…
Once again, we cannot look at the good fruits alone, or judge for ourselves that this is authentic. Judgment is reserved to the Church and it is the job of the local Ordinary to do that discernment…
Prior to 1978 your statement would be entirely accurate, Diane. But,
after the **CDF’s 1978 Document on Apparition Discernment, **policies were put into place which allowed for authorities
other than the local Bishop to assume such responsibilities.
True, Section III (1) mentions, “
The foremost authority to inquire and to intervene belongs to the local Ordinary.”
But then Section IV (1.b) says “
It belongs to the Sacred Congregation to interene of its own accord in serious cases, in particular when the
event affects a broad portion of the Church; but the Ordinary will always be consulted… if the situation requires it.”
The timing is really interesting. It looks like the CDF had issued a policy, virtually “taylor made” for the Medjugorje event itself, three years before Medj. even began!
Since the CDF has made official statements regarding the Medjugorje events (1996 is the last one I know of, you may know others), it would appear that the
CDF is in the “official” driver’s seat regarding Medjugorje,
not the local Ordinaries, and
not the previous Yugoslavian Bishops’ Commission.
Lux_et_veritas:
Medjugorje enjoys no support among those whom the Church gives jurisdiction for discernment of apparitions - the local Ordinary.
We believe the local Ordinary no longer has jurisdiction for discernment of Medjugorje, such jurisdiction having been transferred to the CDF. So whether Medj has the support of the local Bishop is not an issue.
Lux_et_veritas:
The public silence of the Pope also says alot. Supporters will, however, talk about how the Pope (past and present) have privately supported Medjugorje. This has warning flags all over it when supposedly a Pope supports something, but he doesn’t make it known publicly. He silence says more.
It helps a bunch and makes things clearer.
