My mother is involved with Caritas of Birmingham

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The Caritas of Birmingham see to be a sincere group intent on honoring Mary and spreading devotion to her. My mother wants our family to visit the Caritas this summer as a visionary from Medjugorie will be there and I want to go with her. We have recently heard that the Caritas may be a " splinter" Catholic group, not sanctioned by the Vatican and possibly not sincere. Can you tell me truely is the group on the up and up as they really do seem to be? My mother even traveled to Bosnia with them in November and they had Mass daily, Rosary devotions, and seemed truely sincere.
Thank you.
 
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thatsamore:
We have recently heard that the Caritas may be a " splinter" Catholic group, not sanctioned by the Vatican and possibly not sincere. Can you tell me truely is the group on the up and up as they really do seem to be? My mother even traveled to Bosnia with them in November…and seemed truely sincere.
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Of course, many Catholics believe anything related to Medjugorie represents a “splinter group.” But I digress.

Caritas is not sanctioned by the Vatican. In itself, this is not problematic - many great groups lack official Vatican recognition. But there is ample reason to be concerned about Caritas - See this link or this AP news article for more information (or Google the group’s name for LOTS of other similar info).
 
Thanks for the link, I did look at it, I am now confused as to whether there is an “unfair attack” being waged on a sincere and devoted group of individuals or if the charges are true. How does one find out for sure?
 
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thatsamore:
…I am now confused as to whether there is an “unfair attack” being waged on a sincere and devoted group of individuals or if the charges are true. How does one find out for sure?
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I don’t know that it’s possible to know for sure, since these are spiritual matters. But if just 10% (or even 1%) of the allegations are true, it would *still *be grounds for SERIOUS hesitation.

But WHY, WHY, WHY would anyone want to take a chance in the first place? The Catholic Church offers *many *approved apparations and messages, which we may accept without reservation. Does you mother find all of these so inadequate that she feels she must seek out the Terry Colafrancescos of the world - people who operate beyond what the Church has sanctioned for Her children?

Sure, these folks are devoted. There are lots of perfectly good groups and orginizations which are filled with devoted people. But I’ve never heard of a real, honest-to-goodnes **cult **that wasn’t filled with devoted people, either. Devotion is no measure of validity.

I don’t understand! The Church offers a broad and rich spirituality. Why take a chance on something like Terry Colafrancesco or Caritas of Birmingham? Why? Why? Why?

Why?
 
OK, for the sake of argument…why not? If the Caritas is a sincere group dedicated to promoting loyalty to Mary, that seems good. The problem is this: HOW to discern? It would be terrible to dismiss a truely holy organization that would grow and spread devotion with our support. However, I wish there was some official word, or some watchgroup that could judge the sincerity of groups such as Caritas which appear to be Catholic. There is a document offered by the grup stating that it is fine to read the book they have printed, the letter is signed by a Vatican official.I appreciate your (name removed by moderator)ut, I am truely at a loss as to what to do…my mother is adamant that the people at Caritas are devout and sincere. She is going to visit them again this summer for the special event of a visionary from Medugorie visiting.
 
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thatsamore:
OK, for the sake of argument…why not? If the Caritas is a sincere group dedicated to promoting loyalty to Mary, that seems good.
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Because the leader of this group (who sets its spiritual direction) might very well be a total crackpot, that’s why! And you* DON’T KNOW*. Why travel long distances to find a devout Marian group that operates beyond the Church? Are there no chapters of the Blue Army or the Knights of the Immaculata or the Legion of Mary (etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc)?
my mother is adamant that the people at Caritas are devout and sincere
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And I have absolutely NO DOUBT whatsoever that they ARE devout and sincere. But that doesn’t mean they are not being misled! People confuse sincerity with validity. It’s possible to be sincerely WRONG. Find me just one member of a cult who is not devoted and sincere!
 
