Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Bitter Medicine for Medjugorje Partisans

Fr. Tomislav Vlašić, the Franciscan priest who was once the spiritual director of the alleged seers of Medjugorje, and who was severely sanctioned last year by Rome, has been laicized and expelled from the Franciscan order.

A little over a year ago, Bishop Ratko Perić of the diocese of Mostar-Duvna -- the bishop having jurisdiction in the case of the alleged apparitions of Medjugorje -- released a statement explaining the canonical status of then Fr. Vlašić, who was under investigation "within the context of the phenomenon Medjugorje" by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and had fallen under interdict latae sententiae. The bishop's statement includes the following (edited for italicization of foreign words and spelling, and with emphasis added):
The Decree of the Congregation mentions that Rev. Fr. Tomislav Vlašić, a cleric of the Franciscan Minor Order – the founder of the association ‘Kraljice mira potpuno Tvoji – po Mariji k Isusu’ and who is involved in the “phenomenon Medjugorje” – has been reported to the Congregation “for the diffusion of dubious doctrine, manipulation of consciences, suspected mysticism, disobedience towards legitimately issued orders and charges contra sextum [i.e., sins against the Sixth Commandment].”

Having studied the case, the Congregation during its special Congress decreed the following sanctions against Rev. Fr. Tomislav Vlašić:

“1. Mandatory residence in one of the houses of the Order in the region of Lombardy (Italy) to be determined by the Minister General of the Order and to be realized within thirty days from the time of the legitimate notification of this decree;

2. All contacts with the “Kraljice Mira…” community and with its members are prohibited;

3. Any actions involving juridical contracts and administrative organizations, whether canonical or civil, effected without the written permission ad actum of the Minister General of the Order and under his responsibility are prohibited;

4. A mandatory course of theological-spiritual formation, with a final evaluation along with a prior recognitio of this Congregation, and a solemn professio fidei;

5. The following are also prohibited: activities involving the ‘care of souls’, preaching, public appearances, while the faculty to hear confessions is also revoked up until the conclusion of the terms described in the previous number, barring an evaluation of the case.

An additional sanction of a latae sententiae interdict (can. 1332) reserved to the Apostolic See is adjoined in the case of the violation of the mandatory residence (n. 1) and the other prohibited acts mentioned in n. 3 and n. 5.

Fr. Vlašić is forewarned that in the case of stubbornness a juridical penal process will begin with the aim of still harsher sanctions, not excluding dismissal, having in mind the suspicion of heresy and schism, as well as scandalous acts contra sextum, aggravated by mystical motivations.
Staunch believers in the genuineness of the alleged apparitions of Medjugorje are quick to point out that the "seers" have been dissociated with Vlašić for some time, and would like to think that the discrediting of this priest is no reflection on Medjugorje (although, in 1990, Bishop Pavao Zanec, former bishop of Mostar, flatly pinned the responsibility for Medjugorje on Vlašić). However, it is hard not to read a message regarding Rome's views on the whole Medjugorje affair in the letter from the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor announcing Vlašić's laicization and dismissal (my emphases):
ORDO FRATRUM MINORUM
MINISTER GENERALIS

Prot. N. 098714

To the Provincial Ministers of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Italy

Dear Brother Minister,

The Holy Father, accepting the request of friar Tomislav Vlašić, O.F.M, member of the province of friars minor of St. Bernardino of Siena (L'Aquila), responsible for conduct harmful to ecclesial communion both in the spheres of doctrine and discipline, and under a censure of interdict, has granted him the favor of reduction to the lay state (amissio status clericalis) and of dismissal from the Order.

In addition, the Holy Father has granted the petitioner, motu proprio, the remission of the censure incurred as well as the favor of dispensation from religious vows and from all the responsibilities connected with sacred ordination, including celibacy.

As a salutary penal precept - under the pain of excommunication which the Holy See would declare, and if necessary, without prior canonical warning - the following precepts are imposed on Mr. Tomislav Vlašić:

a) Absolute prohibition from exercising any form of apostolate (for example, promoting public or private devotion, teaching Christian doctrine, spiritual direction, participation in lay associations, etc.) as well as of acquiring and administering goods intended for pious purposes;

b) Absolute prohibition from releasing declarations on religious matters, especially regarding the "phenomenon of Medjugorje";

c) Absolute prohibition from residing in houses of the Order of Friars Minor.

For the execution of the serious measures imposed by the Holy See regarding Mr. Tomislav Vlašić, the same Apostolic See calls directly on the Superiors of the Order.

Therefore I turn to you, so that you make sure to instruct the Guardians and superiors of friaries about full compliance, by Tomislav Vlašić, with the pontifical measures regarding him, in particular relative to the prohibition of residing in any houses belonging to the Order of Friars Minor, under pain of removal from office.

