. We distributed three large loaves, a sign of communion."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>Again in 1991 Friar Tomislav Vlasic, participant in the events of Medjugorje, presides at the final Mass and takes the principal role in the closing ceremony.<br />
<br />
</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>The fourth meeting of young people, 1992.</strong> Friar Slavko Barbaric writes: <br />
<blockquote>"5.VIII.1992. (Wednesday). The birthday of the Gospa. At 21:30 the festival in honor of the Gospa's birthday began. The church was packed. Everything in perfect order. individuals and groups participated. The youth from Medjugorje sang, Elvira's community, Pero and Mile who led the singing during the festival, sang two songs with the youth. The German group appeared also. The "singles" were Mirko from Citluk, Gino from Italy, Dajan from America, Cristina from Argentina. The sisters sang another song. All the songs were about the Gospa. Two religious brothers, French and Italian, members of the Community of the Beatitudes, sang in Hebrew, and a youth group from Ireland. At the end the band from Mostar kept everyone enthusiastic. They sang three songs, "To the Gospa", a Dalmatian song, and "In the combat". Enthusiasm from everyone. After the program we distributed flowers to everyone and sent them singing in procession to the statue of the Gospa. It was moving to witness it. At 11:30 we were done. Many of the youth went from the church to Mt. Krizevac."<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<em>From this written proof it is evident that the Franciscans of Medjugorje, at least some of them, firmly decided to celebrate the "birthday" of the Gospa on 5 August, apart from the whole orthodox Catholic world, following "apparitions" not recognized by the Church; to organize and bring here young people from around the world to hold a "festival in honor of the Gospa's birthday", to "give their Mother their birthday wishes", offering them admission and other presentations.</em><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Conclusions</strong><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>First,</strong> after the tragic case of Vlasic was published around the world last year, when Vlasic was punished with five sanctions, besides the deprivation of the faculty to hear confessions decreed by the provincial curia of Mostar, a statement appeared that Friar Tomislav had not been punished on account of the Medjugorje phenomenon or for his personal attitude in regard to that phenomenon.[5] And this year, when he was punished with the two final sanctions, dismissal from the Order and from the priesthood, by the Generalate Curia in Rome a statement appeared that Vlasic "had not acknowledged the charges placed against him, and for this reason he had not accepted the sanctions. Therefore he asked to be dispensed from the exercise of his priestly ministry and from the status of a religious."[6] Therefore he has shown himself to be contumaciously disobedient not only to the bishop many times, but also to the Holy See in the end, believing more in the "apparitions of Medjugorje" that praised his spirituality, his guidance, and his direction for people's lives.<br />
<br />
In both cases, last year and this year, it was clearly stated, first, that his case was studied "in the context of the phenomenon of Medjugorje", and second, that he was absolutely forbidden to make statements, especially in relation to the "Medjugorje phenomenon". Prudent readers will draw the prudent conclusion, on the basis of all that has been presented, on his direct linkage, his involvement and influence on the "Medjugorje phenomenon".<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Second, </strong>there is the often-cited statement of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, appearing also in the communique of the Franciscan Curia of Rome in July 2009. In the book published by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State of Benedict XVI and ex-Secretary of the Vatican Congregation, "The last seer of Fatima" (Ed. Rai-Rizzoli, 2007, pp. 103-104), it is stated that <br />
<blockquote>"The statements of the bishop of Mostar reflect a personal opinion, and are not a definitive judgment by the Church. Everyone is referred to the statement of the former Yugoslav bishops at Zadar on 10 April 1991, which leaves the door open to future inquiries. Evaluation, therefore, must go on. In the meantime, private pilgrimages are permitted with pastoral accompaniment of the faithful. In sum, Catholic pilgrims can all go to Medjugorje, a place of Marian veneration, where it is possible to express oneself with all the devotional forms."<br />
</blockquote><br />
With reference to the "pilgrimages", it is worth noticing the entire statement written in the same page of the same book by the most eminent Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, then Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, immediately before the one quoted above: <br />
<blockquote>"In sum, concerning pilgrimages to Medjugorje conducted privately, this Congregation holds that they are permitted on the condition that they are not considered an authentication of the events in progress and which call for examination by the Church."[7] <br />
</blockquote><strong>In other words: pilgrimages to Medjugorje are not permitted if they support and authenticate and hold as authentic the "events in progress".</strong> And to date neither the local bishop, nor the Bishops' Conference, nor the Holy See has recognized or proclaimed authentic anything in the "phenomenon of Medjugorje".<br />
<br />
----------------<br />
<br />
[1] R. Laurentin, <em>Reports and message of the apparitions at Medjugorje,</em> Brescia 1987, p. 94. <br />
<br />
[2] After Bishop Žanić preached his homily on 25 July 1987 at Međugorje, in September of the same year, he greeted Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the airport of Rome - we were going to the Mariological-Marian Congress in Kevelaer - after he was introduced to me, the Cardinal said to me, "You have a courageous bishop!" <br />
<br />
[3] <em>Current (non-official) position of the diocesan curia of Mostar on the events of Medjugorje, </em>30. X. 1984, p. 19. <br />
<br />
[4]A. Luburić, „Friar Tomislav Vlašić 'in the context of the Medjugorje phenomenon'", in: <em>Official Bulletin</em>, 2/2008, p. 81. <br />
<br />
[5] From the interview of the Provincial, Dr. Friar Ivan Sesar, in <em>Večernji list,</em> 28 September 2008.<br />
<br />
[6] From the statement of Fr. Francesco Bravi to Zenit, 29 July 2009.<br />
<br />
[7] <em>Ogledalo Pravde</em>, Mostar 2001, p. 278.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/10/september-26-2009-medjugorje-phenomenon.html">September 26, 2009: In Context of Medjugorje Phenomenon - Part 1 - by Bishop Ratko Peric</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2009/10/june-12-2009-prot-6482009-6492009.html">September 26, 2009: In Context of Medjugorje Phenomenon - Part 3 - by Bishop Ratko Peric (two letters)</a></li>
</ul><br />
</div>***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-68419265212796130762009-10-01T06:15:00.001-04:002009-10-01T06:15:57.925-04:00June 12, 2009: Prot. 648/2009 - 649/2009: Letters from Bishop Peric to Pastor and Parochial Vicar at St. James in MedjugorjeThe full content of this post <a href="http://catholiclight.stblogs.org/archives/2009/09/new-directives.html">is from Richard Chonak at Catholic Light</a> who provided an unofficial translation of the two letters contained in Part III of a three-part statement issued in Italian at the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno website. Those links are at the bottom. When it becomes available in English at the diocesan website, this post will be edited. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***********<br />
</div><br />
