CDF reaches negative judgment on Medjugorje, Italian journalists report

Please, don't shoot the messenger.

CDF reaches negative judgment on Medjugorje, Italian journalists report

Catholic World News - June 25, 2015

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has reached a negative conclusion regarding the authenticity of the reported Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, according to Italian media reports.

The CDF reportedly held a feria quarta meeting on June 24, at which the prelates discussed the findings of a special papal commission that had investigated the Medjugorje phenomenon. According to several Italian journalists—notably Vatican-watch Gianluca Barile—the CDF agreed with that commission’s finding that there is no evidence of supernatural activity at Medjugorje.

The CDF’s conclusions will now be presented to Pope Francis, who will make the final judgment on the subject. If the reports are accurate, and the Pope confirms a negative verdict regarding the Medjugorje phenomenon, that decision will have a heavy impact on thousands of Catholics who have developed a special devotion to the site.

The CDF, according to the Italian media reports, has essentially supported the judgment rendered in 1991 by the bishops of what was then Yugoslavia. The CDF will reportedly recommend that pastors should not sponsor or support events that presume the reality of the visions claimed by the Medjugorje “seers.”

However, the CDF will reportedly urge recognition of Medjugorje as a special “place of prayer,” in light of the numerous reports of intense spiritual experiences enjoyed by visitors there. Pilgrimages to Medjugorje will not be forbidden, provided that they do not center on the alleged apparitions.

Earlier this month, Pope Francis told journalists that the Vatican is “close to coming to a decision” regarding Medjugorje. He said that he was awaiting a report from the CDF, and “then the results will be communicated.

Additional sources for this story
Some links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Medjugore, il Vaticano Boccia le Apparizioni ed Isola i Veggenti (Diario di un Vaticanista)
• Congr. Dottrina della Fede ha pronunciato suo NO su veggenti Medjugorje (Radio Spada)
• Negative judgment on Medjugorje could split Church, says noted Italian writer (CWN, 6/24)
• Pope Francis: ‘we are coming close to a decision’ on Medjugorje (CWN, 6/8)

 

Again, this is a more likely source of schism than other scenarios discussed of late.

Negative judgment on Medjugorje could split Church, says noted Italian writer

Catholic World News - June 24, 2015

As rumors swirl in Rome that the Vatican will soon issue a statement on the reported Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, a noted Italian journalist has warned that a negative judgment could prompt “something like a schism.”

Vittorio Messori said that the Medjugorje phenomenon has brought about “the largest mass movement for a battered Catholicism since the Council.” He cited the many people whose faith has been rekindled by visits to the little town in Bosnia-Herzegovina where the first apparitions were reported.

Messori suggested that Pope Francis would be prudent to take no official position regarding the authenticity of the apparitions, but simply to take note of the spiritual fruits.

In 1991, the bishops of what was then Yugoslavia issued a formal statement that the reported apparitions “cannot be affirmed as supernatural.” That statement remains the most authoritative judgment of the Church to date. The Vatican has cautioned pastors against sponsoring events that presume the authenticity of the reported apparitions.

An international commission, formed by Pope Benedict XVI to study the phenomenon, has completed its work and delivered its findings to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Pope Francis told journalists earlier this month that the Vatican is “close to coming to a decision” on the matter.

In a closely related development, a new book by a Brazilian priest, based on an interview with Pope Francis, reports that the Pontiff expressed clear skepticism about the reality of the reported apparitions and the motivations of the alleged seers of Medjugorje.

In his book She’s My Mother: Encounters of Pope Francis with Mary (not available in English), Father Alexander Awi Mello—who interviewed the Pontiff at length during the papal visit to Brazil for World Youth Day—says that the Holy Father voiced his suspicion that some people who claim visions have psychological problems, and others are deliberately deceiving the public. The Pope also reportedly scoffed at the idea that the Virgin Mary would make appearances on a set schedule, as the Medjugorje seers claim.

Still, according to the Brazilian priest, the Pope acknowledged the spiritual fruits of the Medjugorje phenomenon, saying: “So in the midst of human follies, God continues working miracles; isn’t that right?”

Additional sources for this story
Some links will take you to other sites, in a new window.