Trusting in your full understanding and prompt cooperation, I greet you fraternally.
Rome, 10 March 2009.

Fr. José Rodriguez Carballo, O.F.M.
Minister General
To me, at any rate, it seems from the above that the following conclusions may reasonably be drawn:

-- Since the study by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was done in the context of the Medjugorje phenomenon; the offenses which Vlašić was alleged to have committed were described as having "mystical motivations"; and Vlašić has been explicitly ordered, upon pain of excommunication, not to make any public pronouncements on the subject of Medjugorje, it is clear that, as far as the Holy See is concerned, Vlašić is not and cannot be dissociated from Medjugorje, however much the Medjugorje people would like him to be.

-- It seems clear from the language of the above letter that this outcome represents something in the nature of a plea agreement.

-- Since Vlašić is forthrightly blamed for "conduct harmful to ecclesial communion" in the spheres of both discipline and doctrine, and since Rome clearly views this as inextricably bound to Medjugorje, I for one do not see how it can possibly be hoped that Rome will ever declare Medjugorje worthy of belief.

Much is made of the "fruits" of Medjugorje -- conversions, vocations, reversions, people having more recourse to the Sacraments -- which are constantly held up as proof of its authenticity. But if we are to look at the fruits, then surely we cannot ignore this exceedingly bitter fruit -- far from the only bitter fruit -- in the person of the individual whom the former bishop of Mostar described as the "creator" of Medjugorje. Whether the partisans of Medjugorje like it or not, this is a sore blow to their cause.

15 comments:

  1. Want some real truth about Vlassic and Medjugorje? Read on! After the apparitions of Our Lady in Medjugorje began and the pastor of Medjugorje was put in prison by the communists, Fr. Tomislav Vlasic was assigned to St. James parish in Medjugorje. In September, 1984 he left Medjugorje and in 1985 was assigned to the parish in Vitina (with all priestly faculties - to preach, to hear confessions, celebrate Mass, etc., ie., when he left, he was in good standing with the Church). He was never formally designated pastor of St. James parish. Parish records state that Fr. Tomislav Pervan served as pastor in Medjugorje from 1982 through 1988. 

Fr. Tomislva Vlasic moved to Italy in 1987 and in 1992 joined the Italian Franciscan Province of Abbruzzo. All these years he has not been a member of the Franciscan Province of Herzegovina. It appears he decided to go on a different path in the mid 80’s, having been heavily influenced by a German woman who had come to Medjugorje, Agnes Heupel, who claimed to be a visionary, and with whom he formed his own community in 1987. During this time he tried forcing one of the visionaries of Medjugorje, Marija Pavlovic, to publicly state that Our Lady supported his “spiritual marriage” with Agnes Heupel and the new way of life of his community. To the contrary, Marija’s conscience forced her to write a public statement on July 11, 1988, disavowing any connection with him or with his community: “I repeat that I never received from the Gospa, nor gave Fr. Tomislav or anyone else, a confirmation of the program of Fr. Tomislav and Agnes Heupel.” Though Fr. Vlasic would later build a house outside of Medjugorje behind the hill of Crnica, between the village of Surmanc and Bijakovici, he, himself, kept distant from Medjugorje and was never involved in any activities of the parish. 

The fact is that in the mid 80’s Fr. Vlasic decided to go his own way and since then none of the visionaries of Medjugorje have had any contact with him.

Let’s not forget that during this time the events of Medjugorje were situated between a hostile communist government and a bishop who had stated publicly, “I want Medjugorje destroyed!” (and that anyone purporting Our Lady was appearing in Medjugorje deserved the lowest place in hell)! During a filmed interview in his Episcopal residence in February 1989, in response to my question, “Who is the pastor in Medjugorje?” the Bishop replied, “I don’t know, I think it’s the fat one!” Medjugorje has not been cared for by the local Ordinary – though literally hundreds of bishops throughout the world are testifying to incredible graces having come into their own dioceses through Medjugorje. Though vulnerable itself from attacks on all sides – lacking protection that should have been in place – this little parish has continued going forward, renewing the Church! The parish – and visionaries – have been nothing less than heroic! Let’s not forget that early on in her messages Our Lady had warned that Satan left many places in the world in order to focus his attack against Medjugorje – to try to thwart what God was doing there. All those who continue answering Our Lady’s call to be her apostles are vulnerable to his attacks. 

Don’t be distracted by what you might read in the media. Present developments are a good sign. Rome is finally beginning to give some shepherding to Medjugorje – to take seriously protecting what God is doing there. Good things lie ahead!

