Third Medjugorje Commission

Before reading the article from the Catholic News Service confirming the new Medjugorje Commission, I would like to make a few comments. As many of you know my book, "Medjugorje Investigated," was released on the 25 Anniversary of the Medjugorje apparitions. If "Medjugorje Investigated" was designed to accomplish any goal at all, the objective was to let the public and Church know I am in possession of revealing U.S. State Department documents. These documents clearly prove prior Medjugorje Commissions were tainted with prejudice.  Proof positive evidence in "Medjugorje Investigated" also shows Vatican, Rome was fully aware previous commissions were acting with extreme prejudice and improper guidelines, according to Church procedures, (The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith reevaluated for the process of apparitions 1974-1978.) For some 20 year plus the Church said they would not investigate Medjugorje again till the apparitions stopped. Yet, 4 weeks after "Medjugorje Investigated" was available in Medjugorje, it was announced the Church would conduct a new investigation. Now confirmed, the new Commission is expected to be in place by September 06. I have every reason to believe the evidence in "Medjugorje Investigate," has played a strong role leading to the formation of this new commission.  However when asked by the Catholic News Service if the decision to form a new commission was the workings of the doctrinal congregation or the bishop's conference, Cardinal Puljic said, "I would rather not answer that question." The third Commission is positive news depending on who is conducting the investigation. We can only hope this new commission is not tainted as was the first. If you are interested in a copy of the evidence presented in "Medjugorje Investigated, visit this page, "Medjugorje Investigated."  Below is the confirmation of the new commission as posted in the Catholic News Service.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Cardinal Vinko Puljic of Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, announced a commission would be formed to review the alleged Marian apparitions at Medjugorje and pastoral provisions for the thousands of pilgrims who visit the town each year.

"The commission members have not been named yet," Cardinal Puljic told Catholic News Service in a July 24 telephone interview. "I am awaiting suggestions from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith" on theologians to appoint.

"But this commission will be under the (Bosnian) bishops' conference" as is the usual practice with alleged apparitions, he said.

The cardinal said he did not expect the commission to be established until sometime in September because of the summer holidays.

He said the primary task of the commission would be to review a 1991 report from the region's bishops that concluded, "It cannot be affirmed that these matters concern supernatural apparitions or revelations."

In addition, he said, the commission would be asked to review pastoral provisions that forbid official diocesan and parish pilgrimages to Medjugorje, while at the same time allowing priests to accompany groups of Catholics in order to provide the sacraments and spiritual guidance.

When asked if the new commission was the idea of the doctrinal congregation or of the bishops' conference, Cardinal Puljic said, "I would rather not answer that question."

Cardinal Puljic announced the future formation of the commission during the bishops' July 12-14 meeting in Banja Luka.

On June 25, thousands of pilgrims converged on Medjugorje to mark the 25th anniversary of the first alleged apparition to six young people.

The Vatican continues to monitor events at Medjugorje, where the apparitions apparently continue, but it has not taken a formal position other than to support the bishops' ban on official pilgrimages.

Officials from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith were not available July 24 for comment.

View all our organized articles on the Medjugorje Commissions on this page> http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/commissionsorganized.htm