[SUMMARY: Bp. Ratko Peric of Mostar-Duvno in Bosnia and Herzegovina has sent letters to the pastor and a parochial vicar at Medjugorje, with specific directives about how they and the parish are not to promote the alleged apparitions of the place:<br />
<ul><li>that alleged messages and commentaries on them are not to be published;</li>
<li>that prayers from the apparitions are not to be used publicly;</li>
<li>the parish church is not to be called a "shrine", even privately;</li>
<li>that foreign priests may not give conferences or retreats without permission of the bishop;</li>
<li>foreign priests wishing to offer Mass must present a <em>celebret</em> from their diocese or order, and the information is to be recorded;</li>
<li>a privately-built church has already been closed and is not to be used;</li>
<li>unauthorized religious communities have no permission to set up residence;</li>
<li>and about regulating several other forms of promotion of the alleged phenomenon.</li>
</ul><br />
This is a <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=416">newly published document</a> from the website of the diocese of Mostar-Duvno. (Note: the web page contains three documents; scroll down to see the source for what follows.) Here I am presenting a translation based on the Italian version on the website, so I have to acknowledge the limitations involved in a derivative translation. Any mistakes are my responsibility; please inform me via the comment box of improvements or corrections. Thanks! -- Richard Chonak]<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote><strong>Letter of the bishop to Friar Petar Vlasic, parish priest of Medjugorje</strong><br />
<br />
Mostar, 12 June 2009.: Prot. 648/2009<br />
<br />
Reverend parish priest friar Peter!<br />
<br />
After having made the canonical visit to the parish of Medjugorje last Wednesday, 10 June, where nine other Franciscan fathers share the pastoral care of souls with you, according to the directive issued by this office, I wish to make reference now, by this means, to several points.<br />
<br />
Inasmuch as you are the current parish priest, who have been working in that capacity since September 2007, I express to you my sincere thanks for maintaining transparent records in the books of registration and other matters. For a parish priest, as for a bishop - it is really essential to carry out not only the <em>munus docendi et sanctificandi</em>, but also the <em>munus gubernandi</em> entrusted to us.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>Munus docendi:</em><br />
<br />
The rule is still valid that in the parish of Medjugorje priests coming from elsewhere are not permitted to conduct retreats or spiritual exercises, nor to hold conferences, without the approval of this office. (Circular of 23.8.2001, #1290/2001)<br />
<br />
Analogously, neither foreign nor domestic priests can promote alleged "messages" or "apparitions" which have not been proclaimed authentic in that church or on church property.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>Munus sanctificandi:</em><br />
<br />
It is praiseworthy that you require from every priest who wishes to celebrate the Holy Mass at Medjugorje the <em>celebret</em> of his ecclesiastical superior and that you record in a particular book all the concelebrants, from the beginning of this year.<br />
<br />
As well, you have kept me informed about the "Oasis of peace", which, since the intervention of this office on 15 December 2008, no longer keeps the Blessed Sacrament privately in their chapel and no longer conducts adoration, which they had been doing according to their own account. They do not have permission as a religious association to reside in the territory of this diocese.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<em>Munus gubernandi:</em><br />
<br />
You have informed me that the church in Bijakovic, built by a foreign member of the faithful as his <em>ex voto</em>, without the necessary request and approval of the competent ecclesiastical authority, has been closed by now and that no services are conducted in it.<br />
<br />
In the parish chronicle you have made sure to record, with the right terminology, everything that happens to this parish as a pastoral unit of this diocese, without regard to all the stories about "seers", "apparitions", and "messages" connected with the parish.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
"The phenomenon of Medjugorje":<br />
<br />
The "Shrine". The parish of Medjugorje cannot be called a shrine, neither privately, nor publicly, not officially, because it is not recognized as such by any level of competent ecclesial authority. And that wording cannot appear on the web site of "Medjugorje - place of prayer and reconciliation", where it is currently found in many places. In a statement on that site - where there is no indication of who is responsible for it - this message appears: <br />
<br />
<em>"To avoid any misunderstanding, we wish to underscore that the Shrine has not given the mission of representing Medjugorje to anyone. The Shrine has not given the mission to any community or person either in Medjugorje or outside of Medjugorje - of speading or interpreting the messages of the Gospa. All these initiatives are private and voluntary on the part of the faithful and the communities."</em><br />
<br />
From that statement it appears as if the site is proclaiming itself as being a "Shrine". Then it seems in some way to be the only competent [source] to give instruction to the world. As the local Ordinary, in this present letter, I declare that the so-called "shrine" has no mission to declare itself a "Shrine", nor to present (the parish) with that title, because it has no ecclesiastical mission to present itself in the name of Medjugorje, nor to spread or interpret the "apparitions" and "messages" of Medjugorje.<br />
<br />
Commentaries on the "messages": I have already discussed with you and with another vicar, with friar Danko Perutina, who writes and publishes the commentaries on the "messages" issued from the "apparitions" on the 25th of the month. It was said that he receives the "messages" of the "seer" Marija from Italy or from Medjugorje when she is in that location, and then he presents them there, comments on them and publishes them. This is contrary to the decision and request of this Curia, especially after the declaration of 10 June 2006, which was repeated in the parish church on 6 July 2009 (the accompanying homily).<br />
<br />
The <em>Cenacolo</em>. After our intervention, on Christmas Day of last year, there are no longer private "apparitions" in the courtyard of the <em>Cenacolo</em> by the alleged "seer" Mirjana Dragićević, married name Soldo, on the second of each month.<br />
<br />
The association "Queen of Peace..." I have been informed in our meeting that in the association founded by Tomislav Vlašić at Medjugorje, which equally has no permission to reside in the territory of this diocese, there are some members, men and women, who dress in lay clothes.<br />
<br />
The number of prayers. In September 2007, on the occasion of your installation in the office of parish priest, I indicated to you that the so-called "seers" cannot present themselves on any occasion to promote their private "apparitions" and "messages", nor to preside, nor to have anyone preside in their place, at the recitation of a certain number of prayers "received" in an "apparition". Therefore, they cannot use prayers from scripture or those approved by the Church as a means of introducing "numbers" and "messages" from the private "apparition".<br />
<br />
The intentions of the rosary. It is equally not permitted to introduce intentions received in an "apparition" or "message" during the prayer of the Rosary of Our Lady. We have sufficient official intentions (from the Pope, from the bishop, for the missions) and there is no need to arbitrarily have recourse to alleged apparitions and messages and mix them with the Church's public prayers.<br />
<br />
