… another ridiculous medjugorje spin-off…
Yes, “Medjugorje spin-off” is what he coined, and gets repeated. Its not charitable.
Whatever it is with Medjugorje , you have to admit there is some genuinely good fruit coming out of it - whether its “because-of” or “in-spite-of” the happenings there.
I am not denying there is bad fruit too - although I have not seen it. I have not studied Medj.(only read one rather factual book).
What I have seen is only the good fruit. There is a local professional couple here of some prominence who live a humble faithful life - examplary in Catholic practice. I once asked the mother whether what had inspired her great faith? She spoke briefly and frankly, saying that she and her husband went to Medjugorje and came back converted, living their Catholic faith like they never had. She said she realizes there is controversy on Medj., but said frankly that they had truly experienced the presence of God there.
As I said, I am no expert on Medj. but I wonder if the
adament detractors might consider scripture: “When two or more are gathered in my name, I am there among you.” Certainly the crowds there are gathered in the name of Jesus, and that can be respected.
So I cannot have the same flippant attitude towards people that have been inspired by Medjugorje that you and Salbato seem to have.
One thing that bothers me a lot about Salbato is that he speaks disparagingly about divorced women. In the sinful times we live in, there can certainly be serious reason for divorce. A marriage takes two people of good will. One is not enough. God normally does not violate the will of man. So one can be divorced and blameless. But Salbato uses the word divorced like a Scarlett letter. Its not right.
…It does get a little boring after awhile. If you find out enough about her background …
I think you should be careful about that. Its serious sin to spread lies about someone - and the way this article is written, there is no way of knowing if Salbato’s completely unsubstantiated accusations are true. They sound like lies to me.
One of Salbato’s accusations rests on the word of the ex-husband of a woman who fled for domestic violence help. Who is he? We don’t know his name or anything about him. Supposedly a woman who is supposed to be the real “Anne” gave this woman un-Catholic advice. But we don’t know if this is true. But Salbato writes as if it is. This bad advice that proves “Anne” is bad would have come through a private conversation, and is reported by a hostile ex-husband not privy to the actual conversation.
So why is Salbato writing this stuff? Because its a temptation for a writer to write Enquirer-style investigative reports? It certainly gets attention. Its big business for the gossip rags. People gobble it up! And no one cares if its true! They get a good feeling - that they have some kind of “insider info”!
…and the flaky way she tried to get bishops from other parts of the world to support her work etc…
Do you know the flaky way she did this? I don’t think you do. I think you only know that Salbato inferred she did this in a flaky way. But the facts aren’t there so you shouldn’t judge.
…It is apparent she’s basically a clever business woman…
Oo! That word “clever” has a real bite here. Is she “suspect” because she is a business woman? What’s a women to do, left alone in the world to raise a child? I guess she only has two choices: to be a “business woman” or a “welfare woman”. Either way, it disparagable. As we see here.
…Who, surprise surprise, started having her ‘locutions’ after a visit to surprise surprise again…medjugorje…
If mr salbato comes across as harsh in his disclosures about this woman, it wouldn’t surprise me. Sometimes people have to be hit with a two by four before they ‘get it.’ …
Yes, and Salbato seems to have volunteered to do the hitting with the 2 by 4 - but I think his aim is way off.
…When Our Lady makes any kind of appearance private or public she is a woman of few words and does not rattle off volumes of religious nonsense…
Where in scripture or in the teaching of Our Church does it say there is a certain limit in the wisdom that will be imparted by Our Lady? Has Our Lady ever said in an approved apparition that we will know her words by the brevity of them? Or anything like that?
…If you want real spiritual insight read the lives of the saints. Not the ravings of a woman who dares to call herself “an apostle.” No humility in this one.
I think the pot is calling the kettle black! Sorry, I am sure you are not meaning to display lack of humility. But I think you are, so I am telling you. Humility is all over these works, which you would see if you read them. Then you could make an accurate judgment - based on reality not gossip.
I have found real spiritual insight in the lives of the Saints. I have read so many, I do not remember them all. But I am remembering the story of one Saint - perhaps it was St. Phillip Neri - who told a women in confession who had confessed gossip, that for her pennance, she was to go out in the marketplace and empty a pillow. She did and the feathers flew everywhere. She came back to him and he told her, “OK, now go and gather them up.” She said that is impossible. He said yes, and that is like your words of gossip. Impossible to clean-up.
What damage spreading unkind words does, true or untrue. What concerns me about Salbatos gossip is that its probably not true. Well “Anne” may well be a prophet of God - I think she is - and we always terribly mistreat the prophets of God. Salbato is in common company.
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