Kurt G.:
Diane, at least I addressed them! I mentioned that your post was pretty solid, and I for one, could not begin to challenge it…
I would only mention (and keep mentioning if need be) that the whole phenomenon, as far as the Church is concerned, is still open to investigation.
** Those who insist to call us disobedient, and who insist that the Church has closed the case, might look a little closer at the true facts.
**(But you present a very commendable case for your position, I must say! The reasons I disagree with you are very personal and private, not because I discount any of your evidence.)
Do you really think the “mods” are watching this thread?
GOD BLESS US ALL!
Hi Kurt,
If the Bishop ordered the messages to not be published, then how do you get them, if not through an act of disobedience to the local Bishop on the part of “seers”?
If the Bishop ordered that the publication of materials supporting the apparitions cease, then how is it not an act of disobedience on the part of any person who, fully knowledgeable about the order, continues to write books, magazines and produce websites which publish messages (which are not suppose to be released) as authentic, with no disclaimers whatsoever?
Innocent Catholics, since March 25, 1985, have continued to be drawn in to Medjugorje through a litany of disobedient acts on the part of the “seers” and on the part of those closest to them, who had the ability to discourage the publications and material which was ordered to be ceased (most notably the Franciscan priests who take a vow of obedience, which is not some kind of symbolic gesture, but truly something they will be judged by He who cannot be fooled).
** What must the Blessed Mother, the absolute model of obedience, humility, and charity, think of these kinds of acts done in the name of the Queen of Peace? Does it take humility or pride to say, “I’m going to keep publishing messages in spite of the Bishop’s orders”? It is clearly disobedient so lets move to charity. Are they showing charity toward’s their bishop through their disobedient acts? The grace of God will not lead one into prideful acts. Only the self and the devil can do that. God’s grace is purely visible when one makes an act of humility, and an act of charity, and an act of obedience. That is a measure of true grace. It is why it ranks high on the list for critiera concerning discernment of apparitions.**
This is no light matter. And “seers” parading around the United States, invited and sponsored by parishes, using parish property only leads more innocent Catholics, who know nothing of these directives, into participating in activities that have no business taking place, especially on Church property because it gives credibility to the claims of the “seers”, making it appear as if it is sanctioned by the Catholic Church. This is highly deceptive on the part of organizers who are fully aware of those 1985 directives. Deception is not evidence of God’s grace in the activity. Once again, only the self and the devil are capable of this.
Truth is not even buried in the websites of supporters who promote the messages, pilgrimages, and other things ordered to be halted. It is plainly absent. This too is a fruit. One would never know that the pilgrimages being arranged are not suppose to give authentication to the events, especially when the publish messages as if they were authentic - messages that are not even suppose to be published.
Anyone reading this thread, no longer has the luxury of being uninformed about the directives laid out by the local Bishops of Mostar-Duvno in March of 1985. How can anyone who knows of this, continue to view those messages and buy that stuff and go to these parishes that sponsor “seers” knowing of these directives? And, if anyone wishes to hide behind the notion that since nothing is published to answer my questions in post 223, then you may want to consider the obligation we all have to inform our consciences and write to Bishop Peric to find out the latest status. Pose those questions to him directly and ask with humility in the spirit of truth. If you find the answers and can still reconcile reading those messages, then you have made an informed decision to blow off the man whose job it is to discern authenticity of the apparitions. His email address is available on his website. Since I must sign off someone else can provide that web address again.