Anniversaries. It is not permitted that the "seers" be invited and present themselves in the parish church or on any church properties at any time, especially on occasions related to the "apparitions" of Medjugorje, to promote their private "messages" and "apparitions". Therefore, we do not mix the unrecognized with what is recognized, the private with the official, the non-liturgical with the liturgical.<br />
<br />
Grateful for what you, together with the other friars of the parish, undertake for the good of souls, and because you know how to clearly separate pastoral care from private "apparitions" and "messages", I greet you with devout respects.<br />
</blockquote><br />
And the second letter:<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote><strong>Letter of the bishop to friar Danko Perutina, parochial vicar of Medjugorje</strong><br />
<br />
Mostar, 12 June 2009; Prot. 649/2009<br />
<br />
Reverend friar Danko!<br />
<br />
After your priestly ordination in 1999 and at the conclusion of your studies, I appointed you, at the suggestion of your religious superiors, in 2000, parochial vicar of Humac. Then, again at the suggestion of your provincial governor, in 2001, vicar of Medjugorje, in 2005 again of Humac, and in 2007 at Medjugorje. In the meantime, you studied and obtained a degree in mariology at Rome.<br />
<br />
I write to you in reference to your commentaries on the so-called "messages" and "apparitions" on the 25th day of the month. In an official visit to Medjugorje on the 10 June, I had a conversation with you, with the parish priest friar Petar Vlasic and another vicar present.<br />
<br />
In the conversation it became clear that Marija Pavlović, married name Lunetti, daily "seer" who lives in Italy, and temporarily also at Medjugorje, sends to the parish office or to some one of your pastoral workers in the parish of Medjugorje, her "message" of the 25th day of the month, which is then published on the Medjugorje web site and in other mass media. And you regularly make commentary on the monthly "message", which is published in various languages.<br />
<br />
When I asked how the "messages" of the 25th were published, and not the other "messages" said to be "private", I did not feel I received a clear and convincing answer. I do not know who has sent and authorized you to comment on them and publish them on the site. What sort of person is assuming the right to decide that some "messages" be omitted and others published, and that this is done through the parish office and the site connected with the parish of Medjugorje?<br />
<br />
We are gradually succeeding in distancing the unrecognized "apparitions" and "messages" from the parish church and from church property, and the appearances of the "seers" before or after Holy Mass. In that conversation I reminded you of having asked in 2006, and reconfirmed in 2009 from the altar, that "No priest who works canonically in this parish of Medjugorje or who is here temporarily, is authorized to present his private opinion, contrary to the official position of the Church on the "apparitions and messages", neither at the celebration of the sacraments, or during the regular acts of devotion, nor in the Catholic media." (homily attached).<br />
<br />
To avoid any misunderstanding, in this present letter I declare that you, according to my decree, are not authorized, either in the name of the parish office or as parochial vicar, to comment upon and publish the "messages" of the 25th or any other day of the month. These are private "messages" of private persons for private use. And we cannot permit that this is given the form of a message from the parish office, from the parish priest, or any parochial vicar, or even of the "Shrine" which is not recognized as such at any level: not diocesan, or the level of the episcopal conference, or of the Holy See.<br />
<br />
Therefore I expect with trust, without any further admonitions, that from now on you will not publish your commentaries, either in the name of the parish office or in your own name, or under a pseudonym, not after the 25th of this month or at all, as long as things continue as is.<br />
<br />
I greet you with devout respects.<br />
<br />
</blockquote><div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>***********</strong><br />
</div><br />
<strong>Links:</strong><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=418">Il contesto del "fenomeno di Medjugorje", I.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=417">Il contesto del "fenomeno di Medjugorje", II.</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=416">Il contesto del "fenomeno di Medjugorje", III.</a></li>
</ul><br />
<div align="center">***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***<br />
</div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-85095278363212066382009-09-29T21:55:00.010-04:002010-01-23T10:39:07.024-05:00What did Archbishop Bertone really say about the Bishop of Mostar's authority and opinion?<div style="text-align: left;">Keep in mind, that the official position of the Church goes back to the <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/zadar-declaration-1991.html">1991 Zadar Declaration</a> which is <em><a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/apparitions-types-of-decisions-church.html">non constat de supernaturalitate</a></em> [the supernaturality is not proven], which is not an outright condemnation and leaves the case open to further investigation. <br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
First, it is important to point out that Medjugorje supporters will often claim that the bishop was <em>"relieved of the dossier",</em> which is false. It is the first way in which they attempt to discredit his legitimate authority as Ordinary of the place. <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/1987-press-release-by-cardinal-kuharic.html">In a press release by Cardinal Kuharic in January 1987 in <em>Glas Koncila</em></a>, His Eminence explains why the decision was taken to the level of bishop's conference (and, I might add, Bishop Zanic was involved in the process! If he were truly "relieved", he would not be deeply engaged):<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<blockquote><span style="color: #990000;"><em>"During the inquiry these events under investigation <strong>have appeared to go much beyond the limits of the diocese</strong>. Therefore, on the basis of the said regulations, <strong>it became fitting to continue the work at the level of the Bishops' Conference,</strong> and thus to form a new Commission for that purpose."</em></span><br />
</blockquote>The cause of the change in who will get final discernment then is clear in the statement offered by Cardinal Kuharic: It affects more than just the diocese of Mostar-Duvno. With this now understood it is clear that the bishop alone will no longer be responsible for a final judgment on Medjugorje. Rather, it will be up to another commission, or some other body determined by the CDF. If you look carefully at each commission thus far, it always included the local bishop, and future commissions will undoubtedly do the same. This is protocol and is also proof that His Excellency is not in some kind of "negative light" at the Holy See on account of his now constant negative position as is alleged on many promoter sites. The case had developed such global reach by 1987 that it needed to be elevated. It's that simple. <br />
<br />
Now we get to the actual letter by Bishop Peric to which Cardinal Bertone will later refer when he speaks about the bishop's <em>"personal opinion".</em> <br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>On October 2, 1997 (Prot.: 1267/97),</strong> <a href="http://chonak.tripod.com/documents/m19971002_peric.html">Bishop Peric in his letter to the Secretary General of "Famille Chretienne"</a>, states:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em></em><br />
<br />