• Messori avverte Papa Francesco: "Se dirà no a Medjugorie si rischia uno scisma" (Il Giornale)
• Pope Francis revealed blunt thoughts on Medjugorje in interview in Brazilian book (Te Deum Laudamus)
• Pope Francis: ‘we are coming close to a decision’ on Medjugorje (CWN, 6/8)

 

Rubbish

 

Forgive me for my previous post, but critics of Medjugorje seem to be intent on destroying the place and the good work it has done, discrediting the visionaries and using Pope Francis' name to further undermine it without even the Vatican giving an official verdict, only speculation of the press.

 

The CDF has found in the negative regarding these apparitions and the Pope is going to promulgate their findings under his authority. When that becomes official who will Medjugorje advocates pillory?

 

Medjugorje has had its enemies within sections of the Church from the time the apparitions started, maybe it's because it promotes love and faith rather than prestige of being apart of the Church or the "spiritual worldliness" as Pope Francis calls it. Perhaps that is the part the conservatives don't like and why they wish to undermine it, because it is focused on the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law .

 

My understanding is the CDF and the a Pope have the following 3 choices as far as decision:

Types of Decisions.

The decision of the local bishop should be one of the following: 1) constat de supernaturalitate (established as supernatural), 2) constat de non supernaturalitate(established as not supernatural); or 3) non constat de supernaturalitate (not established as supernatural).

1. Constat de supernaturalitate. An apparition judged supernatural (formerly called worthy of belief) has manifested signs or evidence of being an authentic or truly miraculous intervention from heaven. This judgment is possible when there is evidence of supernatural phenomena, sound doctrine, moral probity, mental health and sound piety of the seer(s) and enduring good fruits among the faithful.

The issue of supernaturality is one that deserves to be explored more fully. According to the common teaching of the Church, most extraordinary phenomena in the mystical order (visions, apparitions, locutions, ecstasies, mystical knowledge etc.) are caused by angels acting on God's behalf. Whether the burning bush which Moses saw, the ecstatic flights of St. Joseph Cupertino, the stigmata of St. Francis or the revelations of St. Catherine, the general rule in the spiritual order is that God does not do immediately and directly what can be done mediately through a lower order nature, in this case the good angels. The presence of such phenomenon is not, therefore, unequivocal evidence of supernaturality. Each of the approved apparitions have had such clear signs, from the instantaneous and inexplicable cures at Lourdes to the natural prodigy of October 13th 1917 in Fátima, but also the other marks of authenticity mentioned above.

2. Constat de non supernaturalitate. The judgment that an alleged apparition has been shown to be not supernatural means it iseither clearly not miraculous or lacks sufficient signs of the miraculous. Private revelation, for example, which is doctrinally dangerous or which manifests hostility to lawful authority could not come from God. It could even be demonic, especially if there are extraordinary signs accompanying it. The devil gladly mingles truth and lie to deceive the faithful, dazzling them with signs and wonders to give credence to his message. His purpose is to separate them from the Church, either by getting them to believe things contrary to the deposit of the faith or to act contemptuously of Church authority. An attitude of pride and judgment toward the Church is a clear sign of his presence. An alleged revelation may also only be a pious rambling, consistent with faith and morals, but lacking evidence of being anything more than the product of human effort. No fraud need be intended, only an active imagination. Finally, it may be that the doctrine may be sound and there may be phenomena, but insufficient to demonstrate supernaturality. In this latter case, there would seem to be a possibility of revision.

3. Non constat de supernaturalitate. Finally, it may not be evident whether or not the alleged apparition is authentic. This judgment would seem to be completely open to further evidence or development.

It seems to me that depending upon why it would be considered non- supernatural, there would be opportunity for it to be revisited.

As far as this news, it's the medjugorie decision de jour - every day it seems some newspaper or journalist has the inside scoop. Let's wait and see and then no matter where you fall on this accept the decision and move on

 

If that's the decision it would be quite good from the view of Medjugorje supporters. The pilgrimages would continue maybe completely unchanged or maybe only slightly tweaked.

It's only if there was a complete ban on pilgrimages that problems would arise I'd say, but even if that happened people ought to be obedient.

 

Rubbish.

 

I, as BrianK, am not a believer that the Medjugorje apparitions are from God. I will wait for the official Vatican statement to respond, but I will say to all those who support Medjugorje I will take no happiness in their sorrow if a negative judgement comes down. I pray it will not shake anyone's faith.

I actually believe there are not supernatural, but preternatural events occurring there. I always hear of it's "fruits", but it is the only apparition I am aware of whose "fruits" are constant arguing and bickering among the faithful. My sister was shunned at her charismatic meeting after innocently proffering that she didn't believe the apparitions were from God.

