[UPDATE (1/5): Bishop Peric has issued an English version of his statement on his diocesan website.]
Bishop Ratko Peric of Mostar has issued a letter of public criticism of Christoph Cardinal Schöborn, O.P., the Archbishop of Vienna, for his public statements endorsing the claims of apparitions in Medjugorje.
The Cardinal's latest interference in the case is a so-called "private" visit he made over New Year's. It was so private that it was announced in advance by bloggers, confirmed by the Cardinal's spokesman, and followed by the media when he arrived. It included public celebrations of Mass, a visit to the alleged apparition site in the company of a "seer", and an address in Italian to visitors. However, there was no notice to the local bishop, and not even a courtesy visit.
Bishop Peric has delivered a statement that I find refreshingly frank. I can't remember anything comparable from a bishop, really. Here are some quotes (my translation from the Italian version on Bp. Peric's diocesan site):
- "I am surprised because no one from Cardinal Schonborn's office has contacted me, even up to the publication of this statement,"
- "I suppose that the Cardinal knows the position of the Church, based on the findings of the commission and its conclusion that no one can say that these are "supernatural apparitions or private revelations."
- "His visit ... [to religious orders operating in the diocese without permission] can be read as an encouragement for their ecclesiastical disobedience."
- "the Cardinal, with his visit, appearance, and statements, is adding to the present suffering of the local Church"
Diane Korzeniewski has posted an English version on her blog.
Well, thank you for posting this news about Bishop Peric's response to the Cardinal's visit to Medjugorje. Without it, the average person who relies on Catholic News sites might not have known how publicly and forthrightly the Cardinal had come out in favour of Medjugorje!
Bishop Peric is fearless, has made another sober assessment of things as they stand.
The behavior of Card. Schönborn is a scandal. He places himself above bishop Peric of Mostar who has jurisdiction about Medjugorje.Read his own website www.cbismo.com Click on Medjugorski fenomen and then on English.
AVE MARIA !
God bless Cardinal Schonborn.
Does Our Lady need the permission of Bishop Peric before she appears in Medjugorje?
Thanks be to God for this time of grace.
AVE MARIA !
Bishop Peric's statement also appears on the web page of the Catholic Press Agency of the Conference of Bishops of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Authentic mystics always obey lawful authority in the Church. By doing so, they securely obey the voice of Christ.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque obeyed her spiritual director at times, contrary to messages she received from Our Lord (in her visions of his Sacred Heart), and Jesus praised her for doing so.
Editor:
If yet another example was needed of Schonborn's arrogance and contempt for the two thousand year tradition of the Church he disgraces, then this is it. That he puts his prestige at the service of this ridiculous charade at Medjugorje is just another example of the Cardinal's lack of fitness to be a Prince of the Church.
But the real tragedy, alas, is that we have yet another weak Pope who refuses to discipline clowns like Schonborn, Mahony, et al and thereby leaves the Church to continue its awful suffering. Pray for the Pope; pray that he grows a backbone, please God, soon.
Dan, we can see the Pope's courage in his decrees on the traditional form of Mass and on the reception of converts from Anglicanism (effectively declaring the irenicist form of ecumenism a waste of time), and in his opening of theological dialogue with the SSPX.
He took long-overdue action to apply sanctions to Marcial Marcel and Tomislav Vlasic. And, step by step, he is putting sound, reform-minded bishops into places of responsibility in Rome and in our country.
Cardinal Mahony will submit his resignation in 2011 after he reaches the age of 75. Cardinal Re will probably retire soon too.
As for Schonborn, he has contributing to problems lately rather than to solutions, so I'd like to see some change about that.
Actually, Charles, the Blessed Mother would require the bishop's permission, and would gladly submit. Why? Because the authority of the bishop was established by Her Son Himself. If the apparition thumbs its nose at the bishop, it thumbs its nose at Jesus Christ Himself. That's probably prima facae evidence that this apparition is not the Blessed Mother, and may well be demonic.
Our Lady does not need any bishop's permission to appear anywhere.I believe in precedence and the one for me is Her apparition in Laus which has been approved by Vatican after 500 years.This was her message for the Vicar- General when he telling off the visionary like the bishop of Mostar has been doing to the visionaries of Medjugorje.
Read the messages yourself and stop imposing your opinion on others.
However since my last posting , Medjugorje is now under the Vatican .So, let us wait and abide by the final decision of the Church