<blockquote><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">"...my conviction and position <strong>is not only non constat de supernaturalitate [the supernaturality is not proven] but also the other formula constat de non supernaturalitate [the non-supernaturality is proven]</strong> of the apparitions or revelations of Medjugorje.</span></em><br />
</blockquote><br />
</div>Hence, Bishop Peric, as an individual - not speaking on behalf of the Church changes his position from one that is somewhat neutral, to a negative judgment. He further clarifies in the same letter, that he does not have the final decision himself: <br />
<br />
<blockquote><em><span style="color: #b45f06;">5) Nevertheless <strong>I am open to a study that the Holy See would undertake, as the supreme court of the Catholic Church, to speak the supreme and definitive judgment on the case</strong>, and that as soon as possible, for the good of souls and for the honor of the Church and of Our Lady. </span></em><br />
</blockquote>So, at no point did Bishop Ratko Peric attempt to pass a final judgment; rather, he communicated with great clarity, a change in his personal position. While it was not a final judgment, in the minds of many Catholics, it was a weighty opinion. <br />
<br />
Now we can get into the letter by then Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone (now a Cardinal and the Vatican Secretary of State) which contains a line that has been taken grossly out of context by some supporters of Medjugorje and projected in all kinds of ways which undermine the credibility of the bishop of Mostar. You will find around the web ridiculous claims that <em>"Bishop Peric was silenced"</em>, or that <em>"Bishop Peric is being disobedient for speaking about the apparitions"</em> because of what +Bertone said. Let's look at the relevant excerpt from the letter:<br />
<br />
In 1998, <a href="http://www.ewtn.com/library/curia/cdfaubry.htm">Archbishop Bertone, responding to Mons. Gilbert Aubry (Pr. No 154/81-05922)</a>, was clarifying the Church's position on pilgrimages. In one paragraph, he refers to that statement above by Bishop Peric and writes:<br />
<br />
<blockquote><em><span style="color: #274e13;"><strong>What Bishop Peric said in his letter</strong> to the Secretary General of "Famille Chretienne", declaring: "My conviction and my position is not only 'non constat de supernaturalitate,' but likewise, 'constat de non supernaturalitate' of the apparitions or revelations in Medjugorje", <strong>should be considered the expression of the personal conviction of the Bishop of Mostar which he has the right to express as Ordinary of the place, but which is and remains his personal opinion</strong>.</span></em><br />
</blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Note:</strong> All of these communications on pilgrimages are in a single post where you can scroll and read here later: </span><a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/are-pilgrimages-to-medjugorje-permitted.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Are pilgrimages to Medjugorje permitted or not???</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong>Why does Cardinal Bertone say this?</strong></span> It's simple. Bishop Peric no longer has jurisdiction to make a definitive final judgment because it belongs to a greater body<strong> now that it has such a global presence</strong>. In no way is Cardinal Bertone saying that Bishop Peric should not state his personal opinion, nor shepherd his diocese. Rather, he says <strong>he has a right to express it</strong>. <strong>In fact, +Bertone</strong> <strong>reasserts the authority held by the local bishop in pastoral matters in the same letter:</strong><br />
<br />
<blockquote><em><span style="color: #274e13;">However, the numerous gatherings of the faithful from different parts of the world, who are coming to Medjugorje prompted both by motives of belief and certain other motives, <strong>require the attention and pastoral care in the first place of the bishop of the diocese and of the other bishops</strong> with him so that in Medjugorje, and everything related to it, a healthy devotion toward the Blessed Virgin Mary would be promoted <strong>in conformity with the teaching of the Church</strong>.</span></em><br />
</blockquote><br />
<strong>IMPACT OF THESE COMMUNICATIONS ON THE WEB</strong><br />
People use that statement by Cardinal Bertone to say that Bishop Peric is "disobedient" for speaking out against the apparitions, and even that <em>"Bishop Peric has been silenced by the Vatican".</em> These are common allegations rooted in that communication by Cardinal Bertone and they are disingenuous. Those making such claims need to re-examine their position and consider that they are making false claims against the apostolic successor of that diocese. <br />
<br />
<strong>IMPACT OF THESE COMMUNICATIONS ON THE FAITHFUL</strong><br />
<br />
People, innocently seeking information about Medjugorje stumble upon pro-Medjugorje sites and in blog comment boxes which proliferate these false claims against the local bishop. It is sometimes taken at face value by those who do not take the time to examine all of the letters in context before they tell others. The damage to the Church is significant and it has caused great division. On the one side you have the Apostolic Successor (the Church), on the other side, the promoters and supporters who are pitted against him using disinformation. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***<br />
</div><div></div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-62027325390010023672009-07-26T22:26:00.004-04:002009-07-29T22:37:20.414-04:00Fr. Tomislav Vlasic, OFM laicized by Holy See; leaves order<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHp_2h22l0wQQ18uXrqRlsa99BUrXfdTKUA0DTRgx_4SL3QNPK7vOg28yzqzzBb2WkKKmJIBJD-Sx8qD3jY-P60j7eS85JM5-_s0UmRcJKD-rpLldwhQWZeCSAI3qop_Auol84q90VB0/s1600-h/20090724-vlasic-letter.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362727974830620322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHp_2h22l0wQQ18uXrqRlsa99BUrXfdTKUA0DTRgx_4SL3QNPK7vOg28yzqzzBb2WkKKmJIBJD-Sx8qD3jY-P60j7eS85JM5-_s0UmRcJKD-rpLldwhQWZeCSAI3qop_Auol84q90VB0/s400/20090724-vlasic-letter.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">ORDO FRATRUM MINORUM</span><br />MINISTER GENERALIS<br /><br />Prot. N. 098714<br /><br />To the Provincial Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Italy<br /><br />Dear Brother Minister,<br /><br />The Holy Father, accepting the request of friar Tomislav Vlasic, O.F.M, member of the province of friars minor of St. Bernardino of Siena (L'Aquila), responsible for conduct harmful to ecclesial communion both in the spheres of doctrine and discipline, and under a censure of interdict, has granted him the favor of reduction to the lay state (amissio status clericalis) and of dismissal from the Order.<br /><br />In addition, the Holy Father has granted the petitioner, motu proprio, the remission of the censure incurred as well as the favor of dispensation from religious vows and from all the responsibilities connected with sacred ordination, including celibacy.<br /><br />As a salutary penal precept - under the pain of excommunication which the Holy See would declare, and if necessary, without prior canonical warning - the following precepts are imposed on Mr. Tomislav Vlasic:<br /><br />a) Absolute prohibition from exercising any form of apostolate (for example, promoting public or private devotion, teaching Christian doctrine, spiritual direction, participation in lay associations, etc.) as well as of acquiring and administering goods intended for pious purposes;<br /><br />b) Absolute prohibition from releasing declarations on religious matters, especially regarding the "phenomenon of Medjugorje";<br /><br />c) Absolute prohibition from residing in houses of the Order of Friars Minor.<br /><br />For the execution of the serious measures imposed by the Holy See regarding Mr. Tomislav Vlasic, the same Apostolic See calls directly on the Superiors of the Order.