thatsamore said:
The Caritas of Birmingham see to be a sincere group intent on honoring Mary and spreading devotion to her. My mother wants our family to visit the Caritas this summer as a visionary from Medjugorie will be there and I want to go with her. We have recently heard that the Caritas may be a " splinter" Catholic group, not sanctioned by the Vatican and possibly not sincere. Can you tell me truely is the group on the up and up as they really do seem to be? My mother even traveled to Bosnia with them in November and they had Mass daily, Rosary devotions, and seemed truely sincere.
Thank you.
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Marija, the visionary, will be coming to Caritas from July 1st thru 5th. The Blessed Mother would not let this “visionary” come there, if they were not sincere. Please go with your mother, to experience this coming of the Blessed Mother with your Mom. This means alot to your Mother. People can say many things…but, for those who have been there for these “apparitions”…knows it is real. I have been to Medjugorje also. Peace, avemariablue
 
avemariablue said:
Marija, the visionary, will be coming to Caritas from July 1st thru 5th. The Blessed Mother would not let this “visionary” come there, if they were not sincere.
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Is that how you measure whether a movement is genuine, by their sincerity? Many are the sincere mistakes I’ve made in my lifetime.

“The Blessed Mother would not let…”? How can you know what the Blessed Mother would do vis-a-vis the “visionary’s” God-given free will?

Tell me, do you think it is possible that a “visionary” could sin or make a mistake in judgement? Or would the Blessed Mother “not allow” that?

The true test of anything Catholic is whether it’s true to the teachings of the Church. If teachings of visionaries or movements oppose Church teachings, flee from them with all speed!
 
DavidFilmer said:
I don’t know that it’s possible to know for sure, since these are spiritual matters. But if just 10% (or even 1%) of the allegations are true, it would *still *be grounds for SERIOUS hesitation.

But WHY, WHY, WHY would anyone want to take a chance in the first place? The Catholic Church offers *many *approved apparations and messages, which we may accept without reservation. Does you mother find all of these so inadequate that she feels she must seek out the Terry Colafrancescos of the world - people who operate beyond what the Church has sanctioned for Her children?

Sure, these folks are devoted. There are lots of perfectly good groups and orginizations which are filled with devoted people. But I’ve never heard of a real, honest-to-goodnes **cult **that wasn’t filled with devoted people, either. Devotion is no measure of validity.

I don’t understand! The Church offers a broad and rich spirituality. Why take a chance on something like Terry Colafrancesco or Caritas of Birmingham? Why? Why? Why?

Why?
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The Medjugorje visionary,Marija ( who is coming to Caritas) , has been having these apparitions of the Blessed Mother, which is “still” going on now for twenty six years . These are the longest running apparitions ever in the world. Pope John Paul met with the visionaries in Rome. Do you really think that the Blessed Mother would let any of these visionary’s continually visit a place that was not sincere? No, of course not. This is real…Our Holy Mother is coming, and Marija will recommend all those who are present, especially the sick, to Our Lady. Our Lady always extends Her arms above all who are gathered at Her apparitions and prays over them. I have been to Medjugorje twice and also to Caritas when Marija comes. Also, regarding this period of apparitions, Our Holy Mother has told the visionaries, that when these apparitions have stopped, that She will not appear any more on this earth. Go to be in the presence of Our Holy Mother…experience this for yourself. Millions have gone to Medjugorje…and now Our Holy Mother is coming here to you. Peace, avemariablue
 
seekerz said:
Is that how you measure whether a movement is genuine, by their sincerity? Many are the sincere mistakes I’ve made in my lifetime.

“The Blessed Mother would not let…”? How can you know what the Blessed Mother would do vis-a-vis the “visionary’s” God-given free will?

Tell me, do you think it is possible that a “visionary” could sin or make a mistake in judgement? Or would the Blessed Mother “not allow” that?

The true test of anything Catholic is whether it’s true to the teachings of the Church. If teachings of visionaries or movements oppose Church teachings, flee from them with all speed!
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There have been more “good” fruits coming from Medjugorje, and nothing has EVER been against any of the church’s teachings. I will pray for you and for all those that have doubts. It’s okay…one day you will see. Faith is a “gift”. In time, we will all come to know what GREAT gift our heavenly Father is giving us now. Peace my friend, avemariablue
 
I want to remind our participants of Content Rule 6:

Do not post material from unapproved private revelations.