 

I don't need Medjugorie to enhance my Catholic faith, but I believe in it for the many good fruits it has borne. Things are very political in the Churh today and this makes it very hard to give blind accent to nondoctrinal feelings. I have heard what family and friends have said and experienced while there and these are not the work of the evil one. Medjugorie will bear out soon enough the way the world is going. Our Lady will have the last say if it indeed is authentic.

 

I have to laugh in picturing any visionary, like Mirjana for instance, with tape over their mouths as they continue to wait on and serve the pilgrims who continue to stay with them and who themselves will still be given permission to do so! Rather schizophrenic just as those able to travel to the area could witness everything available while not permitting even a portion of same freedom to those elsewhere who couldn't manage to physically travel there. Sad, the lack of charity that is witnessed so much due to hierarchical decisions so often completely divorced from the place being studied. Now, hopefully Muller and the CDF members didn't mean to also promote taking away the livelihoods of such villagers....iow, the consequences of such top down decisions.

This isn't surprising though when Muller had preempted such a decision by his own actions, before even studying the commission's report, by his letters sent out to the bishops influencing them NOT to give any stage....any longer.....to the invited visionary/s within their dioceses. He also had been told to come up much earlier with a decision....like the first of May.....but instead put it off, I think purposely, in order to gin up the anti-Medj element within the dissenter blogs et al. Hopefully the Pope will do something like his final talk at the pre-synod synod and not let such silliness continue within the confusion coming forth from all the little "popes" these days.

 

You haven't heard of Fatima??!!

 

The Vatican will look foolish if they make a negative or positive judgement now before the secrets are realised or not!

 

June 25, 2015, Thursday — Negative Judgment on the Apparitions in Medjugorge?



An Italian journalist is claiming that a Vatican office yesterday rejected the authenticity of the Medjugorge apparitions of the Virgin Mary (link).



Italian Vaticanist Gianluca Barile's report cites no named sources.



No official statement has been made by the Vatican.



However, this report is already being circulated by email on the internet.



And this is causing concern and confusion to many around the world who believed that what was taking place at Medjugorge was good and was bearing good spiritual fruit. Millions of pilgrims have visited Medjugorge since the apparitions began in 1981.



Though Barile cites no sources, it seems clear that he wrote his report based on information provided by someone who was present at the Vatican meeting yesterday to decide the case.



Barile is reporting that yesterday, June 24, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Prefect of the Doctrine of the Faith, presided over a Plenary Assembly of the Congregation to weigh a special report on the apparitions prepared over the past several years upon the specific request of Pope Benedict XVI. This meeting did occur.



Barile says the meeting concluded with a decision by the Congregation that the alleged apparitions and messages of the Madonna to the six "seers" of this small town in Bosnia-Herzegovina, who claim to have been receiving regular daily messages from the "Lady" for 34 years -- beginning on June 24 in 1981 -- are not authentic, do not have a supernatural cause.



"Why so much severity by the Vatican?" Barile asks. "First, for the inconsistency of the theological message; then because of the economic interests of the 'seers' who have invested in hotels and travel agencies."



He says the Vatican concluded that "true visionaries had never made financial gain on their own appearances."



However, the author notes that the "last word" still is left to Pope Francis.



Pope Francis still must issue a special decree on Medjugorge, so the matter will not be settled until that happens.



However, on June 6, Francis told reporters that the decision of the Congregation "will be communicated" when it is taken, suggesting that he would not over-rule the Congregation's decision.



Thus, Barile writes, "it is difficult to think that the Pope might change the conclusions of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith."



What would then happen to Medjugorge?



Medjugorge can still be a special “place of prayer" and pilgrimages to Medjugorje will not be forbidden, but they must not center on the alleged apparitions.

 

http://www.spiritdaily.com/Laurentinreligious.htm

 

The conclusion of the article above says it all to me, not just in refernce to Medjugorie or other apparitions, but in general as it relates to the Church, Pope, and Magasterium :

" as the Bible says, "Obedience is more desired than sacrifice."

 

Of course I have, there is no comparison between the two.

 

Actually the Vatican can make a negative decision on any visionary they feel is leading the faithful astray before any prophecies or predictions come to pass. They do this all the time with "visionaries" such as at Bayside.

 

This is true.

We have to look at the big picture. I am old enough now to know that all things pass, only God remains.

Medugorje may fall under a shadow now but on the Third Day will rise again.

Shadows are only passing things.