<br /><br />Therefore I turn to you, so that you make sure to instruct the Guardians and superiors of friaries about full compliance, by Tomislav Vlasic, with the pontifical measures regarding him, in particular relative to the prohibition of residing in any houses belonging to the Order of Friars Minor, under pain of removal from office.<br /><br />Trusting in your full understanding and prompt cooperation, I greet you fraternally.<br />Rome, 10 March 2009.<br /><br />Fr. José Rodriguez Carballo, Ofm<br />Minister General"<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Thanks to <strong>Richard Chonak</strong> of </em></span><a href="http://catholiclight.stblogs.org/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Catholic Light</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> for </em></span><a href="http://catholiclight.stblogs.org/archives/2008/09/the-father-of-t.html"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>his translation of an exclusive</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> at the blog of Marco Corvaglia (Italian), </em></span><a href="http://marcocorvaglia.blog.lastampa.it/mcor/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"Medjugorje senza maschera" (Medjugorje without mask)</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> , in </em></span><a href="http://marcocorvaglia.blog.lastampa.it/mcor/esclusivo-padre-tomislav-vlasic-ridotto-allo-stato-laicale.html"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>this blogpost</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>.<br /><br /></em></span><div align="center">***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***</div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-11744050151292821932009-05-25T05:52:00.006-04:002014-01-19T15:54:47.478-05:00February 20, 1999: The Decree "Romanis Pontificibus" Definitively Implemented<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>The Decree "Romanis Pontificibus" </strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Definitively Implemented</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Mostar - The Vicar General, Br Stefano Ottenbreit and the Diocescan Bishop, Msgr Ratko Peric met in Mostar from 17 to 20 February to definitively implement the prescriptions of the Holy See’s Decree "<i><a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=648">Romanis Pontificibus</a></i>". Msgr Mario Cassari, acting Charg_ d’Affaires at the Papal Nunciature in Bosnia Herzegovina represented the Holy See. The General Definitory of the Order and the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina, in ecclesial communion with the local Bishop, confirmed their wish for complete agreement and unity of purpose. The 7 parishes indicated in the decree were handed over to the Bishop. <br />
<br />
From 22 February the Franciscan Pastors were relieved of their pastoral responsibilities and were assigned to other duties in the Province. Br Stefano and General Definitors Br Kapistran Martzall and Br Peter Schorr concelebrated the Sunday Eucharist with the Bishop in the packed Cathedral of Mostar, in the presence of the national and Croatian media. The actual transfer of the 7 parishes to the diocesan Clergy did not take place on Sunday the 21st as planned, since there was organised physical resistance on the part of the parishioners, as well as serious written and verbal threats, occupation of Churches and Parochial houses and the removal of Parish registers and stamps. <br />
<br />
Msgr Ratko Peric, together with the priests and faithful, publicly expressed his deep appreciation to the Order and to the Province of Herzegovina for their untiring work in favour of the local Church. He also reaffirmed the need for their continuing presence and pastoral collaboration for the future. <br />
Following this decree’s implementation, the Province of the Assumption of the BVM in Mostar has pastoral responsibility for 30 parishes and the Diocese is responsible for 52.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>COMMUNICATION</strong></div>
Following the joint letter sent by the Minister General of the Friars Minor, Br Giacomo Bini and by the Bishop of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno, Msgr Ratko Peric, of 16 November 1998, and following the Communication issued by Archbishop Marcello Zago, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, by the Minister General and by the local Bishop on 14 December 1998, <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>The representative of the Minister General</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Br Stephan Ottenbreit, Vicar General of the Order</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>And the Diocesan Bishop, Msgr Ratko Peric</strong></div>
<br />
Met in Mostar from 17 to 20 February 1999 to definitively implement the prescriptions of the Holy See’s Decree "Romanis Pontificibus". Msgr Mario R. Cassari, acting Chargè d’Affaires at the Papal Nunciature in Bosnia Herzegovina represented the Holy See. <br />
<br />
<strong>The two co-executors affirmed and decided as follows:</strong><br />
<br />
1.The General Government of the Order, together with the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina, in ecclesial communion with the local Bishop, confirms it desire to carry out what has been decreed by the Holy See and decided by the General Chapter of the Franciscan Order, in complete agreement and unity of purpose.<br />
<br />
2.It is painful to note that it has not been possible to transfer the parishes mentioned in the Decree from the Franciscans to the Diocesan Clergy on 21 February 1999, as previously agreed, notwithstanding the good will of the Co-executors, for the following reasons: acts of organised physical resistance, serious written and verbal threats, occupation of parochial Churches and houses, removal of parish registers and stamps<br />
<br />
3.As and from 22 February the current Pastors and those with Pastoral responsibility, cited in the Decree are relieved of the above-mentioned pastoral responsibility. They are:<br />
<blockquote>
Br Petar Vlasic of Blagaj/Buna, <br />
Br Leonard Hrkac of Crnac, <br />
Br Marko Dragicevic and Br Miro Sego of Grude, <br />
Br Alojzije Bosnjak of Jablanica, <br />
Br Tihomir Kutle of Mostarski Gradac, <br />
Br Oton Bilic of Nevesinje, <br />
Br Drago Skrobo of Ploce-Tepcici. </blockquote>
These friars, who have been appointed by their Minister Provincial with his Definitory to houses of the Province, will have pastoral responsibilities within the Diocese in accordance with the agreement that the Provincial Government will make with the Diocesan Bishop.<br />
<br />
4.Until the situation is normalised as soon as possible, i.e. until the Diocesan priests can assume the canonical administration of the above-mentioned parishes, the Bishop of the Diocese, in keeping with his duty, is committed to ensuring the pastoral care of the faithful. These are requested to refer as follows:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
- the Parishioners of Blagaj/Buna and of Nevesinje to the Parish Offices of St John the Apostle or to the Cathedral of Mostar; <br />
- the Parishioners of Crnac and of Mostarski Gradac to the Parish Offices of Polog or Jare; <br />
- the Parishioners of Grude to the Parish Offices of Ledinac or Raskrizije; <br />
- the Parishioners of Jablanica to the Parish Offices of St Matthew the Apostle or to the Cathredal of Mostar.</blockquote>
The Bishop and Priests of the Diocesan Curia are also available to any of the faithful who have need of pastoral assistance.<br />
<br />
