CDF reaches negative judgment on Medjugorje, Italian journalists report [CC]

[Catholic_Press]

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.”

More…

 

[Robert_Bay]

MODERATOR NOTICE

This is speculation until an announcement is made from the Vatican

I will leave the thread open so members can comment and place links to any announcements.

 

[Joe_5859]

Leave it to the Italian journalists to jump the gun on a Vatican announcement.

Not to say the journalists don’t have their facts straight. They very well may. But I look forward to hearing the official word.

 

[cjforJesus]

MODERATOR NOTICE

This is speculation until an announcement is made from the Vatican

I will leave the thread open so members can comment and place links to any announcements.

I do not see the Vatican overturning the 1991 commission. If you go to the Mostar diocese website it explains in detail the problems the bishops found.

That being said,I do not think that pilgrimages will be forbidden unless under the assumption of authenticity.

It is not just thousands of pilgrims but millions that have visited the site under the presumption that Mary is giving messages.

 

[Johann_du_Toit]

There are a lot of very pious Catholics in my parish who beleive in Medjugoe, who swear it changed their lives for the better. They will likely be disappointed if the Church’s ruling indeed does not affirm the apparitions.

However, if the Church, having studied the phenomenon at Medjugore for a relatively long period of time, affirms it is not supernatural, then so be it. The Magisterium of the Church has the last word on issues like these.

 

[PietroPaolo]

No surprise here.

 

[phil19034]

There are a lot of very pious Catholics in my parish who beleive in Medjugoe, who swear it changed their lives for the better. They will likely be disappointed if the Church’s ruling indeed does not affirm the apparitions.

However, if the Church, having studied the phenomenon at Medjugore for a relatively long period of time, affirms it is not supernatural, then so be it. The Magisterium of the Church has the last word on issues like these.

If the Church finally declares that the phenomenon at Medjugore is not “supernatural,” that doesn’t mean it’s not Angelic. But the problem with Angelic phenomenon is that we don’t know if they are good angels or bad angels (aka demons).

 

[Lormar]

No surprise to me either. I always feel sorry for Catholics who put so much of themselves into apparitions - alleged or real - to the point where the apparition becomes their magisterium almost.

 

[cjforJesus]

If the Church finally declares that the phenomenon at Medjugore is not “supernatural,” that doesn’t mean it’s not Angelic. But the problem with Angelic phenomenon is that we don’t know if they are good angels or bad angels (aka demons).

So are you trying to say that an angel is pretending to be the Blessed Virgin?

 

[cjforJesus]

No surprise to me either. I always feel sorry for Catholics who put so much of themselves into apparitions - alleged or real - to the point where the apparition becomes their magisterium almost.

The real problem will arise though if certain predictions come to pass.We may see a HUGE schism:many loosing faith and falling away from Holy Mother Church.

 

[Lormar]

The real problem will arise though if certain predictions come to pass.We may see a HUGE schism:many loosing faith and falling away from Holy Mother Church.

I wouldn’t worry about any Medjugorje predictions coming to pass. They’re “secret” anyway. Very wise move on the part of the alleged seers.

 

[cjforJesus]

I wouldn’t worry about any Medjugorje predictions coming to pass. They’re “secret” anyway. Very wise move on the part of the alleged seers.

Uh,no.They are not all secret but some very publicized.We are forbidden to discuss them here though

 

[Lormar]

Uh,no.They are not all secret but some very publicized.We are forbidden to discuss them here though

Uh, ok. :tiphat:

 

[Robert_Bay]

Uh,no.They are not all secret but some very publicized.We are forbidden to discuss them here though

Just to be clear what is banned in the In the News forums is: Promoting unapproved apparitions and revelations (those not approved by the Church for private or public devotion) or alleged private locutions

Discussion that is not promotion is fine.

 

[phil19034]

So are you trying to say that an angel is pretending to be the Blessed Virgin?

No, not really. I was simply commenting that angelic and demonic activity is not considered supernatural by the Church.

In regards to Medjugorje, I not familiar with it enough. I don’t know if the “vision” claims to be the Blessed Mother, or if the seers assume it is her

Dan Burke had a good blog post on the National Catholic Register regarding this today: ncregister.com/blog/dan-burke/medjugorje-and-the-authentic-work-of-god

 

[Tomdstone]

Some Traditional Catholic groups have expressed opposition to Medjugorje.

 

[agnes_therese]

Dan Burke had a good blog post on the National Catholic Register regarding this today: ncregister.com/blog/dan-burke/medjugorje-and-the-authentic-work-of-god

Thank you. He makes very good points.

 

[Joe_5859]

The real problem will arise though if certain predictions come to pass.We may see a HUGE schism:many loosing faith and falling away from Holy Mother Church.

I don’t think that is likely to happen. The original decision (which these journalists are saying appears to be upheld) is that there is no evidence of the supernatural. That is a different designation than saying there is evidence that it is not supernatural.

If new evidence came along later, the Church can always reevaluate the situation in light of the new evidence.

 

[Joe_5859]

Jimmy Akin also lends his voice of clarity to the topic:

Waiting for a Medjugorje Decision: 12 things to know and share

You can always count on Jimmy to sum things up well.

 

[_Abyssinia]

No Vatican decision yet on Medjugorje, leading journalist reports

catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=25372&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter