Pope Laicizes Priest Involved with Purported Apparitions of Mary at Medjugorje

7/28/2009
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The Vatican granted Father Tomislav Vlasic his request and laicized him. An ongoing investigation into growing concerns over the alleged apparitions continues.

Pilgrims in Prayer in Medjugorje, Bosnia where some have alleged there have been apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary beginning in 1981.

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LONDON (Catholic Online) - Simon Caldwell, the ever reliable reporter for the �Daily Mail� and the "UK Catholic Herald" reports that Father Tomislav Vlasic, the priest often identified with the beginning of the purported apparitions of Mary at Medjugorje, has been reduced to the lay state.

This action follows growing concerns at the Vatican over the claims surrounding the alleged apparitions, the behavior of some of the purported �seers� and an ongoing dispute between the local Ordinary and those involved.It appears that the now laicized priest had asked to be laicized and to leave his religious community.

We offer the following excerpt from an article written by Simon Caldwell which appeared in the Daily Mail Online on Monday. We take no position on the purported apparitions and await the clear direction of the church:

EXCERPT FROM SIMON CALDWELL'S ARTICLE

�The Pope has defrocked the priest at the centre of claims that the Virgin Mary has been appearing in the Bosnian town of Medjugorje.

�The Vatican stripped Father Tomislav Vlasic of his priest status after an investigation into growing concerns over the alleged apparitions.

�Father Vlasic was named as the 'creator' of the phenomenon by Pavao Zanic, the local bishop at the time the apparitions began in 1981.

�In the midst of a spat with the local bishop and the Vatican, he had earlier made a prophecy that the Virgin Mary would appear in Bosnia.

�Months later, six local children said they had seen the Virgin on a nearby hillside. Soon after Father Vlasic announced he was 'spiritual adviser' to the 'visionaries' who now claim that Our Lady has visited them 40,000 times over the last 28 years.

�An estimated 30 million pilgrims have visited the shrine since 1981, including many from Britain and Ireland.

�Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict, issued a ban on pilgrimages to the site but this has been widely ignored.

�Father Vlasic was suspended last year by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith amid an inquiry into his conduct after three three commissions failed to find evidence to support the visionaries' claims.

�The Vatican also began an inquiry into claims he was guilty of sexual immorality after he made a nun pregnant.

�The defrocking was secretly signed off by the Pope in March.

�Father Vlasic refused to cooperate with the investigation from the outset and he was banished to a monastery in L�Aquila, Italy, where he was forbidden to communicate with anyone, even his lawyers, without the permission of his superior.

�It emerged yesterday that he has chosen to leave the priesthood and his order, a move which has brought the investigation to an abrupt halt.

�The defrocking of Father Vlasic means he is stripped of his priest status.

�This represents a massive blow to millions of Medjugorje followers worldwide who were hoping that the Vatican would one day legitimise the controversial shrine.

�The seers have grown wealthy as a result of their claims � and so has their town, which has boomed as a result of the �Madonna gold rush�.

�Some today own smart executive houses with immaculate gardens, double garages and security gates, and one has a tennis court.

�They also own expensive cars and have married.�

End of Excerpt From Simon Caldwell

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

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1 - 10 of 71 Comments

Al
1 year ago
And this is a catholic site where it's ok to bash people with the twisting of the truth it's really sad I shall pray for the people with hard hearts here and the visionarys that were being put down they are praying for each and every one of us every day think about that and pray on it only ever rely on what The Holy Spirit shows in your heart and no one should ever spread mean hateful things EVER
God Bless
Pray, Pray, Pray...
xenical mg
1 year ago
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Joseph B. Reyes
1 year ago
After all these years still many peoples do not believe in the apparitions in Medjugorje. There has been many miracles and not just physical healing of miracles but as signs in the sky as well. Many peoples feel that all these peoples are delusional for seeing the sun spin in different colors. For those who mocks Medjugorje or any other apparition site, these are works of the Holy Spirit. Those who mocks, criticize, and calls the miracles and signs of Medjugorje are from the devil works commits blasphemy against the Power and Works of the Holy Spirit, and shall never be forgiven amen.
Chuba Udechukwu
2 years ago
Now it is obvious, it is not about Christianity and Bible but all about Doctrine which I now undersatnd that the superiors in Roman Catholic Church is doubtable about. For Pope who is the Supreme leader of the Church of Roman Catholic to defrock the priest shows that this particular apparition is not crystally clear. My utmost concern about this generation apparitions is the circumstances sorrounded their dismissals. that of Umunya in Anambra State of Nigeria my Town had a sad ending and even the then Archbishop of Onitsha Archdiocese Bishop Albert K. Obiefuna did not approve of it then. Let us not be decieved by the lustful nature of some devilsh men and always consider Bible references whenever we want to do or beleive anything about our christian life. May God open our eyes
Paul Baylis
3 years ago
It's very simple really. Yes, we need to be patient and wait for the Vatican's judgement, but in the meantime, Cardinal Bertone has told us that we can consider Medjugorje a "Shrine" and that we are certainly allowed to go there on pilgimage, where we will receive full pastoral care as pilgrims.

What's preventing us from enjoying this liberty? Nothing in reality. Just a lot of noise from conspiracy theorists.

People, listen to the Vatican and the Vatican only. The rest is just satan's noise.
Stephen
3 years ago
I read this article in the Marian Times by editor Paul Baylis. Follow the link:
www.marian-times.com/articles/medjugorje/simon-caldwell.cfm
samuel lee
3 years ago
in the end all we need to ask ourselves is if this messages from the BVM tie in with Jesus' law of love and if they are making lives better.Afterall "by their fruits we shall know them" we should stop concentrating on these seers and start looking deeper at the important issues at hand .proud to be ctholic GOD BLESS
Malachy Osunwa
3 years ago
The great problem with any apparition is the capacity to invest on discernment. We must not forget the Lord's teaching that many will come in his name to deceive even the elect. If false prophets have risen in the name of the Lord, is it not easier for them to rise in the name of the Holy Mother of God? As Catholics, we must ask for continuous spirit of discernment. We must ask why the BVM appears, or should appear. Is it to complement the evangelizing mission of the Church? Is it a verdict on the numerous religious, priests and bishops who sleep over the work of evangelization and leave the world without effective proclamation of the living Word of God? Or is it a curse on a perverse and evil generation looking for signs and wonders; for miracles and the coming of the kingdom of Satan (properity) which he wanted to share with Jesus if he bowed to him? I wish someone out there tells us clearly why the BVM must ever appear. I wish we can truly challenge ourselves with the messages derived from her appearances. May the Spirit of truth guide us always!
- Nairobi Kenya
Kay
3 years ago
With that many praying together at the same time and place, we faithful know that our Lord was there. Keep praying and love one another. Glory be to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen
Lou
3 years ago
While praying the Stations of the Cross on apparition hill, I prayed 'All I want is to be loved'. After several steps I came across a single rock with the following words on it All the Love you need, with an arrow pointing to the 12th station, the crucifixion of Christ! Praise God for his Infinite Mercy!

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