5.In regard to the current situation in Capljina, the Co-executors draw attention, particularly to the Faithful, that the priests Bonifacije Barbaric and Boze Rados, were dismissed from the Order of Friars Minor, on 28 February 1998. The Holy See confirmed their dismissal on 23 March 1998. Consequently, they may no longer use the Franciscan habit. On 17 December 1998 they were suspended "a divinis" by the Holy See, such suspension being applied by the Diocesan Bishop on 30 December 1998; they are thus forbidden to celebrate all the sacraments. The process for the dismissal from the Order of the third disobedient priest residing in Capljina, Br Mile Vlacic is under way. The sacraments of Confession and Matrimony, administered by the three above named persons are invalid.<br />
<br />
6.Similar canonical sanctions will be taken against those other Franciscans who do not adhere to the directives of the Holy See and the Minister General with his Definitory. In cases of extreme necessity, ecclesiastical law allows the local Bishop to place under inderdict Churches that have been occupied illegally.<br />
<br />
7.The General Government of the Order, together with the Government of the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina, publicly renews its dissociation from the "Association of the Catholic Faithful of Mir i Dobro". This association, which is not recognised by the Catholic Church, is therefore illegitimate.<br />
<br />
8.In this time of trial, the Catholic Faithful of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno, in keeping with their past, desire to strengthen their sense of communion with and fidelity to the Apostolic See and the Holy Father.<br />
<br />
9.The local Bishop, with the priests and faithful, are deeply grateful to the Order of Friars Minor and the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina for their untiring work in favour of the growth and unity of the local Church and they reaffirm the necessity of their presence and pastoral collaboration for the future.<br />
<br />
Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Mary, Mother of the Church, may this time of Lent, the favourable time of conversion, and the entire Year dedicated to our heavenly Father, be of spiritual assistance to us in the journey through the Cross towards the Resurrection. <br />
<br />
Mostar, 20 February 1999<br />
<br />
Br Stephan Ottenbreit, <br />
Msgr Ratko Peric <br />
Vicar General of the Order of Friars Minor <br />
Bishop of Mostar-Duvno<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Note:</strong> Croatian Original at the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno: <a href="http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=142">http://www.cbismo.com/index.php?mod=vijest&vijest=142</a><br />
<br />
<br />
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Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-39863428793939305792009-04-30T16:45:00.002-04:002009-10-04T16:54:25.211-04:00Bishop Sartain of Joliet, Illinois on unnapproved apparition promotionThe letter below is from Bishop Peter Sartain of the <a href="http://www.dioceseofjoliet.org/">Diocese of Joliet, IL</a> to his priests. In it he says:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>FROM BISHOP SARTAIN<br />
<br />
Dear Brother Priests,<br />
<br />
From time to time we are approached by parishioners who would like to invite speakers representing various alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin, private revelations or locutions, or others claiming to possess extraordinary spiritual gifts. My purpose in bringing this to your attention is to ask that you not issue such invitations. <strong>Whether the speakers would make presentations on we1l-known a1leged apparitions, such as Medjugorje, or lesser known private revelations, we must be extremely cautious about inviting or promoting them.</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>As you know the Church takes great time and care before declaring that an apparition is worthy of belief</strong>, and even then it never says that a Catholic must accept the apparition as a matter of faith. We must avoid giving the impression that alleged apparitions about which the Church has not made a judgment are somehow already approved. It is our responsibility to see that our parishioners are not led down the wrong path. <strong>That is not to say that those who ask us to promote these matters are doing so out of bad faith, but we must be extremely careful not to confuse our parishioners</strong>. Our greatest spicitual treasures are the Word of God, the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and the teaching of the Church, and our focus should always be there. <strong>Needless to say, these comments do not refer to apparitions such as Fatima, Lourdes orGuadalupe which enjoy the approval of the Church.</strong><br />
<br />
Thank you for your attention to this important spiritual matter, and I am grateful for your cooperation.<br />
<br />
Sincerely in Christ,<br />
Bishop Peter Sartain<br />
</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_XabZq1hcOfXw308X3UXQbIlV3nUfIinB-Eq8ljjHo7duPzZB9R4E-UOTR8MEqz6Clq3t59iQyZsIC0IxqzZZiZ16F8mGKcks7kW_-glJFJp0-T0srX6zlekcI6f-F14fvKQJ-qkfec/s1600-h/Sartain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_XabZq1hcOfXw308X3UXQbIlV3nUfIinB-Eq8ljjHo7duPzZB9R4E-UOTR8MEqz6Clq3t59iQyZsIC0IxqzZZiZ16F8mGKcks7kW_-glJFJp0-T0srX6zlekcI6f-F14fvKQJ-qkfec/s320/Sartain.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-19738475879259606342008-09-11T05:01:00.017-04:002009-07-29T22:09:55.784-04:00Outrageous Claims Against Local Ecclesiastical Authority<div align="left">There are some statements out there which reveal <strong>a systematic attempt</strong> <strong>to discredit and defame</strong> the apostolic successors of the Diocese of Mostar-Duvno: <a href="http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bzanic.html">Bishop Pavao Zanic</a> and <a href="http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bperic.html">Bishop Ratko Peric</a> . It exists on the websites of certain Medjugorje promoters and <em>is taken as fact </em>by ordinary people, innocently and legitimately trying to find information about the phenomenon and the Church's position.</div><br /><div align="left">These things, which amount to subjective ambiguities, are not backed by facts and are loaded with surmises. They are then propogated by some who copy and paste them into discussion lists, blogs, comment boxes, forums and more, without fully analyzing the information for objectivity. The facts are sometimes skewed to suit the author's errant conclusions. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">We will examine some of these <strong>subjective ambiguities</strong> in light of <strong>objective facts</strong> and let you draw your own conclusions. <em>[Edit 7-29-2009: Check back over the coming days and weeks and hopefully, I'll be analyzing some ridiculous claims about the bishop found on the web which do not square with facts.]</em></div><br /><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Individual claims will be examined in separate posts and a link-list of those will be edited into this post at the bottom as they are written, and added to the sidebar.</span></strong></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">This is a good time to review the <strong><em><a href="http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a8.htm">Catechism of the Catholic Church</a></em></strong> on rash judgment, detraction, and calumny.<br /></div><blockquote>2477 Respect for the reputation of persons <strong>forbids</strong> every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury.278 He becomes guilty:<br /><ul><strong>- of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;<br /></strong><br /><strong>- of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's faults and failings to persons who did not know them;279<br /></strong><br /><strong>- of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.