Medjugorje Apparitions
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The Catholic Church's Official & Current Position on MEDJUGORJE

Medjugorje Exhibits

The Official and Current Position of the Catholic Church on Medjugorje is the Zadar Declaration, signed by the Yugoslavian Bishops' Conference and unveiled in 1991. It states, "On the basis of the investigations so far, it cannot be affirmed that one is dealing with supernatural apparitions and revelations."

Since that time, the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has instructed the faithful not to participate in events in which the "Seers" of Medjugorje promise apparitions of the Virgin Mary. Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has called for an end to Church sponsorships of these events.

In a letter dated October 23, 2013, addressed to the US bishops, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington, conveyed Archbishop Müller's declaration, stating, "Clerics and the faithful are not permitted to participate in meetings, conferences or public celebrations during which the credibility of such 'apparitions' would be taken for granted.”

In his letter, Archbishop Vigano reminds the US Bishops that until the Vatican renders a final judgment on Medjugorje, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has asked for the acceptance of the statement issued in 1991 by the bishop of what was then Yugoslavia, who said: "On the basis of the research that has been done, it is not possible to state that there were apparitions or supernatural revelations."

A copy of Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano's letter, stating the Catholic Church's official and current position on Medjugorge, reads as follows:

Medjugorje Exhibits Catholic Church's Declaration on Medjugorje

Medjugorje Exhibits

Transcription:

October 23, 2013

APOSTOLIC NUNCIATURE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
PN 3980

Reverend Monsignor Jenkins,

I write at the request of His Excellency, the Most Reverend Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who asks, that the Bishops of the United States be advised, once again, of the following (cf. my letter of 27 February 2013, of the same protocol number). Thus, his Excellency wishes to inform the Bishops that one of the so-called visionaries of Medjugorje, Mr. Ivan Dragičević, is scheduled to appear at certain parishes around the country, during which time he will make presentations regarding the phenomenon of Medjugorje. It is anticipated, moreover, that Mr.Dragičević will be receiving "apparitions" during these scheduled appearances.

As you are well aware, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is in the process of investigating certain doctrinal and disciplinary aspects of the phenomenon of Medjugorje. For this reason, the Congregation has affirmed that, with regard to the credibility of the "apparitions" in question, all should accept the declaration, dated 10 April 1991, from the Bishops of the former Republic of Yugoslavia, which asserts: "On the basis of the research that has been done, it is not possible to state that there were apparitions or supernatural revelations." It follows, therefore, that clerics and the faithful are not permitted to participate in meetings, conferences or public celebrations during which the credibility of such "apparitions" would be taken for granted.

In order, therefore, to avoid scandal and confusion, Archbishop Müller asks that the Bishops be informed of this matter as soon as possible.

I take this opportunity to present to you my sentiments of profound esteem, and remain,

Sincerely yours in Christ
Carlo Maria Viganò
Apostolic Nuncio



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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