T
thistle
Guest
The problem is that most Catholics are totally unaware of this and think that what is happening in Medjugorie is real and the local franciscans perpetuate this thinking by claiming that the Holy See has not yet given approval implying approval is pending. The Masses do not realise that approval is not pending because there is no need for Rome to make a decision because, as you correctly pointed out, step one in the process failed.DD,
That claim is a kind of smoke screen for at least a couple reasons. Firstly, CDF may never get involved at all; to date the CDF has referred to the decision of “non constat” (1991) as the Church’s position. Secondly, while a judgment of authentic supernaturality of an apparition would, in prudence, follow cessation of the events taking place, that scenario could not happen in Medjugorje: according to the CDF’s 1978 norms for discerning alleged apparitions, that particular scenario is the third step in the entire process. The initial step is examination of the facts of the case. Following a favorable examination of facts, step two entails the allowing of public devotion and continuing investigation. Only then, after time, could step three follow. Medjugorje did not get a favorable result in the examination of its facts, and failed step one; public devotion has never been permitted, the title Queen of Medjugorje has not been allowed, and investigations are not continuing.
I understand that when Pope Benedict was still Cardinal Ratzinger he called Medjugorie a hoax. Its just a pity that this statement could not be publicly announced now he is Pope.