</strong></ul><br />2478 To avoid rash judgment, everyone <strong>should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor's thoughts, words, and deeds in a <em>favorable</em> way:</strong><br /><ul>Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another's statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved.280</ul><br />2479 Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one's neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity. </blockquote><p>This is also a good time to discuss the issue of <strong><em>obedience</em></strong> and and <strong><em>reverence for authority</em></strong>.</p><p>Fr. John A. Hardon gives us a good definition of <em><strong>obedience</strong></em> in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Modern-Catholic-Dictionary-John-Hardon/dp/0385121628/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221174960&sr=1-2">Modern Catholic Dictionary</a>:</p><br /><blockquote>The moral virtue that inclines the will to comply with the will of another who has the right to command. Material obedience is merely to carry out the physical action commanded; formal obedience is to perform an action precisely because it is commanded by a legitimate superior. The extent of obedience is as wide as the authority of the person who commands. Thus obedience to God is without limit, whereas obedience to human beings is limited by higher laws that must not be transgressed, and by the competency or authority of the one who gives the orders. As a virtue, it is pleasing to God because it means the sacrifice of one's will out of love for God.</blockquote><p>In his dictionary, Fr. Hardon also defines <em><strong>reverence</strong></em> in a context that should be considered (emphasis mine in bold):</p><blockquote><p>The virtue that inclines a person to show honor and respect for persons who possess some dignity. There are four forms of reverence:</p><ol><li>Familial reverence toward one's parents or those who take the place of parents. </li><li>Civil reverence towards persons holding civil authority.</li><li><strong>Ecclesiastical reverence toward the Pope, bishops, priests and others in the service of the Church.</strong></li><li>Religious reverence toward any person, place, or object related to God.</li></ol></blockquote><p><br />Obedience to, and reverence for ecclesiastical authority is an important consideration with respect to discernment of apparitions. The <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-is-involved-in-apparition.html">1978 CDF Document on Apparition Discernment</a> refers to it as <em>"docility to ecclesiastical authority"</em> (see A, b, 1). </p><p>When these things are seen in people involved with private revelations and apparitions being investigated, it is a sign of pure grace. Often times, the extraordinary level of virtue is not visible until decades later. </p><p>This was the case with Padre Pio who suffered with prohibition of celebrating Mass publicly and of hearing confessions for a period of years. He remained firmly obedient to legitimate authority, even when the sanctions against him seemed unfair. Such obedience and reverence for authority is what Christ exemplified when he submitted himself to the authority of Pilate, who would order him put to death. <a href="http://www.padrepiodevotions.org/index.asp?pagename=address2002">Pope John Paul II stated at Padre Pio's canonization</a>:</p></li><ol></ol><p></p><br /><blockquote><em>Padre Pio made his journey of demanding spiritual ascesis in communion with the Church. <strong>The temporary misunderstandings he had with one or other ecclesial authority did not put a brake on his attitude of filial obedience</strong>. Padre Pio was a faithful and courageous son of the Church and in this situation he followed the shining example of the "Poverello" of Assisi</em></blockquote><br /><br />While obedience and reverence for authority on the part of alleged visionaries and their closest associates are criteria the Church uses for discernment (certainly not in isolation), we would hope that manifestations of such grace would also be exemplified in followers.<br /><br /><div align="center">***<a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/">Home Page</a>***</div>Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7238698107854386510.post-89418636152363162112008-09-10T20:06:00.012-04:002010-02-05T17:16:58.749-05:00Are pilgrimages to Medjugorje permitted or not???This is one of the most discussed topics on the subject of Medjugorje: Pilgrimages.<br />
<br />
Keep in mind as you read this, that the <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-is-involved-in-apparition.html">1978 CDF document on apparition discernment</a> used by bishops says (emphasis mine in bold):<br />
<br />
<blockquote>b) Then, if this examination appears <strong>favorable</strong>, to allow certain public demonstrations of cult and devotion, while continuing to investigate the facts with extreme prudence(which is equivalent to the formula: “for the moment, nothing is opposed to it”).</blockquote><br />
<br />
<strong>With that in mind, you may notice two common threads in each of these communications out of the Bishop's conference and the Vatican.</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<br />
<ul><li>All point back to the <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/zadar-declaration-1991.html">1991 Zadar Declaration </a>for <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-is-official-status-of-medjugorje.html">the Church's current position on Medjugorje</a>: <em>Non constat de supernaturalitate</em>.</li>
<li>All communications use a qualifier with regards to pilgrimages. There is no official outright ban. They are permitted conditionally, but may not be organized by any bishop, diocese, parish, or other group AND on condition they do not give authentication to the events at Medjugorje. This is because the cult following has not been granted, which can only be granted once <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-is-involved-in-apparition.html">positive and negative criteria have been assessed <em>favorably</em></a>.</li>
</ul>With regards to that last part, it is also prudent to consider something that Msgr. Henri Brincard, the Bishop of Puy-en-Velay (accompanying Bishop of the Association of Marian organisations), said in <a href="http://www.christianorder.com/features/features_2002/features_may02_bonus.html">a letter written on behalf of the French Bishops in 2000</a>: <br />
<strong></strong><br />
<br />
<blockquote>In conclusion, allow me to make the following reflection: <br />
"I have no authority to pronounce any ecclesial judgement whatsoever on the events of Medjugorje. I am therefore the first to have to give an example of obedience, notably in respecting the pastoral decisions of my confrere of Mostar and in complying with joy to his wishes.<br />
<br />
<strong>"I do not see how I can go to Medjugorje without giving my support, by the very fact of my having come there, to the events who's discernment and assessment rests henceforth with the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia-Herzegovina</strong>. Such support would fly in the face of a traditional teaching of the Church, recalled in Lumen Gentium and applicable to all the successors of the Apostles (11): "Individual bishops, in so far as they are set over particular Churches, exercise their pastoral office over the portion of the People of God assigned to them, not over other Churches nor the Church universal."</blockquote>And now, for the communications we have to date on pilgrimages, in chronological order.<br />
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<strong>FEBRUARY 1987: Franjo Cardinal Kuharic on Pilgrimages</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