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  2. Here it is, the Medjugorje Spin Machine, all in one huge, long paragraph. The single-minded never use paragraph breaks.

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  3. Just returned from a week in Medjugorje (Youth Festival). 50,000 people in attendance.

    Confessions ran from early morning until late at night. never have I seen so many priests administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation in one small area, about 30 yards square. At one period over 100 priests were confessing the people, while 520 priests concelebrated Mass!

    Confession, the long forgotten Sacrament of the Church, is alive and well in Medjugorje. People do not confess unless prompted by the Holy Spirit. So I guess the Holy Spirit wass working overtime in Medjugorje last week.

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  4. Confession, the long forgotten Sacrament of the Church, is alive and well in Medjugorje. People do not confess unless prompted by the Holy Spirit. So I guess the Holy Spirit wass working overtime in Medjugorje last week.

    If the Holy Spirit is working overtime in Medjugorje, I rather suspect that it is in spite of the alleged apparitions, and not because of them or through them. Neither the Holy Spirit nor His spouse, the Blessed Mother, need the help of charlatans.

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  5. Yes, Anita, the Holy see also recognises the works of the Holy Spirit in action and perhaps this is why it is preparing to grant Medjugorje international shrine status. Tares and wheat can grow alongside each other. As to the validity of the apparitions, time will tell.

    But when International shrine status is granted then any objections to diocesan-backed pilgrimages will be removed. So that will be a positive outcome.

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  6. How do you figure the Holy See is preparing to grant "international shrine status"?

    P.S. I love the defensiveness that comes through. What a great fruit.

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  7. How do you figure the Holy See is preparing to grant "international shrine status"?

    I follow closely the events at Medjugorje and visit frequently.

    As with the apparitions, time will tell on this also.

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  8. What specifically tells you that the Holy See is going to grant "international shrine status"? Please name your sources for this.

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  9. I have answered your first question in the previous post. As to your second question, don’t be offended if I choose not to reveal my sources to you. I’m sure you are quite capable of conducting your own investigations relating to Medjugorje and shrine status. You probably know already that there are three levels of shrine status. None are dependent on any other.

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  10. So in other words, you don't have an official or even objective source for your contention that Medjugorje is about to be declared an "international shrine." Duly noted. That tells me everything I need to know.

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  11. Anita, it’s pretty obvious that you are attempting to put words into my mouth with your last statement, and my silence doesn’t tell you anything, let alone everything you need to know.

    I choose to remain silent. You choose to make up answers. No problem. That’s what people do, even Catholics.

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  12. Anita, it’s pretty obvious that you are attempting to put words into my mouth with your last statement, and my silence doesn’t tell you anything, let alone everything you need to know.

    I choose to remain silent. You choose to make up answers. No problem. That’s what people do, even Catholics.


    Listen. You came onto my blog and alleged that Rome is on the point of making Medjugorje an "international shrine." I asked you to back up your allegation. A person who has real merit to his case is only too happy to prove it up. You, however, have responded by trying to shift the burden of proof onto me. That ain't the way it works, friend. You have succeeded only in forfeiting any claims you might have had to being taken seriously.

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  13. Good morning, Anita.

    As to your point about me being taken seriously, you may decide to change your opinion when International Shrine status is granted to Medjugorje at sometime in the future.

    Just to clarify your last post, I did not say that Rome is on the point of making Medjugorje and “international shrine – as you have misquoted.

    I said that the Holy See is preparing to grant Medjugorje international Shrine status. I do not know how long this preparation work will take before status is granted, but it has been ongoing for the past year.

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  14. As to your point about me being taken seriously, you may decide to change your opinion when International Shrine status is granted to Medjugorje at sometime in the future.

    Just to clarify your last post, I did not say that Rome is on the point of making Medjugorje and “international shrine – as you have misquoted.

    I said that the Holy See is preparing to grant Medjugorje international Shrine status. I do not know how long this preparation work will take before status is granted, but it has been ongoing for the past year.


    Once again, you provide no authority beyond your own to back this up. Not good enough. And then, just as you hedge your bets on whether the apparitions are legit, you also hedge your bets on whether there will be a declaration of "international shrine" status, refusing to give a time frame just in case nothing happens. Doesn't sound like even you have much faith in this whole affair.

    One thing I will take you at your word on, and that is that you have been to Medjugorje several times. Having invested a lot of time and resources in these alleged phenomena, I can see where you would hate to think you have sunk so much into a fraud.

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  15. Accuse away, Anita. It does nothing to change the facts, as much as you attempt to distort every post I make.

    Time will tell. Be patient. Fraud or not, this will not change the Vatican approach and justification for Shrine making.

    Check out Canon Law and discover why.

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