CNA/EWTN News is reporting that Archbishop Vigano sent the missive on October 21 "at the request" of Archbishop Gerhard Mueller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).
“The Congregation (for the Doctrine of the Faith) has affirmed that, with regard to the credibility of the 'apparitions' in question, all should accept the declaration … 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.”
The letter also refers to scheduled visits in parishes by one of the Medjugorje seers, Ivan Dragicevic, which were reportedly cancelled after the letter was issued.
"In 1991, the bishops of the former Yugoslavia had determined that it is not possible to say there were Marian apparitions at the site," CNA reports. "In 2010, the Vatican established a commission to further investigate 'doctrinal and disciplinary aspects of the phenomenon of Medjugorje'.”
Because this investigation is ongoing, the CDF has directed that the judgment of the Yugoslavian bishops be accepted.
“To avoid scandal and confusion,” wrote Archbishop Vigano, “Archbishop Mueller asks that the Bishops be informed of this matter as soon as possible.”
CNA has confirmed that the letter was sent to every diocese in the U.S.
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