Franjo Cardinal Kuharic, President of the Yugoslav Bishop's Conference, noted in <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/1987-press-release-by-cardinal-kuharic.html">a 1987 press release in which he announced the new Commission</a> which would eventually produce the <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/1987-press-release-by-cardinal-kuharic.html">Zadar Declaration in 1991</a>, the following:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>While waiting for the results of the Commission's work and the Church's verdict, let the Pastors and the faithful honor the practice of the usual prudence in such circumstances. For that reason, <strong>it is not permitted to organize either pilgrimages or other religious manifestations based on an alleged supernatural character attributed to Medjugorje's events</strong>. Marian devotion, legitimate and recommended by the Church, must be in accordance with the directives of the Magisterium, and especially the <a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19740202_marialis-cultus_en.html">apostolic encyclical Marialis Cultus</a> February 2, 1974 (cf. AAS, 66, 1974, p. 113-168). </blockquote><br />
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<strong>APRIL 1996: Archbishop Tarciscio Bertone on Pilgrimages</strong><br />
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<blockquote><span style="font-size: 85%;">SACRED CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH</span><br />
<br />
Vatican City, March 23, 1996<br />
<br />
Prot. No. 154/81-01985<br />
<br />
Your Excellency,<br />
<br />
In your letter of February 14, 1996 you inquired what is the present position of the Church regarding the alleged "apparitions in Medjugorje' and whether it is permitted to the Catholic faith to go there for pilgrimage.<br />
<br />
In reference to that, it is my honor to make known to you that, regarding the authenticity of the apparitions in question, the Bishops of the former Yugoslavia confirmed in their <a href="http://medjugorjedocuments.blogspot.com/2008/09/zadar-declaration-1991.html">Declaration of April 10, 1991 published in Zadar</a>:<br />
<br />
<em>". . .On the basis of investigation up till now it cannot be established that one is dealing with supernatural apparitions and revelations.<br />
<br />
However, the numerous gatherings of the faithful from different parts of the world, who are coming to Medjugorje prompted both by motives of belief and certain other motives, require the attention and pastoral care in the first place of the bishop of the diocese and of the other bishops with him so that in Medjugorje, and everything related to it, a healthy devotion toward the Blessed Virgin Mary would be promoted in conformity with the teaching of the Church.<br />
<br />
For that purpose the bishops shall issue separate appropriate liturgical-pastoral directives. Likewise by means of their Commission they shall further follow and investigate the total event in Medjugorje."</em><br />
<br />
The result from this, in what is precisely said, is that <strong>official pilgrimages to Medjugorje, understood as a place of authentic Marian apparitions, are not permitted to be organized either on the parish or on the diocesan level</strong>, <strong>because that would be in contradiction to what the Bishops of former Yugoslavia affirmed in their fore mentioned Declaration</strong>.<br />
<br />
Kindly accept, your Excellency, an expression of my profoundly devoted affection!<br />
<br />
+ Tarcisio Bertone</blockquote><br />
<br />
<strong>AUGUST 1996: Vatican Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls</strong><br />
<blockquote><br />
Speaking on Aug. 21st 1996 in Rome Vatican Press Office spokesman, Dr. Joaquin Navarro-Valls, sought to clarify the status of pilgrimages to Medjugorje. He noted, after citing the 1991 Zadar Declaration,<br />
<br />
<em>"You cannot say people cannot go there until it has been proven false. This has not been said, so anyone can go if they want ... When one reads what Archbishop Bertone wrote, one could get the impression that from now on everything is forbidden, no possibility" for Catholics to travel to Medjugorje. But, in fact, "nothing has changed, nothing new has been said ... <strong>The problem is if you systematically organize pilgrimages, organize them with the bishop and the church, you are giving a canonical sanction to the facts of Medjugorje</strong> ... This is different from people going in a group who bring a priest with them in order to go to confession ... I was worried that what Archbishop Bertone said could be interpreted in too restricted a way. Has the church or the Vatican said no (to Catholics visiting Medjugorje)? NO. ... The difference, in the terms of canon law, is that an official pilgrimage, organized by the diocese with the bishop, is a way of giving a juridical sanction to the facts; you are saying this is true."</em></blockquote><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>MAY 1998: Letter from Abp Bertone to Bishop Aubrey (added emphasis in <span style="color: #009900;">green</span>)</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>CONGREGATIO PRO DOCTRINA FIDEI<br />
Pr. No 154/81-05922<br />
Citta del Vaticano, Palazzo del S. Uffizio<br />
May 26, 1998<br />
<br />
To His Excellency Mons. Gilbert Aubry,<br />
Bishop of Saint-Denis de la Reunion<br />
<br />
Excellency:<br />
<br />
In your letter of January 1, 1998, you submitted to this Dicastery several questions about the position of the Holy See and of the Bishop of Mostar in regard to the so called apparitions of Medjugorje, private pilgrimages and the pastoral care of the faithful who go there.<br />
<br />
In regard to this matter, I think it is impossible to reply to each of the questions posed by Your Excellency. The main thing I would like to point out is that the Holy See does not ordinarily take a position of its own regarding supposed supernatural phenomena as a court of first instance. As for the credibility of the "apparitions" in question, this Dicastery respects what was decided by the bishops of the former Yugoslavia in the Declaration of Zadar, April 10, 1991: <em>"On the basis of the investigations so far, it can not be affirmed that one is dealing with supernatural apparitions and revelations."</em> Since the division of Yugoslavia into different independent nations it would now pertain to the members of the Episcopal Conference of Bosnia-Hercegovina to eventually reopen the examination of this case, and to make any new pronouncements that might be called for.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #009900;">What Bishop Peric said <a href="http://chonak.tripod.com/documents/m19971002_peric.html">in his letter to the Secretary General of "Famille Chretienne"</a>, declaring: "My conviction and my position is not only <em>'non constat de supernaturalitate,'</em> but likewise, <em>'constat de non supernaturalitate'</em> of the apparitions or revelations in Medjugorje",</span> <strong><span style="color: #009900;">should be considered the expression of the personal conviction of the Bishop of Mostar which he has the right to express as Ordinary of the place, but which is and remains his personal opinion</span></strong>.<br />
<br />
Finally, as regards pilgrimages to Medjugorje, which are conducted privately, this Congregation points out that they are permitted <strong>on condition that they are not regarded as an authentification of events still taking place and which still call for an examination by the Church</strong>.<br />
<br />
I hope that I have replied satisfactorily at least to the principal questions that you have presented to this Dicastery and I beg Your Excellency to accept the expression of my devoted sentiments.<br />
<br />
Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone<br />
Secretary</blockquote><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">That statement I've highlighted in green</span>, has been severely distorted by promoters of Medjugorje. It has been presented in such a way as to lead readers to believe he has been "stripped of his authority". The bishop made clear in that letter he was speaking for himself because in the succeeding paragraph, he invites the Church to take on the matter for further study. More these kinds of distortions in a later post which will be linked here.Diane Korzeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06085979986006926002noreply@blogger.com