Material from unapproved private revelations include:
Visions you’ve had
Messages God asked you to transmit
Messages from Bayside
Messages from Medjugorje

If you post material from unapproved private revelations, your account will be subject to the Enforcement Rules, which could include immediate suspension or banning of your account.
 
Michael_Francis said:
I want to remind our participants of Content Rule 6:
Do not post material from unapproved private revelations.
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For those who have recently joined this THREE YEAR OLD thread and are somewhat confused, I can offer this information:
  • Code: 
     A member posted some responses to this VERY OLD thread (why?  I don't know)
  • The responses mentioned support from one of the main participants (whom some call ‘visionaries’) of the events in Bosnia
  • This particular subject is off-topic in these forums, so the moderator deleted the more-recent posts
    For those who may search for the term “Caritas of Birmingham” and find this thread, note that it is **impossible **to separate the topic of “Caritas of Birmingham” and the topic of the situation in Bosnia (which some call “visions”). So it is difficult to discuss this particular organization within this forum, because the topic of “Caritas of Birmingham” is so tightly associated with events (which some call “visions”) which are off-topic here.
While the substance of the messages of Bosnia are off-topic, I do not believe that postings establishing a *relationship *between various organizations are off-topic. So I am fairly confident that this particular message is not off-topic in this forum.

For more information on this relationship, you may refer to a newspaper article in the hometown (Birmingham) newspaper: postherald.com/caritas.shtml
 
It strikes me that the relationship which Caritas of Birmingham enjoys with one of these purported seers from Bosnia, is a sort of agency relationship; and there are other promoters of these purported visions in Bosnia who seem to have agency relationships with the other purported seers of the Bosnian ‘visions’.
Really, it’s as though Caritas of Birmingham has the “Marija franchise”, and can book you today for a seat at an “apparition” that will occur next July; another organization has the “Ivan franchise”, and can book an “apparition” in your home parish, during winter months; a third outfit has the “Mirjana franchise” (she’s the pretty one) and markets videotapes of her “apparitions”.
 
a third outfit has the “Mirjana franchise” (she’s the pretty one) and markets videotapes of her “apparitions”.
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LOL, I think you must be referring to my production company, because many of the videos I produce feature Mirjana. Your assertion of some kind of franchise arrangement shows me how much you really know about the subject (not much). I agree, be wary of Caritas, but don’t write about things you don’t know, lest you get judged by the same measure.
 
My family (wife and 5 daughters) went to Medjugorje with Caritas in 2005 and my wife and I went with them again for the 25th anniversary of Medjugorje in 2006. We got to know many of the Caritas people including Terry Colafrancesco and his family. This past summer we visited their facilities in Sterrett, AL. I can only speak from my experience but I have never found a more sincere and dedicated group of people in my life. They are focused on one thing only, spreading and promoting the Blessed Mother’s messages given to the visionaries.

I have been at 2 apparitions, one of which was in Marija’s private chapel where I was 3 feet away from her during it. I have met all of the visionaries except Ivanka. I have had the chance to talk to Marijana and Marija and ask them questions. I have been to talks given by Ivan. I am thoroughly convinced that what is happening in Medjugorje is very real.

In my opinion, your mother could not find anything more worthwhile to do that go to Caritas this summer and see Marija. Just tell her it will be hot and crowded and people will be people, so don’t go expecting that it will be easy. She will need to go with an open mind and offer up all the stress and inconveniences from dealing with crowds, lack of parking, and yes even dealing with the occasional rude person. By this I am not saying that the people who will be there are rude, but you will experience those who have no consideration for others. Even when we were in Medjugorje, we had to deal with so many different nationalities and people that would have upset us greatly if we had not been prepared by our Caritas guides to let it go and to expect that things would happen that we would find upsetting. Tell her to go. It will change her life for ever.
 
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